WIld Week 1 as games postponed; Wolverines win shootout; Belmont falls after delay; Wayne game undecided as team refuses to play

In what could be the start to a wild year in high school football, the kickoff on the season openers for  Friday night was beautiful.
Then about a hour later the thunder, lighting and rain halted most of the games in the Miami Valley.

Heres some of the top headlines and results from the City League, GWOC, and other teams after the weekend:

Dunbar wins shootout vs Withrow 

Dunbar wins thriller after slow start 36-30

   The Wolverines, despite having been good, know that they have the talent to be great.
This year.
But after the first quarter, Cincinnati Withrow showed that maybe the Dunbar train was all hype.
Withrow was in control, had shut down Dunbar star players, and held a 14-2 lead in the 2nd quarter.

Then the Wolverines and their star players got going.

Dunbar big horse of a RB in Tavion Thomas and star WR Jo Jo Scates both scored TD's, and outscored Withrow 34-14 the rest of the way to win a great game 36-30 @ Welcome Stadium.
Dunbar's defense played well, despite some tough conditions early, as the Wolverines started slowly.

In a blazing hot game (95 degrees) which featured a fake punt for a  TD, a fumble recovery for a TD, a safety, to go along with another delay of the rain and thunder again - but nevertheless the Wolverines were able to get a big win, which is a huge morale boost, since they lost a lot of those type of games last year.



Belmont falls after restart as Hamilton Twp. regroups to win

 Belmont was firing on all cylinders on Friday night, and had state ranked Hamilton Township on the ropes.
The Bison was up 16-6 before the delay. The offense was clicking,  and the defense and fans were all in as the SWOPL Champs were looking good.
Then the rain came, and the game was delayed until the next morning.

When Hamilton came back that next morning, it was clear they made some adjustments, as they defeated Belmont 41-24 @ Welcome Stadium.

 The Bison seemed a step slow that morning, and once Hamilton got it rolling, it was no stopping the offense. Belmont scored to cut the lead to 34-24 and was driving before a fumble on a questionable call led to a runback for another TD.
  When asked about the game, Coach White felt that his boys made too many mistakes and didn't quite match the intensity of Hamilton, leading to the loss.

Wayne game postponed after PA squad declines to play 

One of the top ranked teams in Pennsylvania decided that they would not finish the game at Wayne, as some of their top players would not be able to come back on a Saturday, causing a little bit of a rift.

   Archbishop Wood, a perennial title contender in one of the biggest divisions in all of Pennsylvania, decided that because of the lighting and rain delay which stopped the game & pushed it to the next day, that they won't finish the game.

Wayne had just tied the game up at 24, before the game was called.
 The Warriors have argued that because they decided they didn't want to finish it they should be declared the winner.
  However, in a game like this, featuring 2 of the best in their respective states, the travel plans has to be considered.
  Both teams are awaiting on a decision.




Meadowdale, Thurgood both fall on road

Meadowdale lost on the road as Piqua was hitting on all cylinders for a 48-0 win. In talking with star RB Darien Tipps -Clemons before the season, he felt excited about Piqua's opportunity this year and with Shrubb leading the way with 3 TDs, it was all Piqua.


Thurgood falls to tough Shawnee team

    Springfield Shawnee, one of the tough teams in D-3, was able to stop Thurgood 31-6. Shawnee ruined the Coaching Debut of Thurgood head coach Brian Carter.



Troy defeats Trotwood in defensive battle 

With all the talk about Ravieon "Shock" Hargrove, the Trojans focused on Hargrove and was able to stop the Rams 10-6 on Saturday.
 Hargrove still scored the Rams only TD, on Friday night, but when Troy came out Saturday, they put together a TD drive which salvaged a huge win for the Trojans, who haven't been good for a few years now.
 Hargrove saw boxes of 8 and 9 guys all day,and the Rams passing game couldn't come through.



Springfield defeats Dublin Coffman  

Springfield was able to hold off a very tough Dublin Coffman for a 22-20 win. That win could propel the Wildcats to a very good season.



Miamisburg, C-J debut new stadiums; 

Miamisburg & CJ  both unveiled their new beautiful stadiums in Week 1.
Miamisburg shut out West Carrollton 44-0 while C-J lost 34-14 to Marion Local.



Alter defeats Fairmont  
Alter continued it's dominance of its season openers vs it's neighbor Fairmont, as they came back after a 8-0 deficit & game (Delay) & defeated Fairmont 22-8.

PreSeason Rankings (Dayton Public League)

Heres our rankings for the City League HS Football teams and how they will end up in the Southwest Ohio Public League:

Is this the year the Wolverines win the SWOPL?

Dunbar Wolverines  - With 3 of the top offensive players (Keyshawn Johnson, JoJo Scates, & Jeffrey Wagner) in Southwest Ohio, and a defense with some experience, the Wolverines seem ready to make the jump into the upper echelon. With a experienced coaching staff, now is the time for the Wolverines. Despite losing big time players WR Terrance Landers and DL Jeffrey Pooler, Dunbar still is loaded and should make some playoff noise this season, not to mention in contention for the overall SWOPL title. Coach Darren Powell knows that the team must stay focused to get to the next level. They've been no less than 5-5 for the last 10 years.

Prediction (8-2) -  Playoff Bound



(2) Belmont Bison  - After the epic season Belmont had, what can they do for an encore?  Coach Earl White continues to move mountains, after taking a moribound sports program and injecting life into it. And the season could have been even better if injuries hadn't occurred in the 1st round playoff game. Despite losing All- Everything RB Davion Lankford, the Bison have a wealth of talent coming in, led by RB Elijah Malcolm and Safety Dawson Martin. Bison should be in thick of SWOPL Championship race this season as well.

Prediction  (7-3)  - Playoff Race

(3) Ponitz Panthers  -  With a bevy of seniors this season looking to make a move, this could be the season of a possible breakout with Coach Place at the helm in his 3rd season. If they can get some consistency from the QB spot in Xavier Henry, it will be a good year for the Panthers. Led by Senior Isaiah Gordon & star RB Jamil Freeman, the Panthers will look to make some waves this year in the SWOPL.

 Prediction (5-5) Compete for SWOPL Division



(4) Thurgood Marshall Cougars   - With a new coach (Brian Carter), look for the Cougars to have a new outlook for the 2016-17 season. After running the City League for 6 consecutive years, Belmont won the league last season, and Thurgood took a couple lumps in the process. But this season, with a talented QB Darion Stroud leading the way and All-State selection DB Thomas Richardson holding up the defense. There is optimism still for the Cougars who have talent across the board.

Prediction (5-5)



(5) Meadowdale Lions - The Lions have a possible star in QB Cameron Redd, who will look to lead the Lions back into prominence. Coach John Wortham is excited about the team this year, but knows he has to replace a do everything player in City League player of the year  CJ Williams. Look for the Lions to battle as they will be well coached, that's for sure. And with Defensive stalwart Dennis Locklin ready to assume a leader role, can the Lions get back to the playoffs?
Prediction (5-5)

Ponitz destroys Clark Montessori 48-6 in season opener

The message is very simple for the opponents of the Ponitz Panthers in the Southwest Ohio Public League. 

Last year was last year. This a new season. And they're ready.

Freeman runs wild on Clark Montessori

The Ponitz Panthers (1-0) came out the gate firing on all cylinders and was able to defeat the Clark Montessori Cougars 48-6 last night in the Season Opener@ Welcome Stadium.

From the very 1st possession it was clear who was the better team.
Last year Clark Montessori (0-1) almost beat the Panthers, losing by a point.

   Co-MVP of the game Jamil Freeman got the scoring going with a 41-yard run to go up 7-0.  He scored twice as he also had a dazzling 56 yard run  later in the game as well.
  Freeman had over 100+ and was dominant just about every time he touched the ball.

    After the first score, Clark was stopped on their first possession, in which Ponitz scored again on a 2-yard run by QB Xavier Henry, who had 2-TD runs and a TD pass as well.

After the 1st quarter it was 28-0 & the rout was on.

The defense was led by Co-MVP DL Damonte Purdue who had 4 sacks and was completely unstoppable on the interior.

    Panthers Coach Jim Place was very pleased with the way the game plan was executed, and was thrilled with the results. Next week they face the Dunbar Wolverines, which should be a battle.

 Follow us on the journey as we cover Dayton HS Sports in Southwest Ohio and beyond!

Fbook: Dayton HS Sports Page
Twitter: Dayton HS Sports
Instagram: SportsEffectLive

Former Flyer "Pitt" gets nod as new Ponitz basketball coach

    In what has been a busy off-season for the Dayton Public Schools Athletics, another change has been made in the basketball ranks.

 

Steve Pittman with son, Malcom

Steve Pittman, affectionately known as "Pitt", has been annointed as the new Varsity Boys coach of the Ponitz Panthers.

    Pittman, who played his college ball at UD during the NCAA days of head coach Don Donoher, will take over as he replaces Dwayne Hansbro, who wasn't retained after his 1st season at the helm.

   Pittman will inherit a young team with some talent. It will be his first head coaching job in High School. He was a top assistant for now Middletown Coach Darnell Hoskins while he was at Thurgood Marshall.
   Pittman, who in his Flyer playing days was a 6'9 PF-C with range, is thrilled for the opportunity, and feels he is ready for the challenge.
  

Big "Pitt" doing work for the Flyers

    Pitt helped lead the Flyers to a NCAA Berth in 89' as he played with NBA player Negele Knight, Ray Springer, & Anthony Corbitt. They defeated Illinois in the 1st round before losing in 2nd round.  He then went on to coach for UD before deciding to get into High School. He currently has a son who is a senior on the basketball team at Wilmington.




 

Former Flyer "Pitt" gets nod as new Ponitz basketball coach

    In what has been a busy off-season for the Dayton Public Schools Athletics, another change has been made in the basketball ranks.

 

Steve Pittman with son, Malcom

Steve Pittman, affectionately known as "Pitt", has been annointed as the new Varsity Boys coach of the Ponitz Panthers.

    Pittman, who played his college ball at UD during the NCAA days of head coach Don Donoher, will take over as he replaces Dwayne Hansbro, who wasn't retained after his 1st season at the helm.

   Pittman will inherit a young team with some talent. It will be his first head coaching job in High School. He was a top assistant for now Middletown Coach Darnell Hoskins while he was at Thurgood Marshall.
   Pittman, who in his Flyer playing days was a 6'9 PF-C with range, is thrilled for the opportunity, and feels he is ready for the challenge.
  

Big "Pitt" doing work for the Flyers

    Pitt helped lead the Flyers to a NCAA Berth in 89' as he played with NBA player Negele Knight, Ray Springer, & Anthony Corbitt. They defeated Illinois in the 1st round before losing in 2nd round.  He then went on to coach for UD before deciding to get into High School. He currently has a son who is a senior on the basketball team at Wilmington.




 

Trotwood grad gets NBA shot after Kevin Durant departure

    In speaking with Trotwood legend and Euroleague Champion Chris Wright last week before the Local Legends Charity Bball  game, he was not playing in the game like he normally does.

Wright shutting down Kobe Bryant

  When asked about his future endeavors? He said he had something in the fold.
With a poker face.

  Well, the NBA has come back calling.

  Wright has signed a contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder as he will look to solidfy himself and show he belongs in the league.

About 5 or 6 years ago me and a couple colleauges were arguing about this exact point.

    Could Chris Wright play in the NBA?
 
  Wright, a former UD Flyer who led the Flyers to its highest ranking in 25 years in his helm, is a 6'9 combo forward, with a long wing span, unbelievable hops, a NFL  tight end body and the inate ability to make winning plays.

  The NBA used to be a "Stereotype" league before the International game seeped in.
  If you wasn't a certain height, or couldn't do a certain skill at your position?

 Then it was no chance.

For instance, in Wrights' position, here was his scouting report 7 years ago:

 A 6-9  athletic forward, not quite bulky enough to play power forward, but not a good enough shooter to play small forward.  Has a decent midrange shot, but needs to develop 3-point range. Good interior defender, with a knack for making "ESPN Top 10" type plays.

 Now while I screamed til the crows came home that Wright was a NBA player, most felt he would be a Overseas lifer.

 I disagreed.

I felt like if he got the right shot, he could make a major impact.
  He did get a shot, as he played with the Milwaukee Bucks and the Golden State Warriors a few years ago, scoring 25 in the final game of the regular season.

 While it did go unnoticed, it still set the tone for the future.
 Wright would then have hit the NBDL circuit before going overseas for a couple years. In his last season, Wright won a Championship in highly touted Israeali  League, which he was a major factor.

   Wright has developed a consistent jump shot, and his work ethic has gotten him another chance.
Not to mention his faith.

And even if he can't hit the 3 ball consistently, it doesn't matter.

 He does everything else well, which is what the Oklahoma City Thunder need, and like.

Lockdown Defense, Major Athleticsm, rebounding, blocking, and a ridiculous Aerial Attack offensively; not to mention a pure grinder and a relentlessly hard worker, and a True Professional in every sense of the word.

 When you lose a 6'10 Hall of Fame bound MVP scoring machine like Kevin Durant, you look for the closest next option.

     It seems that Oklahoma City loves big players at each position, and Wright fits in perfectly with the Thunder.

Now with the league shifting to a faster, smaller, Euro-type league now, there is ample room for a guy like Wright, who could be the quintessential 4 man, with the ability to play 3 to 4 positions on Defense.

And if he can hit that open NBA 3 consistently?
Watch out.

  Look for Chris Wright to make a name in the Oklahoma City camp and to be on the roster and playing come NBA Season opener.

 Salute to a Local Legend who definitely deserves his chance.

Local Legend Recap: Norris Cole Squad gets it done, wins late 117-112; 4 Scholarship winners

    Seemingly every year of the Local Legends game has went to Daequan Cooks' Squad.

    Not this year, as Norris Cole Sqaud pulled out the victory with a furious 4th quarter in which Andre Yates and Gary Akbar led the way to win the game 117-112 at Dunbar HS.
 
       It seemed as if the Cook squad would get it done again, as they held a 6-point lead at halftime (60-54). Former Ram Carl Edwards (33pts) and former Wolverine Geron Johnson (43pts) dominated in the 1st half, as both displayed the aerial tactics from near and far that had the crowd going crazy.

      Through most of the game the Cook squad dictated the momentum, until the 4th quarter when Yates, Akbar (27pts), and Brown (24pts) took over. The Cole Squad went on a huge run to take a 11-point lead midway through the 4th before the Cook squad would mount a late comeback, but not enough.

Yates was the MVP as he dropped 34 points in the effort.

NBA Free Agent and 2-time Champion Norris Cole was happy about the win, stating that, "We knew it was coming this year." Coach Darran Powell was also thrilled to get back in the W column.

After the game, Daequan Cook wasn't happy about the loss, but was very pleased with the 4 scholarships that were given away during the event. 

"That's what its all about, giving the young kids hope;" Cook said after the game.
       
The game was spectacular, with dunks all over the place, 3-point bombs everywhere, great players abound for the pros and NBA Hoopers Norris Cole & Daequan Cook on both sides working on strategies.

But the Scholarship announcements were even more special.

4 Seniors were given scholarships in which 3 sponsors were key contributors to the cause.
Last year there was 1 scholarship given away, which really is a big boost for the event.

                                   


  4 Kids Achieve Scholarships

The Local Legends 2016 game produced 4 scholarships for graduating seniors.

Darnell Terry, Ayman Bazar, Alantris Willis, & Coria Richardson all were given academic scholarships due to their great work in the classroom and in the community.

Local Legends Founder Chuck Richardson was very pleased with the outcome and will look to expand that number next year.
Each student had to meet certain requirements academically in order to receive the scholarship.

  

1st week of Fall Sports Begin; McCullough gets redemption, now Thurgood coach;

With the first week of Fall Sports starting up it's safe to say that High School Sports in the Miami Valley is about to be back in full throttle.

   With teams able to practice on Monday, the most noted team in the Area (Wayne) decided to kick off late Sunday at Midnight, and to a nice crowd I must add.

   While  most everybody got it in Monday, look for all football and volleyball teams to get into gear sometime within next day or so.

With newfound optimism for each team going into this season, it's time to see what teams have gotten better, worse, and which young stars are ready to shine.

McCullough takes over at Thurgood

 McCullough comes full circle, new Thurgood Varsity Men's Bball  coach
 
In all that new Thurgood Head Basketball coach Shawn McCullough has been through in the past few years, it seems only natural that he ended up at Thurgood.

Why Thurgood you say?

Let's backtrack for a few.

  5 years ago Shawn McCullough was a top assistant to then varsity coach Darnell Hoskins at Thurgood. After a couple years there, he then would accept the head job at Stivers, his Alma Mater for middle school.
   He had a great first season, guiding the Tigers to a sectional title and a deep run.

  McCullough was the hottest coach in Southwest Ohio, and he and the Tigers future looked bright.

McCullough & -D1 big Isiah Williams

   Things would get a little rocky n the 2nd year, as there was a apparent rift between McCullough and upper management.

    That Tigers team was a .500 team all year, and bowed out quickly in the OHSAA tournament.
    While McCullough figured he surely wouldn't lose his job, he found out the hard way that it wasn't as secure as he thought.

   McCullough found out via the Internet that his job was up for grabs. And within the day it was posted, it was apparently taken.

    So, in effect, McCullough had lost his job due to an Internet job posting.

   Never mind the fact that McCullough had given the Tigers hope in which there was none in the previous seasons.
  McCullough heard that his job was open online, and the next thing you know, he's out of a job.

Huh?
How does that work?

Ultimately, McCullough was crushed at the decision.

While he wanted to get back in the fray, he  leaned back and pondered his next move. He was given numerous opps to become an assistant again, but declined.
 
The situation was unheard of, and the streets was talking:

 McCullough fired? Why?  He lost his job on the Internet?
 To be honest, it sounded like a cruel joke when I heard it.
  But it wasn't.  It was the real deal.

 Felix Turner was inserted into the Tigers job, and while Turner is a good coach in his own right, he's not McCullough.
 The team seemingly had no rhythm or positive flow last season, as they played .500 ball for bulk of the season.

McCullough?
Remained silent.  Undoubtedly hurt.
Pondering.

And now there was word on the streets that McCullough would never work in a Dayton Public Schools setting again.

Fast forward to now.

   The Dayton Public Schools Selection Committe and new Athletic Director (Mark Baker) felt that McCullough should be given his job back.

 And rightfully so.

McCullough comes from great lineage and was a 2-sport high school star at Meadowdale, while garnering up a hoop scholarship to Sinclair CC & then San Jose St.

His twin brother Andy, played in the NFL.

With McCullough at the helm, look for the Cougars to leave right where former head coach and new Middletown HS Coach Darnell Hoskins left off.

At the top. Or near it.

Salute to a class act who never took the low road on his way back up.
Cougar Nation should be pleased with the decision.

Congrats to Shawn McCullough and Dayton Public Schools for getting it right.