Coach 08;578925 wrote: Also hoping by around Christmas or before that a BIG package is delivered to the Red Riders.....!!!

Hearing after the first of the year.

And a slow start doesn't concern me much....it's how we play on those tough back to back games in January & February that concern me most. Five straight Friday/Saturday games starting in late January.

Five of first 6 games are on the road. Four true road games & the Smitty Classic vs. Hillsdale.

First home game is 12/17 vs. WH....then not another home game until 1/7 (Clear Fork)

Rebounding and inside scoring should be our strength.....outside shooting will be interesting. You just don't replace Jake Bolyard and not miss a beat.

Sounds like a strategy, throw it up then crash the boards. It is a concern, do we have a guard that can create their own shot. Turner if any, but we'll have to see if that happens when he's put in a starting role. Wasson can create inside and short range shots, but the one handed shot from distance won't do it. You can live and die by the three. I'm hoping were not going to depend on that and get to the hoop a lot.

I think early on our height will win games. Hopefully as the season wears on, we develop some sort of outside threat.

Here is the Division III JJHuddle Power Poll, and the Orrville Preview.....

OHSH/JJHUDDLE DIVISION III PRESEASON POWER POLL
1. Cincinnati Taft
2. Lima Central Catholic
3. Chesapeake
4. Sugarcreek Garaway
5. Cleveland Central Catholic
6. Bloom-Carroll
7. Jamestown Greeneview
8. Orrville
9. Ironton
10. St. Clairsville

Five More:
Ottawa-Glandorf; Middletown Madison; Casstown Miami East; Piketon; Archbold

Orrville (21-6, State Runner-Up)
Head Coach: Sly Slaughter (2nd Year)
League: Ohio Cardinal Conference
Fun Facts: Won State Championships in 1993, 1995, and 1996
Returning Starters: Zach Wasson (6’5/Sr.), Max Pirman (6’5/Sr.), Dan Groves (6’0/Sr.)
Other Returnees: Derek Graber (6’0/Sr.), Cody Seiler (6’5/Sr.), Kyle Zook (6’0/Sr), Devon Winters (6’8/Jr.), Drew Brenner (6’3/Jr.), Jordan Ray (5’10/Jr.), Anthony Perez (6’3/Jr.)
Newcomers: Teontre’ Simpson (6’0/Sr.), Stuart Turner (5’10/Jr.), Ryan Neer (6’3/So.), Alexander Smith (6’3/So.)


OHSH on Orrville: The Orrville Red Riders were one of the most dominant basketball programs in Ohio from 1980 through 1996. The Red Riders made nine regional tournaments with four trips to the state tournament including three championships (1992, 1995, and 1996).

The success all came under the late, legendary Orrville head coach, Steve Smith. In 1992, Smith won his first state championship with a kid named Sly Slaughter running the point guard spot.

Fast forward 18 years and Slaughter was now the new head coach at Orrville. In his first season, Slaughter led the Red Riders to a state runner-up finish losing to Lima CC in the championship game, 60-57.

It was a remarkable season for a team who had not been to a regional since 1996, which was the last of its three titles. The Red Riders dropped down to D-III last season a place they had won two of their state championship (’92 and ’95).

What can Slaughter’s bunch do for an encore? With three starters returning, optimism is high once again.

Senior Zach Wasson returns after averaging 19 points per game as a junior. Wasson is a rugged player with a will to win.

Wasson will be joined by fellow returning starters seniors Max Pirman (3.8 ppg.) and Dan Groves. Pirman has committed to play football for Indiana, while Groves was unable to play in the state tournament.

There will be plenty of newcomers this season, and they will obviously be the key to just how successful Orrville can be. Outside shooting has to be a serious concern.

We just have to be able to play solid defense for 4 quarters...we do that and we should win a minimum of 15 games. We have some good basketball players, and one of the best coaching staffs, we will be alright!

I was going to report that Simpson IS going out, but I see it was already said in OQB's post. Monheim is NOT going out. Pirman will be sitting for at least a month to heal up his knee.

I hope we pound it inside A LOT this year, as I can't stand seeing a mediocre shooter pump 3's! Work on those free throws!

Is Mason sticking with Swimming then?

Exactly BRF, Orrville hasn't been the best at the stripe....If we can shoot over 80% as a team from the line, I will be happy. Attack, attack, attack, then make the free throws.

OrrvilleQB;582184 wrote:We just have to be able to play solid defense for 4 quarters...we do that and we should win a minimum of 15 games. We have some good basketball players, and one of the best coaching staffs, we will be alright!

I agree with the athletes we have and the coaching staff from top to bottom is solid, we are in for another fun year, but with a bulls-eye on our back. I think we all have to understand that the first couple of games is going to be rough until our guys get their legs under them. But then I am looking for big things. I think with Wasson, Winters, Brenner, Pirrman, Graber and Siller on the front line and Turner, Ray, Perez, Groves and Smallwood in the back court, this going to be another deep team. Nice to have depth. Excited for another great season Riders!

80% is almost unheard of for any team. Anymore, 70-75% is lights out. Blame the 3-point line for the gradual decline of FT shooting, and 2-pt jump shooting on the whole.

Gone are the Mark Price's and Steve Alford's when it comes to FT shooting.

We want to peak in March anyway....not in December, Haha.

RR1 so your saying as a team we can't go 8/10 at the line? What was our teams % last year?

A team can....but I bet we were no better than 70% last year. I'll look.

Here you go....we shot 62% as a team last year. Only player above 70% (with more than 20 attempts) was Jake, who shot 75%.

The other OCC teams....

Ashland - 56.1
Lexington - 62.8
Mansfield Sr - 64.1
WH - 57.3
Clear Fork - 62
Madison - 53.2
Wooster - 67.5

...and us with 63%

That's an average of 60.75% from the free throw line.

See my point. 70% is considered great anymore.

Something else that amazes me is the assist totals. I would have figured for sure Jacob would have had at least 4 or 5 a game, with his special talents on offense.

Wow, that is really surprising to me....guess I need to get into basketball a little bit more. Thanks for the stats though RR1.

63% surprised me too. I bet we've never shot 80% in a year. That's very tough across an entire team.

OrrvilleQB;582180 wrote:Here is the Division III JJHuddle Power Poll, and the Orrville Preview.....

OHSH/JJHUDDLE DIVISION III PRESEASON POWER POLL
1. Cincinnati Taft
2. Lima Central Catholic
3. Chesapeake
4. Sugarcreek Garaway
5. Cleveland Central Catholic
6. Bloom-Carroll
7. Jamestown Greeneview
8. Orrville
9. Ironton
10. St. Clairsville

Five More:
Ottawa-Glandorf; Middletown Madison; Casstown Miami East; Piketon; Archbold

Looking at that power poll, where does Garaway play enough of a schedule in a mostly D4 IVC to rank that high. Talking to IVC fans they even think Honigford has not developed much from his earlier seasons.

It's time again for OHS Sports Hall of Fame nominations.

http://bit.ly/eOG4da

Interestng stats. Need to find some outside scoring to loosen up the inside this
year.

From tonight, Shelby 62 , Madison 53

shelby 59 orrville 52. no details.

http://www.wmfd.com/newsboard/sports.asp
I hope we don't have to forfeit with Jacob and Dillon Corbet coming off the bench tonight LOL I think the have last years rosters

Greetings from the other side of the world!! Any word on the actual stats from the game since the link posted is obviously using some of last year's players?? LOL!!! Thanks a bunch!!!

I am still surprised that Orrville didn't bump back their game due to their football team making it so far into the playoffs. I think the Red Riders will get back into their groove soon and should have a very nice season. I'm sure you'll be ready for Mansfield Senior next Friday.