Congrats to the Dalton Bulldogs on another great season.

Tough way to end for the bulldogs, losing with free throws with one second left. Fairport was not a great team but were definitely someone that could beat you if you didn't play well and that's what happened. Some nights the shots just don't fall and last night was one of those nights. Plenty of open looks just drawing iron. I also thought the bulldogs needed to work it inside more(they did early on) as fairport was swinging at everything but we settled for jumpers (most were open looks, though). Still a great season for coach stutz and the dawgs.

This was another disappointing loss in the Garfield Heights tournament for Dalton. This was a game they should've won. If this game was played in Dalton in the middle of January, I would guess that Dalton would've won by 10-15 points. This very successful era of Dalton basketball has not figured out this Garfield Heights tournament yet. There are two teams in this tournament that would blow everyone in Wayne County out. Fairport Harding is not one of them. The Bulldogs missed a lot of easy layups and uncontested jumpers all night. Their lack of ball handling was really exposed last night. They had several turnovers against very average man pressure. I'll give Dalton a pass last year when they lost to VASJ. They had no chance against them. Last night's game gets filed in the same category as their losses vs Chanel 2010 and MLK in 2011. Those were all games against an opponent of similar ability where Dalton just underachieved. I'm sure this very successful coaching staff is trying everything to figure out how to play better in the tourney, but they have to be getting frustrated with these losses. You can't pin last night's game on the coaches IMO. The kids were in the right position to make plays, and it just didn't happen for them last night.

Two good games in Wooster tonight. Waynedale 47-Smithville 46 on a contested, banked three at OT buzzer and Norwayne over Chippewa 56-53.

Oberlin vs. Elyria Catholic tonight at Wooster with the winner to face Waynedale/Norwayne. I think both games could be very close. Elyria Catholic has a nice team with several good players and Oberlin has the best individual player I've seen in the tournament in #10. Anyone else have any feelings on these games? I will pick Oberlin vs. Norwayne in the final, but it seems like both semis could go either way.

I like Elyria Catholic and Waynedale with Elyria Catholic to win it. Very average District this year no real power.

Congrats to chase Moyer and Nate stutz for their player and coach of the year awards. Was also glad to see bowe get first team. I did think Jake masters probably should have been there somewhere as he was the best pg in the league

I think these will be two pretty good matchups at Wooster. Norwayne has better defense, waynedale the better O. I'm feeling waynedale vs EC for the final. Definitely not a great year in this district.

Coach_08;1400007 wrote:I like Elyria Catholic and Waynedale with Elyria Catholic to win it. Very average District this year no real power.

Our picks are opposite, but you could be right. I liked the way Elyria Catholic plays as a team - and they have played a tough schedule. There is not a dominant team, but it has been some good basketball. The WCAL has some great stories with the improvement of Waynedale and Chippewa - and the rebuilding of Norwayne. Dalton had a great year and would fit well in this tournament - with likely great success.

Oberlin over Elyria Catholic -not that close apparently. 58-46

kurty66;1400110 wrote:Oberlin over Elyria Catholic -not that close apparently. 58-46

It was a good game for a while. 6 lead changes through 3 quarters. However, Oberlin took the lead and pushed it out once they got into their tempo. Early in the game when EC got into half-court sets, they were efficient and getting layups and open looks. But later in the game, they gave in and tried running with Oberlin. EC just didn't have anybody that could hit a jump shot. Oberlin also has one of the, if not THE, best players in the district - #10.

thePITman;1400313 wrote:It was a good game for a while. 6 lead changes through 3 quarters. However, Oberlin took the lead and pushed it out once they got into their tempo. Early in the game when EC got into half-court sets, they were efficient and getting layups and open looks. But later in the game, they gave in and tried running with Oberlin. EC just didn't have anybody that could hit a jump shot. Oberlin also has one of the, if not THE, best players in the district - #10.

I agree about #10 - watched him against Orrville. He is very athletic and skilled. I'm not sure what Norwayne or Waynedale can do about him, but I think they will both be disciplined in slowing down the pace of the game.

Bears knockdown Norwayne.

I'm a Waynedale fan now - I hope they have a good plan for Oberlin. I don't think many people give them much of a a chance in that game, but if they can rebound and contain #10...

We had some success when we stopped him from going right and didn't let him get to certain spots on the floor where he liked to shoot from. Go Bears.

Riebe should have been Coach of the Year in the WCAL.

thePITman;1401838 wrote:Riebe should have been Coach of the Year in the WCAL.

I second that!

He definitely does a great job. And he did it without much size. I think he has quite a bit coming back as well. The Bears and Chipps were easily the most improved. The Smithies were also playing pretty well by the end of the season, but Dalton did win the conference easily.

New enrollment numbers are out from the OHSAA. It looks like there is a decent chance that Dalton will move up to D3. I know they have been hoping for this the past couple of years. Will they have a good enough team to compete if they are in the Wooster district next year? The numbers suggest VASJ and Richmond Heights will remain D4. That makes D3 the place to be in Northeast Ohio.

If Dalton does move up to Div 3, it sounds like it might be under new leadership. Word on the street is that Coach Stutz is stepping down as boys basketball coach here in Dalton!! Sounds like it caught many people by surprise!

I heard the same thing about Stutz! Great guy and a great coach wish him the best.

Any names being floated around as possible replacements? Will they hire from within or look outside of the program?

D3 would be a welcome change, although if the competitive balance proposal is passed, I wonder if vasj would move up as well (at least they would likely not be in the same district).
Yes, I was totally shocked about coach stutz getting off the bench. He was really coming into his own. I understand he has a real good chance to be a principal at Dalton which is his goal. I also wonder if it had anything to do with family considerations. He has young children in school now and it's just flat tough to balance that. In any case, I am sad to see him go and would welcome him back in the future. I think they will look in and outside of the program, but I think outside is more likely. Coach Huth has been the jv coach for a long time and I just can't see him in that head role. Nate's father in law was one of the assistants and I doubt he would be interested. I think outside is the better bet, but who knows. Whoever gets the job will inherit a program on very solid ground that returns some key players and has some good young ones coming up.

Bring back Potovski!!!

Unlikely. LOL