Thought we should get this started. What does the season look like for the Riders? Starters? Ready Go!

Dec. 04 Wooster A 7:30
Dec. 05 Triway A 7:30
Dec. 08 Smithville H 7:30
Dec. 11 Mansfield Senior A 7:30
Dec. 18 West Holmes A 7:30
Dec. 19 Steve Smith Classic
vs. Thomas Worthington HS A 4:30
Dec. 30 Ashland H 7:30
Jan. 05 Akron East H 7:00
Jan. 08 Clear Fork A 7:30
Jan. 15 Lexington A 7:30
Jan. 16 Madison H 6:30
Jan. 19 Norwayne A 7:30
Jan. 22 Wooster H 7:30
Jan. 23 Mansfield Senior H 6:30
Jan. 26 Northwest H 7:30
Jan. 29 West Holmes H 7:30
Jan. 30 Ashland A 6:30
Feb. 05 Clear Fork H 7:30
Feb. 06 Tuslaw H 6:30
Feb. 12 Lexington H 7:30
Feb. 13 Northwestern A 7:30
Feb. 19 Madison A 7:30

Anybody know where to find the list of teams who will compete in the D3 Wooster district the next two years? I heard there were some changes from the previous 2 years. If I understood it correctly, Dalton moved out of the district and Triway moved back in. Anybody know what teams from outside of the county are in the district this year?

Anybody been to any of the preseason scrimmages? How are the Riders looking this year? Any new faces making big contributions?

The girls are going to be good and will vie with Chippewa and Tuslaw for the regional spot. The Boys will be similar to last year with 6-8 wins. Hopefully make the district semi's. Not as sure about the boy's because there is room to improve.

Flash;1764706 wrote:The girls are going to be good and will vie with Chippewa and Tuslaw for the regional spot. The Boys will be similar to last year with 6-8 wins. Hopefully make the district semi's. Not as sure about the boy's because there is room to improve.

Flash- I agree with you. The girls are going to be fun to watch...a lot of talent and it is spread over multiple classes. Boys will battle and see what happens in the tourney.

Wooster game was very hard to watch. Wooster came out more physical and wanted that game more. Our inexperience is gonna be tough to overcome and if I am coaching against Orrville I pressure the guards all night long and force them to bring the ball up the full length of the court with someone in their face the entire time. And without a big man to clog the middle and score around the hoop...could be in for a looooong season!!

Wooster game was a blowout early. I'm sure Wooster has high expectations after naming Snowbarger the head coach. I don't think Wooster will ever be prepared to make a postseason run like Snowbarger's Smithville teams did unless they improve their schedule though. Playing in the OCC will do little for them when it comes to beating Canton McKinley, Jackson, Garfield Heights, Shaker Heights, Mentor, East Tech, etc. Are there any plans for Wooster to improve their strength of schedule?

Old Rider;1768051 wrote:Wooster game was very hard to watch. Wooster came out more physical and wanted that game more. Our inexperience is gonna be tough to overcome and if I am coaching against Orrville I pressure the guards all night long and force them to bring the ball up the full length of the court with someone in their face the entire time. And without a big man to clog the middle and score around the hoop...could be in for a looooong season!!

Don't give out the blueprint to beat us...(one of the blueprints)

Cannot believe how quiet this is.

An-Old-Fan;1768426 wrote:Cannot believe how quiet this is.

Nothing worth talking about

Boys gave up 22 first quarter points to Senior and then held them to 30 over the next 3 quarters. Dug too big of a hole early...but battled back and had a chance at the end.

Was really hoping you'd pull the upset!

CCRolly;1769359 wrote:Was really hoping you'd pull the upset!

I am sure you were!

Old Rider;1768457 wrote:Nothing worth talking about

Agreed. Conference will be tough & district will be tough..just hope we're playing our best when it counts.

Orrville loses a close game to Thomas Worthington at the Wqkt Smith Classic.

An-Old-Fan;1770438 wrote:Orrville loses a close game to Thomas Worthington at the Wqkt Smith Classic.

I like watching games at the COW, but the Steve Smith Classic needs to be moved to Orrville. The crowds are not big enough for the COW and it seems so empty at every game. It would be much better in a smaller venue. I would prefer watching them in the old gym at Orrville.

^^ I am guessing there is a way that the top section on both sides at the COW they would not need to open up? Maybe that would help with making people sit down in the lower section and making it feel like it is fuller? Just a thought.

Coach_08;1770699 wrote:^^ I am guessing there is a way that the top section on both sides at the COW they would not need to open up? Maybe that would help with making people sit down in the lower section and making it feel like it is fuller? Just a thought.

I haven't been to the Smitty in 2 years. Not worth going. Parking stinks and the matchup of teams the past few years has been average at best. Also no more COW game to cap the day is a big minus. Was neat to go watch Orrville and then stick around for the Scots.

Move it to Orrville. Have the classic at the gym with Smitty's name on the floor. It would be our own little Classic in the Country like down at Hiland. Their whole community turns out to support that. I'd think Orrville would do well too in Smitty's memory. Could even throw in a girls game or several....you have the multipurpose building to allow teams to warm up. The Champions Hallway to feed the teams and the old gym for girls games.

One ticket...come and go as you please.

I'll handle the matchups.

RedRider1;1771601 wrote:I haven't been to the Smitty in 2 years. Not worth going. Parking stinks and the matchup of teams the past few years has been average at best. Also no more COW game to cap the day is a big minus. Was neat to go watch Orrville and then stick around for the Scots.

Move it to Orrville. Have the classic at the gym with Smitty's name on the floor. It would be our own little Classic in the Country like down at Hiland. Their whole community turns out to support that. I'd think Orrville would do well too in Smitty's memory. Could even throw in a girls game or several....you have the multipurpose building to allow teams to warm up. The Champions Hallway to feed the teams and the old gym for girls games.

One ticket...come and go as you please.

I'll handle the matchups.

I went this year after a 2 year hiatus. I was surprised at how small the crowds from Dalton, Orrville, and Triway were. I didn't expect Ontario or Thomas Worthington to bring big crowds. Wooster brought a nice crowd. This has turned into an event that only has marginal local interest. There are numerous other events similar to this that simply attract much better talent. Most casual fans are going to go where they can see the highest level of basketball. I'm not sure that bigger, better teams are going to come to this event to play a small, Wayne County school. Most of these events pit powerhouses vs powerhouses. St Ed's, VASJ, East Tech, St V, Garfield Heights, Lake, Jackson, McKinley, etc. will travel.........but only for games against quality competition. There should also be a concerted effort to hire quality officials at this event. Too many of these games become unwatchable free throw shooting contests. That rarely happens at 1 of the top level showcases. Let the kids play!

187xovr;1771846 wrote:I went this year after a 2 year hiatus. I was surprised at how small the crowds from Dalton, Orrville, and Triway were. I didn't expect Ontario or Thomas Worthington to bring big crowds. Wooster brought a nice crowd. This has turned into an event that only has marginal local interest. There are numerous other events similar to this that simply attract much better talent. Most casual fans are going to go where they can see the highest level of basketball. I'm not sure that bigger, better teams are going to come to this event to play a small, Wayne County school. Most of these events pit powerhouses vs powerhouses. St Ed's, VASJ, East Tech, St V, Garfield Heights, Lake, Jackson, McKinley, etc. will travel.........but only for games against quality competition. There should also be a concerted effort to hire quality officials at this event. Too many of these games become unwatchable free throw shooting contests. That rarely happens at 1 of the top level showcases. Let the kids play!

Don't disagree. What's needed is to make it unique somehow.

What about a PAC vs WCAL challenge? Most schools already play a few teams from the other league...but how about this:

Tuslaw vs Northwestern
Orrville vs Chippewa
Northwest vs Waynedale
Triway vs Dalton

Could rotate so every 2 years, every school in each league participates....or use both new and old gyms at OHS so everyone participates.

Maybe on top of the 4 games, there's an overall "PAC/WCAL Shootout" champion named. Maybe have a 1 hour gap in the middle for a 3 pt. shooting contest or skills contest...each school picks 1 player to compete.

Interesting at least.

RedRider1;1773157 wrote:Don't disagree. What's needed is to make it unique somehow.

What about a PAC vs WCAL challenge? Most schools already play a few teams from the other league...but how about this:

Tuslaw vs Northwestern
Orrville vs Chippewa
Northwest vs Waynedale
Triway vs Dalton

Could rotate so every 2 years, every school in each league participates....or use both new and old gyms at OHS so everyone participates.

Maybe on top of the 4 games, there's an overall "PAC/WCAL Shootout" champion named. Maybe have a 1 hour gap in the middle for a 3 pt. shooting contest or skills contest...each school picks 1 player to compete.

Interesting at least.

Get the AD on this!

rrfan;1773364 wrote:Get the AD on this!

Your buddy!

RedRider1;1773157 wrote:Don't disagree. What's needed is to make it unique somehow.

What about a PAC vs WCAL challenge? Most schools already play a few teams from the other league...but how about this:

Tuslaw vs Northwestern
Orrville vs Chippewa
Northwest vs Waynedale
Triway vs Dalton

Could rotate so every 2 years, every school in each league participates....or use both new and old gyms at OHS so everyone participates.

Maybe on top of the 4 games, there's an overall "PAC/WCAL Shootout" champion named. Maybe have a 1 hour gap in the middle for a 3 pt. shooting contest or skills contest...each school picks 1 player to compete.

Interesting at least.

Or make it a weekend long event (similar to the CIC in Berlin) and have some teams play more than one game over a 2-3 day period. This can include JV games in the old gym (they do the same with the girls at the CIC). Invite Shelby and Old Fort every year (Smitty graduated from one and coached the other) and throw an invite to Steve Jr.'s team in Florida. Smitty had ties all over this state...if the invite was there for the right school, they would come simply because the tourney honors him!

RedRider1;1773157 wrote:Don't disagree. What's needed is to make it unique somehow.

What about a PAC vs WCAL challenge? Most schools already play a few teams from the other league...but how about this:

Tuslaw vs Northwestern
Orrville vs Chippewa
Northwest vs Waynedale
Triway vs Dalton

Could rotate so every 2 years, every school in each league participates....or use both new and old gyms at OHS so everyone participates.

Maybe on top of the 4 games, there's an overall "PAC/WCAL Shootout" champion named. Maybe have a 1 hour gap in the middle for a 3 pt. shooting contest or skills contest...each school picks 1 player to compete.

Interesting at least.

Great idea! How about trying to add one premier game between two big school state powers as well. Certainly somebody in the county has the connections to set up a game between Ed's, Ignatius, VASJ, SVSM, Hoban, Garfield Heights, Moeller, Walnut Hills, Northland, etc. Many of these teams are independent and look for opportunities like this when they will play a worthy opponent. I think local fans would relish the opportunity to see some of that talent on the floor as well. If people in the county have enough connections to get Tuslaw moved out of the Wooster district (to Salem) in a year they would be heavy favorites, I would surely think they could make this happen.