Best Team in your schools Modern History 1970-2011

[jimmy chipwood]

What was your school's best team ever? It doesnt have to necessarily be the team that got the farthest in the tournament or the team with the best record in school history just simply the best team your school has ever had. If it is impossible to decide between two or three teams list them all as a tie.

I will start with an easy one

North Adams 1996 (25-1) State Semifinalist


West Union 1988 (19-4) Regional Semifinalist (Better Defense)
West Union 1989 (18-5) District Semifinalist (Better Offense) (Injury to best player for 9 games) (could/should have made deeper run in tournament after beating two state ranked teams in sectional.

[Philos_Finest]

Philo's best was 1999.


Lost in the State Championship game in OT. Kettering Alter was down 3 with 10 seconds left when they missed a tying 3. Somehow, they got the offensive rebound(we started and had three, 6'6 players on the court) & they caught the ball at the foul line, took 2 quick steps backwards and drained the tying 3 with no time left on the clock. It's still debated to this day whether the player was on the line or not when he took the shot.

Philo had a season low in Foul Shot % in this game and it cost them a state title.

[KingJames]

Reedsville Eastern 2001. Lost in the State Semi-final to Tip City Bethel. Matt Simpson, Garrett Karr, Chris Lyons

Reedsville Eastern 2005. Lost to Africentric in the Regionals who was later found guilty of some wrongdoing. Cody Dill, Robbie Cross, Nathan Cozart

[jimmy chipwood]

If you know the team record go ahead and put it with the information. All-State players who played on those teams, etc.

[buckcraze]

Chillicothe Cavaliers...1980-1981 lost to Canton Mckinley led by Troy Taylor and Ron Stokes in Canton in the regional final. This Cavalier team was led by future Superbowl stater Garin Veris, Jeff Doles and a cast of hard nosed ballplayers. I know Chilli won a DII state title but this 80-81 team would have beaten them by 30 or more.

[theuglytruth]

Lynchburgs team with Cluxton in I think 1994 was a nice team...

[Peake]

Matt Simpson was the truth

[Hoppy]

Portsmouth Trojans

The teams that I have seen in my lifetime. The 1978, 79 and 80 teams are my all time favorite teams!! Very blessed to be around those guys.

1978 AA State Champs Not a great record 19-7 but had two major injuries that didn't help. Jeff Lisath missed about 8 games and Jim Muarry missed some games at the end of the season. Six of the players on that team played a sport at the division 1 level. State Championship game they defeated Cleveland Latin the 77 State Champion.

1979 Ranked number 1 all season long in AA, and went undefeated during the regular season but lost to Ironton in the District final.

1988 State Champs in AA. Great team and Coach Sub pushed every button correctly. I think they were 27-1.

1980 AA State -Runner up. What a tournament run this team had. Not the most talented team but were big and strong! Lead by Kirk McMahon, Marcus Bendolph and about 4 or 5 guys over 6'5. Came within 1 point of winning it all.

[danicalifornia]

Unioto--1990-1991(23-4)

State Runner-Up
Lost by 20 in the Finals to Wayne Trace as they used a women's ball for the entire 1st quarter.

There's no argument any other way either, as no other team has won a District Title. The teams for about the 5 or 6 seasons after that were extremely entertaining to watch and while being very good, never made a big tournament run.

[trojandave]

I would like to add the 1990 Trojan state runnerup team to Hoppy's good post........the 1990 team won the second most games in PHS history, with a 24-3 record.........they lost to a very good Dayton Colonel White team in the D2 state championship game 71-57.

Starters were Eric Miller, Brian Kelly, Phil Whitehead, Daryl Lisath, and Damond Mannon.......all but Lisath returned for the 1991 season in which PHS had an outstanding 22-3 record and a 70-69 loss to Columbus Briggs in the regional final in Athens.

[eagles73Taylor]

^^^^ But Unioto is the Mecca of southern ohio basketball! lol I kid, I kid!

For Piketon, I for one will challenge the 1970 as being as far back as you can go and say, the 1956-57 team. Led by Drexel Williams, a 6'5" swingman the Redstreaks were defeated by New Boston in the District finals, which would be the Regional finals today.

08-09, state semi finalists, lost to state champ CCC. 2 1,000 point scorers and a good supporting cast including Legg who is a Sr. this year.

91-92' lost in Regional semis to Burg. Caudill perhaps the best player ever in school history along with a solid supporting cast including Tackett, Lamerson, Dunham, Burkitt, Ross all seniors.


98-99' and 85-86' tie. While the 86 team won the league and Regional semis, the 98 team was special also, however the league that year was stacked and the placed 2nd. Doug Williams went on to Miami Ohio on the 98 team, Scott Legg and company for the 86 team tough to call, so I call it a tie.

[jimmy chipwood]

Lynchburgs team with Cluxton in I think 1994 was a nice team...

Lynchburg went to the State in 1993 but Im not sure what their team record was - I would guess that it was 25-1 or 24-2 probably.

[southernohio13]

Chillicothe Cavaliers...1980-1981 lost to Canton Mckinley led by Troy Taylor and Ron Stokes in Canton in the regional final. This Cavalier team was led by future Superbowl stater Garin Veris, Jeff Doles and a cast of hard nosed ballplayers. I know Chilli won a DII state title but this 80-81 team would have beaten them by 30 or more.

LOL. Everytime I hear about the 1981 team I always hear about the opposing team that beat them. I watched that team many years ago but I have to disagree with the statement above.

The 2008 Chillicothe team that not only won the state championship also finished the year being rated the best team in the state of ohio. This season they defeated number 1 ranked Dayton Dunbar on a neutrol floor. Newark on OSU floor which won the D1 State Title. Poland Seminary team that was ranked 1 and was 25-0 until the Cavs played them. Toledo Libbey, who we all know was quite the team and ranked in the nation. Chillicothe finished the season 25-2.

They are the only team in ross county boys history to win a state title. There are many schools in ross county such as Unioto, Southeastern, Zane trace, Huntington, Paint Valley.. Did I miss any? Its very difficult to debate this conversation due to this reason.

[TribeManiac10]

The 83-84 Peebles team is probably the school's best up to this point. Ranked #2 in the state in their division, they finished the regular season 19-1 and went on to lose to an absolutely stacked Columbus Wehrle team in the regional. Wehrle was led by two future Ohio State buckeyes in Jerry Francis(Scored over 1400pts at OSU) and Eli Brewster. Does anyone happen to know if Lawrence Funderburke was a freshman or an eight grader that year at Wehrle?

[jimmy chipwood]

The 83-84 Peebles team is probably the school's best up to this point. Ranked #2 in the state in their division, they finished the regular season 19-1 and went on to lose to an absolutely stacked Columbus Wehrle team in the regional. Wehrle was led by two future Ohio State buckeyes in Jerry Francis(Scored over 1400pts at OSU) and Eli Brewster. Does anyone happen to know if Lawrence Funderburke was a freshman or an eight grader that year at Wehrle?

If you break down the rostors, strengths, weaknesses, SOS, etc is the 83-84 team better than the undefeated 81 and 82 teams with the Justice twins. Break those two teams down = which one was a tad stronger - my guess would probably be the one with Kelly Copeland in the post (81).

[4thgoal]

2006 Wheelersburg (23-2) lost to VASJ (David Lighty) in the Final 4 71-62
Cam Miller was 3rd team all state
2007 Wheelersburg (24-2, AP#6) lost to NCH in the Final 4 69-66 (OT) on a half court shot
Cam Miller was 1st team all state
Drew Spradlin was 2nd team all state

Basically this was the same team both years, with the only senior on the '06 team being Nick Carrington.

[ohbuckeye2]

2005 Ironton Fighting Tigers (26-1) State Runner Up.

Dennis Gaigai
Cliff Howard
Brigham Waginger
Joe Zornes
Marcus Williams
Chad Miller
Brent McBride
Patrick Kounes

I remember nobody gave Ironton a chance in this game and before the game was over most of the crowd was cheering for Ironton, who nearly pulled off a major upset over North College Hill who had O.J.Mayo, Bill Walker, 6'11 Keenan Ellis, Damon Butler and Darion Goins.

From OHSAA

Ironton vs North College Hill (3-19-05) Value City Arena, Columbus, Ohio
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VISITORS: Ironton 26-1
...............................TOT-FG.......3-PT.......................REBOUNDS
## Player Name..............FG-FGA.....FG-FGA.....FT-FTA.....OF...DE...TOT...PF.....TP.....A.....TO.....BLK.....S.....MIN
10 Gagai, Dennis..............9-15..........3-7.........1-3........3.....4.....7.....4.......22.....3......2........1......2.....32
13 Waginger, Brigham........1-9...........0-2.........0-0........1.....3.....4......3........2.....6......3........0......5.....28
22 Zornes, Joe.................2-9...........2-6.........0-0........1.....2.....3.....3........6......0......3........0......1.....31
24 Howard, Cliffton.........12-18..........0-0..........4-9........9.....7....16.....4.......28.....0......3........0......0.....28
45 Williams, Marcus...........2-6...........0-1..........0-2........2.....3.....5.....3........4......0......3........0......0.....31
21 Miller, Chad................0-0...........0-0..........0-0........0.....1.....1......0........0.....1......0........0.......0......5
32 McBride, Brent.............0-0...........0-0..........0-0........0.....0.....0......0........0.....0......1........0.......0......1
50 Kouns, Patrick..............0-0...........0-0..........3-4........1.....0.....1......0........3.....0......0.......0........0......4
TEAM................
Totals..........................26-57.........5-16.........8-18......17....20....37....17......65.....10....15.......1.......8.....160

TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 13-29 44.8% 2nd Half: 13-28 46.4% Game: 45.6% DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 2-9 22.2% 2nd Half: 3-7 42.9% Game: 31.3% REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 7-15 46.7% 2nd Half: 1-3 33.3% Game: 44.4% 4

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HOME TEAM: North College Hill 27-1

.............................TOT-FG.......3-PT........................REBOUNDS
## Player Name...........FG-FGA.....FG-FGA......FT-FTA......OF....DE....TOT.....PF.....TP.....A.....TO.....BLK.....S.....MIN
15 Walker, Bill..............7-15..........2-5..........3-5..........6.....8......14.......2......19....0.......2.......1......3.....30
20 Goins, Darion............3-8...........0-3..........0-2..........1.....1.......2........0.......6....1.......1.......0......0.....22
21 Butler, Damon...........2-6...........1-3..........1-1..........1.....0.......1........1.......6.....5......4.......0......1.....29
32 Mayo, O.J...............8-17...........3-8..........3-3.........1......2.......3.......4.......22....6......4.......0......3.....31
50 Ellis, Keenan.............6-8............0-0..........2-2.........3......4.......7.......3.......14....0......2.......5......0.....22
04 Glover, Nathaniel........0-1............0-1..........0-0.........1......0.......1........0.......0.....0.....1.......0......1......4
40 Leary, Paul...............0-0............0-0..........0-0.........0......0.......0........0.......0.....0.....0.......0......0......5
42 Victorian, George........0-1............0-1..........0-0.........0......2.......2........3.......0.....1.....1.......0......0.....10
44 Evans, Andre.............2-2............0-0..........0-0..........0......1.......1........3.......4.....0.....0.......0......0......7
TEAM................
Totals.......................28-58...........6-21........9-13........14.....18......32......16......71....13....15......6......8.....160

[danicalifornia]

^^^^ But Unioto is the Mecca of southern ohio basketball! lol I kid, I kid! .

Lol, X makes some ridiculous statements. Unioto, in all honesty, is probably the Mecca of postseason disappointments. I could probably name off 25 heartbreaking losses that we shouldve won in various sports.

[TribeManiac10]

The 83-84 Peebles team is probably the school's best up to this point. Ranked #2 in the state in their division, they finished the regular season 19-1 and went on to lose to an absolutely stacked Columbus Wehrle team in the regional. Wehrle was led by two future Ohio State buckeyes in Jerry Francis(Scored over 1400pts at OSU) and Eli Brewster. Does anyone happen to know if Lawrence Funderburke was a freshman or an eight grader that year at Wehrle?

If you break down the rostors, strengths, weaknesses, SOS, etc is the 83-84 team better than the undefeated 81 and 82 teams with the Justice twins. Break those two teams down = which one was a tad stronger - my guess would probably be the one with Kelly Copeland in the post (81).

That was a great team. Hard to argue either way.

[Peake]

the 05 Ironton team was stacked, best team I have seen in SEO from top to bottom.