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,cols 1 ®IviCLASS AAA RESULTS 1923-Lorain 15, Bellevue 14; 1924-Dayton Silvers 30, East 16; 1925-Springfield 32, Lakewood 30, 2 OT; 1926-Zanesville 40, Akron East 27; 1927-Dover 23, Toledo Waite 21; 1928-Dayton Slivers 25, Canton McKinley 20; 1929-Dayton Slivers 36, Dover 22; 1930Dayton Slivers 18, Akron East 16; 1931-Portsmouth 20, Canton McKinley 19, OT; 1932Akron West 26, North 17; 1933-Dover 34, Marietta 23; 1934-Dayton Roosevelt 46, Portsmouth 30; 1935-Akron North 47, Coshocton 17; 1936-Newark 32, Findlay 23; 1937-Hamilton 37, Massillon 32; 1938-Newark 28, New Philadelphia 27; 1939-Akron North 47, Cincinnati Roger Bacon 38; 1940-New Philadelphia 30, Canton McKinley 22; 1941-Martins Ferry 37, Lakewood 30; 1942-Xenia Central 51, Toledo Central Catholic 33; 1943-Newark 47, Canton McKinley 42; 1944-Middletown 50, Toledo Woodward 46, OT; 1945-Bellevue 36, Middletown 34; 1946-Middletown 42, Akron North 37; 1947-Middletown 47, East Liverpool 29; 1948-Findlay 51, Hamilton Catholic 36; 1949-Hamilton Public 70, Toledo Central Catholic 52; 1950-Springfield Public 53, Akron South 48; 1951-East 57, Hamilton 39; 1952Middletown 63, Steubenville 53; 1953-Middletown 73, Newark 35; 1954-Hamilton 66, South 56; 1955-Zanesville 56, Cincinnati Hughes 42; 1956-Middletown 91, Canton McKinley 69; 1957-Middletown 64, Kent Roosevelt 54; 1958-Cleveland East Tech 50, North 48, 2 OT; 1959-Cleveland East Tech 71, Salem 51; 1960-Dayton Roosevelt 51, Cleveland East Tech 41; 1961-Portsmouth 50, Urbana 44; 1962-Hamilton Taft 59, Cleveland East Tech 52; 1963-East 41, Marion Harding 32; 1964-Dayton Belmont 89, Cleveland East 60; 1965-South 54, Cincinnati St. Xavier 53; 1966-Dayton Chaminade 55, Toledo Libbey 52; 1967-Linden 88, Cleveland East Tech 56; 1968-East 64, Hamilton Garfield 60; 1969East 71, Canton McKinley 56; 1970-Dayton Qhaminade 69, Rossford 47; 1971-Walnut Ridge 76, Dayton Dunbar 63; 1972-Cleveland East Tech 78, Cincinnati Princeton 67; 1973Cincinnati Elder 60, Akron Central-Hower 53; 9974--Cincinnati; Elder 60, Canton McKinley 54; 1975-Linden 77, Cleveland Heights 72; 1976-Barberton 82, Middletown 70; 1977Linden 80, Barberton 74; 1978-Kettering After 68, Akron Central-Hower 52; 1979-East 74, Cleveland St. Joseph 65; 1980-Akron CentralHower 52, Lorain Admiral King 48; 1981-Dayton Roth 73, Wadsworth 66; 1982-Cincinnati Roger Bacon 71, Barberton 67, OT; 1983-Toledo St. Francis 58, Akron Central-Hower 49; 'I984--Canton McKinley 79, Dayton Dunbar 75, OT; 1985-Cincinnati Purcell Marian 65, MansfieldSenior 57; 1986-Akron Central-Hower 70, South 44; 1987-Dayton Dunbar 70, Canton DIVISION I RESULTS 1988-Cincinnati Woodward 107, Linden 70; 1969-Toledo Macomber 75, Cleveland St. Joseph 72; 1990-Toledo Scott 64, Cincinnati Woodward 53; 1991-Cleveland Villa AngelaSt. Joseph 76, West Chester Lakota 72, OT; 1992-West Chester Lakota 88, Lima Senior 86; OT; 1993-Cincinnati Elder 62, Toledo St. John's 53; 1994-Westerville North 50, Cincinnati Withrow 46; 1995-Zanesville 69, Cleveland Heights 68, OT; 1996-Cincinnati LaSalle 59, Toledo St. John's 56; 1997-Cleveland Heights 60, Zanesville 52; 1998-Lakewood St. Edward 70, Cleveland St. Ignatius 61. CLASS AA RESULTS 1971-Canton Lehman 68, Warren Champion 63; 1972-Ready 59, Lexington 47; 1973Ready 79, Delphos St. John's 66, 1974-Akron Manchester 72, Hartley 52; 1975-Warsaw River View 77, Dayton Stivers 72, OT; 1976Dayton Roth 82, Lorain Catholic 81; 1977Cleveland Cathedral Latin 69, Mifflin 65; 1978-Portsmouth 63, Cleveland Cathedral Latin 62; 1979-Dayton Jefferson 65, Cleveland Cathedral Latin 63; 1980-Hamilton Ross 45, Portsmouth 44; 1981-Napoleon 60, New Lebanon Dixie 48; 1982-Dayton Roth 68, Youngstown Rayen 56; 1983-Bexley 77, Oak Harbor 58; 1984-Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary 75, Wheelersburg 71; 1985-Youngstown Rayen 50, Linden 46; 1986--Oberlin 74, Enon Greenon 70; 1987-DeSales 71, Dayton Jefferson 64. DIVISION 11 RESULTS 1988-Portsmouth 54, West Geauga 47; 1989-Lexington 89;West Geauga 57; 1990Dayton Colonel White 71, Portsmouth 57; 1991--Lexington 55, Dayton Chaminade-Julienne 53; 1992-Cleveland Villa Angela-St. Joseph_ 61, St. Charles 48; 1993-Girard 64, Whitehall 57; 1994-Cleveland Villa Angela-St. Joseph 73, Wauseon 59; 1995-Cleveland Villa Angela-St. Joseph 58, Cambridge 46; 1996Orrville 64, Ottawa-Glandorf 63; 1997-Cleveland Benedictine 71, Akron Buchtel 68; 1998Cleveland Benedictine 57, Dover 48. DIVISION III RESULTS 1988-Hamilton Badin 68, Tuscarawas Valley 63; 1989-Akron Hoban 52, North College Hill 49, 2 OT; 1990-St. Henry 71, Youngstown Liberty 60; 1991-Wayne.Trace 77, Chillicothe Unioto 55; 1992-Orrvllle 78, Patrick Henry 65; 1393--Campbell Memorial 47, Belpre 39; 1994-Youngstown Ursuline 55, Lima Central Catholic 53; 1995- Orrville 79, Wheelersburg 50; 1996-Miami East 58, Archbold 53; 1997Patrick Henry 63, Cleveland Villa Angela-St. Joseph 61; 1998-Highland 80, Cincinnati Indian Hill 61. CLASS A RESULTS 1923-Plattsburg 16, Belipoint 15; 1924Bellpoint 24, Archbold 20; 1925-Belipoint 42, Oberlin 24; 1926-Oberlin 32, Miamisburg 13; 1927-Kent State 20, Oberlin 16; 1928-Marshall 20, Manchester 17; 1929-Akron St. Mary 28, Bluffton 26; 1930-Lancaster St. Marys 34, Rome 3; 1931--Austintowh-Fitch 26, Lancaster St. Marys 24, 2 OT; 1932-Castalia Margaretta 26, Ostrander 24, OT; 1933-Springfield Lawrenceville 36, Henrietta 24; 1934-Waterloo 40, Mark Center 26; 1935-Waterloo 25, Oxford Stewart 22; 1936-Sandusky St. Mary's 25, Leesburg 22; 1937-Upper Arlington' 43, Lockland 25; 1938-Canal Fulton 42, Enon 21; 1939-North Canton 24, Sandusky St. Marys 23; 1940-New Carlisle 43, Canfield 26; 1941Glenford 48, Canfield 28; 1942-Somerset 49, Bremen 42; 1943-Yorkville 54, Tipp City 30; 1944-Akron Ellet 49, Lima St. Johns 39; 1945-Dayton Northridge 51, Columbiana 42; 1946--Farmer 36, Worthington 32; 1947-Columbiana 43, New Knoxville 34; 1948-Eaton 45, Lima St. Rose 36; 1949-Delphos St. John's 47, Lockland Wayne 43; 1950-Miller City 44, Eaton 36; 1951-Grand Rapids 52, Waynesburg 51; 1952-Lockland Wayne 56, Nelsonville 46; 1953-Mariemont 87, Philo 44; 1954-New Lexington St. Aloysius 65, Delphos St: John's 63; 1955-Lockland Wayne 64, Wilshire 56; 1956-Arcanum 72, St. Marys 71; 1957-Ayersville 74, Gratis 73, OT; 1958West Salem Northwestern 60, Bucyrus Holmes Liberty 56; 1959-Edgerton 57, Linwood Jacksontown 53; 1960-Salem Local 74, Frazeysburg 59, 19611-Ayersville 40, Youngstown Libonly 38; 1962-New Lebanon Dixie 74, Berlin Hiland 62; 1963-Dresden Jefferson 48, Jackson Center 46; 1964-Dresden Jefferson 71, Celina 61; 1965-West Salem Northwestern 55, Springhoro 45; 1966-New Lebanon Dixie 75, Rossford 63; 1967-Strasburg 54, Arcanum 47; 1968-Mansfield St. Peter's 73, Petersburg Springfield 50; 1969-Arcanum 84; Bridgeport 59; 1970-Cincinnati Lincoln Heights 62, Sebring McKinley 60; 1971-Fort Recovery 70, Pleasant 57; 1972-Indian Valley South 59, nidgedale 41; 1973-Pleasant 42, Indian Valley South 37; 1974-Lorain Clearview 74, Franklin Monroe 69; 1975-Maria Stein Marion 59, Indian Valley South 56, OT; 1976-Indian Valley South 63, Pettisville 53; 1977-Fort Loramie 63, Mansfield St. Peter's 50; 1978-Mansfield St. Peter's 78, Tipp City Bethel 60; 1979St. Henry 64, Mansfield St. Peter's 57; 1980- . Sandusky St. Mary's 62, Cincinnati Summit Country Day .56, OT; 1981-Kalida 58, Academy 44; 1982-Middletown Fenwick 64, Racine Southern 44; 1983-Delphos St. John's 55, Buckeye Central 48; 1984-Monroeville 66, Ir ehrle 62; 1985-Jackson Center 63, Graysvilie Skyvue 61; 1986-Wehrle 72, Dayton Jefferson 58;1987-Fort Loramie 68, Wynford 50.

DIVISION IV RESULTS 1988-Webrle 71, Kalida 54; 1989-Wehrle 83, Lima Central Catholic 81; 1990-Wehrle 67, Springfield Catholic Central 58; 1991-St. Henry 71, Tri-Village 45; 1992-Berlin Hiland 74, Gates Mills Gilmour 71; 1993-Fort Loramie 70, New Riegel 54; 1994-Upper Scioto Valley 56, Worthington Christian 54; 1995-Liberty Benton 70, Springfield Catholic Central 51; 1996-Springfield Catholic Central 75, Van Wert Lincolnview 52; 1997-Van Wert Lincolnview 76, Rosecrans 60; 1998-Dayton Jefferson 74, Delphos St. John's 71, OT.

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By Marls Ztnld ar6 Reporter Dispatch Sports At least on a miniature scale, East Liverpool point guard Danny Swoger knows what it's like to walk in the shoes of actor and heartthrob Leonardo DiCa rio. The day after the Pottersreached the Division I state boys basketball tournament with a victory over Springfield South, adoring grade schoolers swarmed Swoger and his teammates for autographs. Things like that happen in the Ohio River town of approximately 17,000, where there aren't any professional or college sports teams to embrace. "There have been a lot of congratulations, people saying, `Great job,' and a lot of great support," Swoger said. "Everywhere you go people have to tell you what we've done. Little kids come up to ask for autographs." The Potters (23-1), who will meet Shaker Heights (24-1) in a semifinal at 6 p.m. Friday, were the talk of the town long before qualifying for their first trip to Columbus since 1947. It's not uncommon for fans to drive a couple of hours to watch their football and basketball teams. Homeames are a hapg p peeing. The players realize their every move is being studied,especially by the little ones. "You have to be on your best behavior because you play for East Liverpool," Swoger said. "You hear little kids saying, `I'm No. 11,' or `I'm No. 44.' You have to be

pointto Brookhaven in a regional semifinal. "There were years when we thought Zanesville and East Liverpool were the two best teams in the state, Aloi said. It was just unfortunate that we had to meet in the sectional. Something just had to give for us. Now there isjust euphoria." Aloi, who came over from nearby -Midland High School in Pennsylvania, realized when he took the job that tradition, school spirit and superb feeder systems could take East Liverpool point guard the Potters only so far. In order for East Liverpool to reach its potential, Aloi began taking his players on responsible. We realize that." long road trips in search of stronger compeEast Liverpool might be hard to find on tition. East Liverpool has won the the last the map-it's 2 miles from the Pennsylva- nine River Valley League titles. nia border, an hour south of Youngstown "We're very isolated and we have to do a and 30 minutes northeast of Steubenville- lot of traveling to play Division I schools," but its talented basketball team stands out. he said. "Zanesville is 2% hours away and in Nick Aloi has coached the Potters to five the same sectional. We're an hour away 20-win seasons this decade and to 216 wins from Bridgeport. in 13seasons. "We also established a holiday tournaBut this group, led by Swoger, 6-foot-8 ment to bring in good teams. We brought in center Forrest Kirby, 6-5 forward Robert teams from Pennsylvania, from Trotwood Jackson, 6-foot forward Robbie Green and Madison and West from Columbus. You've 6-6 shooting guard Justin Kreefer, has been gotto do that if you're going to get better." Aloi's favorite. Don't expect the Potters to be deer in "I think this group has all the ingredi- the headlights when they reach Columbus. ents"Aloi said. They're ty lads, but they're somewhat y not city The Potters also got over a huge speed cocky and can play the city game. bump by beating Zanesville in the sectional. "We're on a mission now," Swoger said. When the Blue Devils were playing in "We're going to be OK(in Columbus)." state tournaments in 1995 and '97 and in a Jackson said the Potters fear no one. regional final in '96, East Liverpool was "Probably because of our athleticism," gnashing its teeth at home. Last year, the he said. "Five-on-five, we've got good talPotters got past Zanesville but lost by one ent. We know we can play."

`Eve ►where you d L'pl have to tell you what we've done. Little kids come up to ask for autographs." DANNYG

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Robert Jackson (44), a 6-foot-5 forward, is part of an athletic starting rive for East Liverpool.

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By Steve Blackledge Dispatch Sports Reporter

Gregg Collins was only in the early stages of gathering information about state tournament opponent Cincinnati Moeller, but the Mansfield Senior coach already had the book'` on Crusaders standout Mike Monserez. s "I'm a huge Notre Dame fan and I subscribe to Blue and Gold Illustrated," he said.RM "I've been reading detailed reports about this kid since he committed to the Irish his junior year. I've been very anxious I to see him play -just not against us. I hope all the rave, I reviews I've seen on him are all wrong,at leastfor one game." Mansfield Senior (22-3) meets Moeller (19-6) in a Division I state semifinal at9 p.m. Friday in Value City Arena [ Monserez, a 6-foot-5 point guard averaging 19.6 points and 6.2 assists per game, will be a player worth watching in a tournament largely devoid of big-name standouts. "Mike is not the quickest guy in the world and he doesn't jump out of the gym," Moeller coach Carl Kremer said. "He's hardly an unbelievable physical specimen. "He's just a kid who uses his size, work ethic, court awareness and understanding of the game to make up for his limitations elsewhere. The most important thing about Mike is the Ernest Coleman /cincinnati Enquirer other kids feed off him. He's a big reason why we're here." Monserez (Mike of Cincinnati Moeller, right, is a heady, allThe perimeter-oriented Tygers start three players 6 feet around player averaging 19.6 points a game as a point guard. and under,posing plenty ofconcerns for Collins. "We don't have much size to start with," he said."To match up with a quality 6-5 lad running the show is going to be sounded-to upset previously unbeaten Beavercreeli:!y6QU7 in difficult. They're pretty darn big and strong. No question; their a regional final. size is something we'll have to deal with." "We're completely overwhelmed to be here for the first Kremer, who goes 6-6 and 6-3 inside to complement Mon- time in school history," Kremer said. "These 10 seniors have serez, wondered whether Collins picked up a bogus scouting put themselves in a position to have this success." report. In turn, tradition-rich Mansfield Senior returned only one "Sometimes, you the hear the word Moeller and you expect starter in 6-foot senior guard Marquis Sykes - the Tygers' us to come out with a bunch of big, burly, 230-pound lineback- equivalent of Monserez. ers from the footballteam," he said. "As a third-year starter, Marquis means an awful lot to this "Our tall guys are pretty thin. We're not a great inside team, ballclub," Collins said. "He can handle the ball, shoot, defend to tell you the truth. Nobody has dunked for us all year. Not and is a great team leader. Plus, he's got a tremendous record. once. That's rare for a Division I team. Our strength is that we How can you argue with three conference championships?" play real smart and we're good at identifying and attacking our Collins won Division II state titles in 1989 and '91 at Lexingopponents' weaknesses." ton, but took a four-year sabbatical before resurfacing at Moeller also has carved a niche for pulling out tight games. Mansfield Senior. The Crusaders rallied from 14 points down in the final 1:40 "We thought we had done all we could at Lexington," he to defeat Vandalia-Butler 62-59 in a district final. On Saturday, said. "A big part of the coaching game is that you need chalMoeller got in a tip-in - many say after the final buzzer lenges. This was definitely a different kind ofchallenge."

The doctor who reconstructed Jon Higgins' left lamee last August was optimistic about a full recovery. Higgins, a 6-foot-3 senior point guard from Shaker Heights, had only one problem with the rehabilitation plans: He wasn't going to live without basketball until his freshiman season at the University ofTennessee. "I had never been hint like that before," Higgins said. "Oh, I had a broken finger and things like that. Then the doctor told me it would be the whole year. I said I'd come back for-at, least the playoffs." When the Red Raiders (24-1) meet East Liverpool (23-1) in a Division I state tournament semifinal at 6 p.m. Friday in Value City Arena,Higgins will be in the starting lineup. Coach Bob Wonson knew Higgins was running in a swin-; ming pool with a weighted vest, lifting weights and going through other rehabilitation exercises. But he was taken aback when Higgins was playing full speed almost six months to the day after having ligament surgery. He: suffered the injury landing awkwardly during an AAU game iii.; July in California. "I heard that Jon was hurt and said, `Well, there it; goes for us,'" Wonson said. "I thought we'd have a chance t:o go far in the tournament with Jon. Then he began practicing full timeDec. 24 and received clearance to play six weeks later. Jon just, wouldn't believe the doctor." Some have said Higgins' offense isn't up to speed. His soonn ing average is a modest 9.4 points per game, but he leads thehe team in assists (4.0) and steals (3.8) and has been running tkre offense flawlessly. "Shooting the ball is what Jon does best, and he hasn't shot-.. that well," Wonson said. "But he has been a great calmin , influence. He gets the team organized and has been a disrupting force. He had 31 steals his first nine games back. His value 94.9so sway beyond points." Shaker Heights was a state basketball power before F_iggirwarrival. The problem was the Red Raiders couldn't get pa'Ft Cleveland Villa Angela-St. Joseph, Cleveland Heights or Akio! . . Buchtel during the tournament. -,: Higgins, who was rated the best player in Ohio with Brooks:. Hall of Troy in preseason, desperately wanted to get the' teamto its first state tomnanlent. "They told me about the rehab and I said,`Man, that's a-lot vf.. work,'" Higgins said. "But to be the best, I told myself, you' have to pay the price. It was a blessing in disguise. I have:a, much better work ethic." Higgins doesn't remember much from the night he returnel. to the lineup because there was so much going through his mind. People have told him the atmosphere in the gym was absolute bedlam. "I just kind of tools it in stride because I felt I could have played well before I actually played," he said. "I wasn't hyped or jacked up,just a little nervous. Myjob is to keep order on the floor and play tough `D.'"

(VISION 111

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By Mark Znidar Dispatch Sports Reporter Bedford Chanel could have the weight of the world on its shoulders being ranked No. 1 in Division III and having the only spotless record in the state basketball tournament. But coach Greg Kraley said the players are almosttoo loose. "That, quite frankly, doesn't affect us," Fraley said of the 24-0 record and ranking. "The bottom line, the cliche everybody uses, is taking it one step (at a time). Our guys really think that. "The last time we were at state, in 1996, we were the same way, laughing and screwing around. They just play. They don't look at things as pressure."

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Neither does Beverly Fort Frye (24-2), Chanel's semifinal opponent at 2 p.m. today in Value City Arena. The Cadets reached Columbus by larocking off Grandview, a state tournament team in 1998, in a regional final. Fort Frye's motto has been if the three-pointer doesn't fall, shoot and shoot again. Coach Dan Liedtke said many fans will wonder how a bunch of short, skinny country kids got this far. The reason is Fort Frye averages almost 10 treys per game and doesn't stop hustling until the final buzzer. "We don't have a big man and we have to shoot so many threes," Liedtke said. "The normal team comes down, runs its offense and shoots for two. We're in a spread and we're in

position behind the arc almost all the time. Almost everyone on our team has permission to shoot the three. "I've run this for years. To get to the level we're at now, this is the only way to beat the big teams. Our kids really get motivated offit." Fort Frye comes at teams with five guards. The team has made 236 of 608 three-point shots-an astounding 21 coming in a victory over Caldwell-and six players have made at least 26 treys. The Cadets have won 17 straight since a four-point loss to Waterford, but haven't seen a team with as much talent as Chanel. Firebirds guard Brian Swift, who averages 20.5 points, is rated the best sophomore in Ohio. His rum-Ling mate, Brandon Childress, also is a handful to defend.

But (history, not talent, could be Fort Fryes biggest problem. Chanel is motivated by its., regional final loss last season to Massillon Td.§ law. "Last year we got overwhelmed and said, `Hey, we're here and we're supposed to wiry it,'" Kraley said. "We learned a big lesson front' that. This year all they've talked about is the Tnslaw loss." Chanel also has thrived on playing a wide-: open game. Kraley demanded a business-like style until several players approached him. "They said, `Coach, can we have a littio: more freedom?'" Kraley said. "I've listened to; them more than any other team I've had. Now r, I've become kind of a loose guy. I've never hail. a team that has had so much flan playing to,. gether."