February 24, 2022

Five years, four players PG 8-9 Why A.J. Clayton stuck to Ohio PG 16 Basketball game attendance, visualized PG 18-19 THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2022

Basketball Edition 2022

FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK

Celebrating our sports reporters, student press freedom

ABBY MILLER EDITOR-IN -CHIEF

Posties have a lot to be grateful for this week.

Thursday marks Student Press Freedom Day, a time to draw attention to both the work of student journalists and the barriers they face across the U.S. The theme for this year, in reference to the censorship and frequent stonewalling of student journalists, is “Unmute Yourself.”

As student journalists, we’re oftentimes not seen as “real journalists.” Many student journalists are not compensated — either in the form of stipends or class credit — for their work in student media. The fact that some of us are not full “adults” with shiny, framed diplomas can make sources and institutions feel as though they can snub us, control the content of our articles or, overall, not treat us the same as they would veteran reporters in the field. However, dealing with unruly sources and pushing through to produce an article is a surefire sign of a tried and true journalist, regardless of the individual’s status as a student.

Student journalism is valid journalism, and it holds an incredibly important place at Ohio University. It helps keep our fellow students in the know about their campus, and it is the best possible form of experiential learning

for those who want to pursue journalism — or even those who just want to expand their skill set.

This Student Press Freedom Day, I am grateful to each and every staff at The Post.

The Post would not be what it is without the coming together of every individual on our staff. There’s over 150 of us.

Additionally, I encourage our readers to join The Post staff in celebrating our work this Student Press Freedom Day. Enjoy the special projects that we take the time to code, do more in-depth reporting for and present with more visuals. Give our stories a simple retweet or share on Facebook, or pick up a print copy of The Post around campus to share with your friends. All of these actions are simple and quick, yet they have the ability to encourage the spread of information on our campus and support local student journalism.

Though I am feeling extra grateful for all of my fellow Posties today, there’s a certain staff whose work deserves extra recognition.

This week, The Post presents the annual Basketball Edition. It’s the culmination of weeks of hard work from our sports staff, including Sports Editor Jack Gleckler, Assistant Sports Editor Ashley Beach and Slot Editor

Will Cunningham. Those individuals cover OU’s men’s and women’s basketball teams, and the Basketball Edition provides a more in-depth look at the teams’ seasons and some key players.

If you want the perfect way to support student journalists and the hard work of our sports staff, I highly encourage you to keep flipping through this week’s edition of The Post or explore our Basketball Edition landing page. Basketball is special to so many OU students, and we hope you understand why through this week’s content.

Abby Miller is a senior studying journalism and political science at Ohio University and the editor-in-chief of The Post. Have questions? Email Abby at am166317@ohio.edu or tweet her @abblawrence.

COVER PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY OLIVIA JUENGER

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Abby Miller MANAGING EDITOR Bre Offenberger DIGITAL MANAGING EDITOR Matthew Geiger

POST

EDITORIAL NEWS EDITORS Emma Skidmore, Ryan Maxin ASST. NEWS EDITOR Molly Wilson PROJECTS EDITOR Taylor Burnette SPORTS EDITOR Jack Gleckler ASST. SPORTS EDITOR Ashley Beach CULTURE EDITOR Riley Runnells ASST. CULTURE EDITOR Kayla Bennett OPINION EDITOR Mikayla Rochelle ASST. OPINION EDITOR Hannah Campbell THE BEAT EDITOR Madyson Lewellyn ASST. THE BEAT EDITOR Emma Dollenmayer COPY CHIEF Anna Garnai SLOT EDITORS Anastasia Carter, Will Cunningham, Bekah Bostick, Isabel Nissley

ISSUE 21, VOLUME 112

ART ART DIRECTOR Olivia Juenger DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY Nate Swanson PHOTO EDITOR Jesse Jarrold-Grapes DIGITAL WEB DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Brianna Lender AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT EDITOR Jack Hiltner ASST. AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT EDITOR Claire Schiopota DIRECTOR OF MULTIMEDIA Noah DeSantis BUSINESS DIRECTOR OF STUDENT MEDIA Andrea Lewis MEDIA SALES Grace Vannan, Jamyson Butler

2 / FEB. 24, 2022

THE

ONLINE thepostathens.com FACEBOOK thepostathens TWITTER @ThePost INSTAGRAM @thepostathens

Send us your letters Do you ever find something in The Post thoughtprovoking, questionable or even infuriating? Let us know!

We are always interested in hearing about the way our readers respond to our content every day.

Your opinion is welcome. Letters should be fewer than 500 words. Longer submissions will be considered as guest commentaries, but space is limited. All letters must be signed by at least one individual; anonymous letters will not be accepted. The Post does not accept letters soliciting donations or news releases. Please include your year and major if you are a student. Letters can be submitted online at www.thepostathens. com, by email at editor@thepostathens.com or at The Post’s front desk in the media wing on the third floor of Baker University Center.

We reserve the right to edit submissions for clarity, vulgarity and Associated Press Style.

IN PERSON Baker Center, Room 325 ONLINE thepostathens.com/letters

BY EMAIL letters@thepostathens.com

The Post is an independent media outlet run by Ohio University students. We distribute the paper free of charge in Athens, Ohio, when classes are in session. Editorial page material represents the opinions of the editors, columnists and letter writers. Opinions expressed are independent of Ohio University and our printer.

FRONT DESK HOURS 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Monday through Friday.

Closed Saturday and Sunday.

1 Park Place Baker University Center, Room 325 Athens, OH 45701 (740) 593-4010

Advertisement Policies The Post will not print advertising that violates local, state or federal laws. The Post will not run advertisements that violate the Fair Housing Act, or the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission policies. The Post reserves the right to reject advertising deemed to adversely affect the integrity and credibility of the publication or be in conflict with the educational mission of the university or community it serves. The Post retains the right, at its discretion, to approve or reject an advertisement that negatively affects the relationship with our readers or that promotes content, services, or activities

that violate our advertising policy.

If an error occurs, and an advertisement is published not as ordered, please notify The Post by the end of the business day following publication, a corrected advertisement will run without charge in the next print edition.

Cancellation requests for advertising must be received and acknowledged by staff no later than 2:00 pm on Wednesday for the Thursday print edition. Refunds will not be given for ads that have been printed. These advertising policy rules can be changed at any time without prior notification.

MEN’S BASKETBALL

The case for Ohio’s first-place finish JACK GLECKLER SPORTS EDITOR Ohio had massive expectations placed on it before its season even began.

That’s the weight the Bobcats had to bear after winning the Mid-American Conference Championship last March and making a run in the 2021 NCAA Tournament. They knew ahead of time they would be the team to beat.

But with two weeks left in the season, Ohio hasn’t folded under the pressure. If anything, Ohio is within striking distance of what it has yet to collect under coach Jeff Boals: a MAC regular season title.

Ohio is in a good position to become the Mid-American Conference regular season champion for the first time since 2013. It’s not hard to see why. Ohio has stampeded through its conference schedule this season. It’s traded first and second place in the standings with Toledo since MAC play began, and its three conference losses have been against teams near the top of the ladder.

That’s not to say there hasn’t been snags. Ohio wore itself out after an exhaustive two weeks to begin its February

slate, during which it played six games in 12 days and spent the second half of that gauntlet on the road. Extended time on the road is never easy, and cramming three games into a single week doesn’t soothe mounting fatigue.

And that fatigue soon reared its head.

Losses to Toledo and Kent State put Ohio’s weaknesses on display. The constant turnover from a jam-packed schedule had drained its energy. Its shooting suffered, and its performance before halftime had taken a hit. Over its last five games, Ohio has either trailed or been tied at halftime.

“It was rough last week,” Mark Sears said following Ohio’s win over Miami last week. “It felt like an NBA schedule, you know? Our bodies were hurting, and we just felt like we didn’t have enough time to rest.”

But in spite of the fatigue and a handful of hard losses, the Bobcats haven’t cracked yet. If anything, they’re producing like usual. Since their February slate began, the Bobcats average 75.6 points per game.

The only time they’ve been held under 70 points were in their losses to Toledo and Kent State.

There’s a light at the end of the tun-

nel for the Bobcats. The chance to claim the regular season title, and the prospect of making another run in the MAC Tournament, loom large on the horizon. The Bobcats have clambered through February and aren’t much worse for wear. Even after Ohio’s throttling at the hands of Kent State, Boals never stewed on the loss.

“It’s one game,” Boals said. “We’re 13-3 in first place and 22-5 overall. It’s a fourgame season now.”

Plus, the worst of Ohio’s schedule is over and done with. Its games against Toledo and Kent State are out of the way, and it only had to face preseason favorite Buffalo once this season. The remainder of Ohio’s schedule consists of teams it’s beaten before — home games against Central Michigan and Akron followed by visits to Bowling Green and Northern Illinois.

Ohio won’t have much of a problem at home. The only visitor to come out victorious in The Convo this season is Toledo, who tarnished Ohio’s perfect record at home back in late January. Since then, Ohio has won every home game by 12 points or more.

The only worry comes from traveling.

Four of Ohio’s losses have come while on

the road, albeit against teams a step over Bowling Green or Northern Illinois. While Ohio’s biggest struggles are while on opposing courts, its final road games are against teams who’ve each dropped their last two home games.

When Ohio last took the MAC regular season title in 2013, it returned to the MAC Championship Game for the second year in a row before bowing out to Akron. Ohio is just as eager now as it was then to be the king of the regular season, but it won’t settle for runner-up.

Ohio expected itself to be one of the top contenders in the MAC this season.

That was the expectation set after it won the MAC Championship last March. The expectation is still there, but now, it has the weight of a potential regular season title on the line.

@THEJACKGLECKLER JG011517@OHIO.EDU

NOW LEASING for 2022-23 CLOSE TO CAMPUS & UPTOWN

APARTMENTS, TOWNHOMES & HOUSES

← ← ← ← ← ← IN EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD

$

199

37 N Court Street

2 Bedroom UPTOWN . $450*

DEPOSIT

67 Stewart St

3 Bedroom . $525*

64 W Carpenter St 2 Bedroom . $475*

129 W Washington St. 1-2 Bedroom $ ENTIRE UNIT

650

98 W State Street 3-4 Bedroom . $450* $ DEPOSIT

←

63 N Congress St 2 Bedroom . $525*

99

740.594.9098 OUrentals.com

*Security deposits are per person, monthly rates are per person/per month

THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 3

NEWS BRIEFS

Jay Edwards addresses mental health care, gun rights in Ohio; City Council authorizes police retention payments EMMA SKIDMORE NEWS EDITOR City Council authorizes retention payments for APD

During its Monday meeting, Athens City Council passed ordinances authorizing both wage increases and retention payments for Athens Police Department officers, lieutenants and communication officers.

Council approved the reopening of the contract, which would also authorize a 2.5% raise in 2022 and a 2.25% raise in 2023. Councilman Sam Crowl, D-3rd Ward, said these changes were just part of routine contract negotiations with APD due to their status as a union.

Roman Brandau, a patrol officer and labor representative for the patrol officers bargaining unit, said this year’s contract was unusual due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Brandau said they were only able to bargain for wages.

Contract negotiation that took place in 2020 only resulted in one-year contract negotiations rather than three-year contracts due to the unpredictable nature of the pandemic.

Brandau said a one-time $1,000 retention payment being negotiated is in an effort to retain current officers. He said the department is currently four officers short. Retaining experienced officers, Brandau said, is also important to the department.

Council passed the ordinance for the payment in a 6-1

vote with Councilman Ben Ziff, D-At Large, being the only dissenting vote. Ziff said he does not think $1,000 is enough to work as a retention tool. He also said he feels as though the city should not be giving out bonuses right now.

Brandau said APD does not think of the retention payment as a “bonus” but isn’t sure it will be enough to incentivize officers to stay. Athens Mayor Steve Patterson said police retention is an issue across Southeast Ohio, so the payment is something as opposed to nothing.

Jay Edwards discusses mental health, gun ownership

Ohio State Rep. for the 94th District Jay Edwards, R-Nelsonville, addressed expanding mental health care in Ohio as well as redistricting and gun rights at a discussion hosted by the Athens County League of Women Voters, or LWV. Edwards said a key issue he was focused on was expanding mental health resources to address addiction and other social issues among Ohioans. He also reinforced his belief in the Second Amendment and supported bills related to it. Edwards said he hoped increased mental health support would also decrease gun violence.

Additionally, Edwards supports more green energy initiatives in Southeast Ohio to increase job opportunities in the area. He also shared his support for labor unions and working-class Appalachians.

Joe Burrow Hunger Relief Fund exceeds $1.6 million

After being created by Joe Burrow’s Heisman speech in 2019, the Joe Burrow Hunger Relief fund has gone on to accept over $1 million from donations around the county.

After Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals played in the Super Bowl, the fund exceeded $1.6 million in donations after beginning with an initial investment of $700,000.

Additionally, Athens County residents experience a higher rate of food insecurity compared to the rest of the state, according to 2019 data.

The team’s road to the Super Bowl also inspired community organizations like Passion Works Studio, a collaborative community arts center based in Athens, to create orange tiger lily flower drawings on Court Street with Burrow’s number nine on them.

The day following the Super Bowl, Passion Works sold the drawings on a donation basis and, for each sale, donated $9 to the Burrow Fund. Anna Villavicencio, head of production at Passion Works, said the studio made 62 sales by the time they arrived at the store Monday, lots from pre-purchase calls.

@E_SKIDMOREGS ES320518@OHIO.EDU

POLICE BLOTTER

Vehicle abandoned at repair shop; suspicious men found loading car into trailer MOLLY WILSON ASST. NEWS EDITOR Suspicious men The Athens County Sheriff’s Office received a report of two suspicious males on state Route 691 and Matheny Road in Nelsonville.

The third-party complainant said there were two males who appeared to be trying to load a car onto a trailer. The complainant said he did not know if the vehicle belonged to the males.

A deputy responded to the scene, but the suspicious individuals and the car were gone prior to arriving, and they were unable to be located.

Missing child The sheriff’s office received a call from an Amesville resident who reported that her child was missing.

Deputies were on their way to the scene when the child returned home.

Electricity Deputies from the sheriff’s office responded to 4 / FEB. 24, 2022

Carol Lane in The Plains after receiving a report of a person tampering with an electrical meter.

Deputies spoke with the person who reported the incident and were told the situation may be related to a meter theft reported earlier that day.

The incident is under review.

Deputies from the sheriff’s office were flagged down by a driver who wanted to salvage a deer that had been hit by a car.

A deer carcass receipt was completed and provided to the driver, according to the sheriff ’s office.

‘So, do you want your car back?’

Sheriff ’s office deputies received a report that a vehicle had been abandoned at a repair shop in Stewart.

The caller asked for the car to be tagged for removal, but the issue was already being resolved by the owner of the car when deputies arrived on scene.

Stuck in the mud Deputies found a vehicle off Wollett Road in Nelsonville that was stuck in mud. Deputies contacted two males who said they were waiting on a truck to pull them out.

During the situation, deputies found out that one of the males had an active warrant out for his arrest, and he was subsequently transported to the regional jail.

Blocking the road Deputies responded to McDougal Road in Millfield after receiving a parking complaint.

The caller said the vehicle was in the roadway, blocking a lane of travel. The vehicle was removed after deputies contacted the owner.

‘Can I have this deer?’

@MOLLYWMARIE MW542219@OHIO.EDU

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Inside Ohio’s 3-point shooting WILL CUNNINGHAM SLOT EDITOR When Ohio coach Bob Boldon came to Athens in the summer of 2013, Ohio had shot around 500 3-point attempts per season over the seasons before his arrival. But Boldon changed that immediately. Ohio attempted nearly 300 more 3s in his debut season than it had the previous season.

Since Boldon took over, Ohio has never shot fewer than 700 3-point attempts in a season. The only season it came close to going under that number was the shortened 2020-21 season, when it only played 25 games.

On the surface, the 2021-22 season has been a standard — even good — 3-point shooting season for Boldon’s Bobcats.

They are shooting their third-best percentage of his tenure at 33.5% and have made the fourth-most 3-pointers per game at 9.1.

Taking a deeper look into their 3-point shooting numbers, however, reveals that this has been a strange season from deep for the Bobcats.

Ohio has been inconsistent from 3-point range this season. It has had four different games shooting 50% from beyond the arc but has also had three games shooting under 20% from 3-point range.

Unsurprisingly, the Bobcats’ success has mostly gone hand in hand with their 3-point shooting, especially since the start of their Mid-American Conference schedule.

In nonconference play, Ohio was able to get away with wins over weaker opponents such as UMass Lowell and Binghamton despite not shooting very well from beyond the arc. It also lost games against Power 5 opponents Notre Dame and Minnesota despite performing well from beyond the arc.

Since MAC play began, however, the Bobcats are 2-5 in games in which they shoot below their overall 3-point percentage of 33.5%. On the contrary, the Bobcats are 6-2 when they shoot above it.

The relationship between 3-point percentage and team success may not be surprising, but it’s shocking how often Ohio shoots significantly better or worse than their overall percentage.

In just six of Ohio’s 15 conference games, its 3-point percentage has been within five points of its season average.

Additionally, there have been some ex-

treme outliers. Ohio shot on the low end against several teams. It shot 18.2% against Western Michigan on Feb. 12, 17.4% against Ball State on Feb. 2 and a measly 5.9% against Miami on Jan. 17.

However, Ohio has also had strong outings. It shot 50% against Toledo on Jan. 26, against Eastern Michigan on Feb. 14 and against Bowling Green on Feb. 19. Ohio shot just below that at 47.6% against Bowling Green on Jan. 22.

It’s strange how the Bobcats’ 3-point shooting has swung from game to game.

One game, they shoot well, and the next, they are struggling to find the net.

In four separate times since conference play began, Ohio saw an increase or decrease of at least 20% from one game to the next. There has also been an additional four swings of at least 15% this season.

Ohio’s 3-point shooting inconsistency goes beyond its team performance.

There is an individual component to it as

well. Ohio’s two highest volume 3-point shooters, Erica Johnson and Gabby Burris, have had their share of inconsistency this season. Both athletes have had their own three-game stretch of tumultuous shooting this season. From Feb. 14-Feb. 19, Burris hit 11-of-25 3-point attempts. Johnson hit 11-of-26 from Jan. 24-Jan. 29.

These spans are a microcosm of the Bobcats’ 3-point shooting this season.

There are times when they have looked like the elite 3-point shooting team that is expected under Boldon. However, there have also been times when they have been unable to find their stroke from deep.

Fortunately for Ohio, it has shot the ball extremely well over the last three games.

As it enters the final four games of its season, Ohio will need to keep up its 3-point shooting prowess to make sure it qualifies for the MAC Tournament.

This year’s Bobcats may be one of

the most inconsistent 3-point shooting teams of Boldon’s tenure, but at their best, they can match any team he has coached in Athens.

@WILLOCUNNINGHAM WC425318@OHIO.EDU

THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 5

Ohio’s chances in the Mid-American Conference Tournament

Ohio forward Jason Carter (30) guards Toledo forward Setrick Millner Jr. (4) at The Convo in Athens, Ohio, on Friday, Jan. 21, 2022.

(DYLAN TOWNSEND | FOR THE POST)

JACK GLECKLER SPORTS EDITOR Ohio was never in jeopardy of missing the Mid-American Conference Tournament this season.

Winning the tournament, however, is a different story.

When the MAC released its preseason coaches’ poll on Nov. 3, 2021, the Bobcats were picked to finish second in the regular season and didn’t receive a single vote to win the MAC Tournament.

There is good cause to believe, however, that Ohio will break from those expectations and repeat its tournament run from last year. If the Bobcats pull it off, they will have won consecutive MAC titles for the first time in program history and be guaranteed their 15th all-time appearance in the NCAA Tournament.

The Bobcats have a championship-caliber lineup. The three-man arsenal of 6 / FEB. 24, 2022

Mark Sears, Ben Vander Plas and Jason Carter provide the backbone on offense, while fellow starters Miles Brown and Ben Roderick can pack a punch once in a blue moon — not to mention a bench crammed with competent role players and a lack of severe injuries that have kept the lineup intact.

As the season winds down, Ohio is tied for first place with Toledo and has just three games left until it packs its bags for Cleveland. While its spot in the tournament is finalized, its seeding is not. If Ohio drops its final three games, it could shoot all the way down to the No. 4 seed.

Is that likely? No, but it is possible.

Regardless if it ends the regular season in first or fourth place, the chances of advancing to the MAC Tournament semifinals at minimum skew in Ohio’s favor.

It has a perfect record against the teams fighting over the final three spots in the bracket. It also defeated current No. 5 seed Akron in early January.

But no matter the seeding, Ohio will hit a bump sooner or later. It has before. Both Toledo and Kent State knocked Ohio on its face during the regular season. How well that translates to success in the tournament is anyone’s guess.

The Rockets have a history of disappointment. They haven’t won the MAC title since 1980, and three regular season championships since then don’t substitute for a lack of titles.

Still, there’s no time like the present.

Toledo coach Tod Kowalczyk routinely produces first-rate teams that tyrannize conference opponents. This year is no exception. Toledo’s starting rotation is one of the most balanced in the MAC, even after star guard Marreon Jackson transferred to Arizona State following last season.

Toledo is the team to beat in the MAC, and Ohio failed twice in the regular season. Unless the tournament curse haunts Toledo for another year, Ohio might be stumped a third time if the two teams

clash in Cleveland.

The other hurdle standing between Ohio and a MAC title is Kent State. The two programs split their regular season series, but it wasn’t pretty for Ohio. A slim win followed by a blowout loss doesn’t lend well to its postseason hopes.

Kent State last won a MAC title in 2017.

However, they haven’t made it further than the semifinals since then. Ohio sent them packing after the quarterfinals in 2021.

Therein lies Ohio’s hope.

The Bobcats were the first team to secure a spot in the MAC Tournament — and for good reason. They’ve proven time and time again why they belong in the postseason.

Will they shatter preseason notions of how far their success can carry them?

For good or bad, yes. And Ohio won’t know for certain until tournament time approaches.

@THEJACKGLECKLER JG011517@OHIO.EDU

KENNEDY LECTURE SERIES Presents

GAMES

Dr. Alex Dehgan CEO & Co-Founder of Conservation X Labs

MARCH 1, 2022 | Lecture begins at 7:30pm. | Baker Center Ballroom Doors open at 6:30pm | Event will be livestreamed at www.ohio.edu/kennedylecture

Give it. Get it.

Make Respect Visible.

THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 7

The core four’s 5 years ASHLEY BEACH ASST. SPORTS EDITOR Cece Hooks, Gabby Burris, Erica Johnson and Kaylee Bambule have been with the Bobcats since the first day of their collegiate careers. They’ve felt heartbreak, and they’ve seen success, but it’s always been together. They’re teammates, but most importantly, they’re best friends.

Before Ohio Hooks and Johnson began their journey together before coming to Ohio. They played Amateur Athletic Union basketball together on the All-Ohio team in the eighth grade, and both received offers to play from Ohio coach Bob Boldon.

A few years later, on the other side of the Ohio river, Burris was playing for the West Virginia Thunder Gold team under coach Scott Johnson. Burris was a standout forward on the team for her versatility.

Her talent also earned her an offer from Boldon.

Two states over, Bambule was playing for Montini Catholic High School in Lombard, Illinois. The guard had previously earned First-Team All-State honors and

was dubbed an ESPN 3-star recruit. Her ability to hit a strong 3-pointer earned her an offer as well.

On Nov. 11, 2016, Ohio announced that it had added six commitments for the class of 2020. Hooks, Johnson, Burris and Bambule were all included on the list. In fact, Hooks and Johnson spoke to each other before making their decision.

“We talked about coming here together,” Johnson said. “We called each other before making our final decisions, and we decided to come here together.”

The early years In the fall of 2017, five bright-eyed freshmen arrived in Athens with the dream of winning a Mid-American Conference Championship — one of whom transferred after one year.

That season, Johnson redshirted to recover from a knee procedure while her peers began their collegiate careers. Bambule ate minutes here and there for the Bobcats in a true freshman role, but Hooks and Burris took off.

Burris played in 31 games for the Bobcats and started in 10 of those. She was a force to be reckoned with, and it earned

PHOTO ILLUSTRATIONS BY OLIVIA JUENGER

her All-Freshman team honors. Hooks, however, left her mark on the record books in her first season. She broke the program record for single season steals with 100 and earned the MAC Freshman of the Year award.

It wasn’t long before Ohio realized it had a catalyst on its hands.

The 2018-19 season was one to remember. That batch of Bobcats became the first in program history to win 30 games in a season. It was also the year that Hooks became the 16th 1,000-point scorer in Ohio history.

It was also the year Johnson came back — in a big way. The then-redshirt freshman earned MAC Freshman of the Year and Sixth Player of the Year. Johnson became a staple in the Bobcats’ lineup in the latter half of the season, joining Burris and Hooks in the starting five.

Bambule was a regular off the bench for the Bobcats that season, even earning time in the MAC Tournament championship game. Ohio may have lost to Buffalo 77-61 that day, but it had learned what the young talent on the team could do.

The 2019-20 season started off as usual. Ohio was barrelling through its nonconference schedule and making waves along the way. Its first splash was Nov. 10, 2019, when Johnson recorded the first triple-double in program history.

She grabbed 24 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists against American University to notch her name in the books. That day is still one of Johnson’s favorites.

Seven days later, Ohio defeated Ohio State in Columbus for the first time in school history. Burris, Johnson and Hooks all took part in the win. That day still lives fresh in Boldon’s mind as one of his favorite moments coaching.

Later that season, Burris and Johnson earned their membership to the 1,000-point club. Burris scored hers against Miami in March, and Johnson notched hers against Western Michigan in the MAC Tournament.

Then, something out of their control hit the Bobcats. The COVID-19 pandemic ended their chances at a MAC Championship after only one round of the tournament.

“That moment was taken away from them,” Boldon said. “I think once you go through that, you learn to appreciate the moments.”

But there were still more moments to come for the Bobcats.

2020-21: The COVID-19

8 / FEB. 24, 2022

first

season

after

New regulations were set in stone for the 2020-21 season regarding the coronavirus pandemic. The four were about to experience basketball like they never had before: with cardboard cut-outs in The Convo seats. Limited attendance was allowed for families, but no one else could attend the games.

Ohio marched on, though. It skated by in a short nonconference schedule, defeating Notre Dame at the last second and started off conference play with hesitation. The Bobcats were jumping back and forth between winning and losing for the majority of the first half — until they played Buffalo.

Bambule was still not a regular starter at that point, unlike her classmates. She was fighting for minutes wherever she could get them. She only tallied four minutes against the Bulls. However, they were important.

Bambule entered the game when the Bobcats were down 11 points in the last few minutes. Within seconds of entering the game, Bambule hit the go-ahead 3-pointer to give the Bobcats an 82-81 lead with under 30 seconds to go. Hooks then contributed a layup to put the final touches on the upset.

That game is still one of Bambule’s favorites.

“The only reason I got to do that was because we were so together,” Bambule said.

Later that season, Bambule became a regular starter, and the four began their march to Cleveland together for the first time as starters. The four made it to the tournament. However, they once again came up short.

There were plenty of postseason accolades to go around that season. Hooks was named the MAC Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year while also tacking on First Team all-MAC honors.

Johnson was named to the All-MAC Third team, and Burris was an All-MAC Honorable Mention.

But at the end of the year, it was possible that one of the four was going to leave.

Hooks had declared for the WNBA draft in the spring of 2021. It seemed as if the bond that was beginning to show on the court was going to be missing a piece.

Now All four returned for the 2021-22 season after Hooks undeclared for the draft.

It was their go-time, and they were ready to mentor the younger players. Ohio had been picked to win the MAC regular season, and a schedule of tough opponents ahead of them needed to be knocked down.

Fans were once again in the stands of The Convo to watch the Bobcats play basketball. For once, things felt like they had before the pandemic. Ohio had its mojo back.

“It was fun,” Hooks said in the postgame press conference after Ohio’s first home game. “Especially having the band back.”

The energy didn’t just come from The Convo, though. It was evident early in Ohio’s conference schedule that the four were going to be unstoppable. They have an innate sense of where the other is on the court, and that allows them to dupe their opponents.

That sense was on full display when Ohio routed Kent State 70-64 on Jan. 12 in its first MAC win of the season.

“We know where (the other) person wants to be, what they want to do, how they want to drive and what shots they want to shoot,” Burris said.

The core four were on a warpath to get their MAC Championship — but not without celebrating more individual milestones first.

Hooks became the leading scorer in Ohio and MAC history within the same week. Both times, she was showered in hugs from her teammates and applause from those in attendance. Some of her teammates were brought to tears watching her break the MAC record. They knew that Hooks’ success had been a long time coming, and there was no one more deserving.

“She’s not going to give you half effort,” Bambule said. “She’s not going to give you 75% effort. She’s going to give you the full thing and that right there alone. Take away her ability to get to the rim, her steals, her rebounds — take all that away, and you al-

ready have a great teammate.”

Later that week, Ohio upset both Toledo and Buffalo. However, that’s when the four hit a roadblock.

Injuries and illness caught up with them, and there was a span where one or more of the core four was missing from a game or two. It was up to the young players to carry the Bobcats to victory, but that time reminded the four of the lesson they learned in the 2019-20 season: Every game and every moment spent together is a blessing.

The Future It’s still up in the air whether the four will get their final shot at a MAC Championship together. Ohio slipped in the standings and is hanging onto a spot in the tournament by a finger.

The four know that they’re there for each other no matter the outcome, though.

“That’s in a sense of basketball and life,” Bambule said. “We know the struggle, and we’re going to get through this together.”

When it’s their time to depart from Ohio, the four will know they’ve done all they can to better the program. Their names are splashed all over the record books, and they’ve had the opportunity to mentor the future of the program that has shaped a large portion of their lives.

They’ve matured together and made incredible memories on and off the court.

From renting boats at Strouds Run State Park to playing in the National Invitational Tournament, they’ve done everything together.

When it’s time for the four to pass off their hats, they’ll leave Ohio better than they found it.

“I always want the opportunity to help (younger players) and help other people learn because, soon, I’m going to be living my basketball life through them,” Burris said.

From strangers to family all in five years. Ohio will never forget its core four.

@ASHLEYBEACHY_ AB026319@OHIO.EDU

THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 9

$

UPTOWN

starting at

HOUSES

450

*

3•4•5•6 bedrooms

9&12

steps from Uptown

month LeAses

Off Street Parking hardwood floors basement storage

& HUGE PORCHES

FEATURED

HOUSES

151 E. State Street

99 W. State Street

99 deposit $

per person

53 E. State Street

45 Mill Street

*security deposit and monthly rates are per person/per month

view more properties at

OUrentals.com

CALL TO SCHEDULE A VIEWING TODAY!

740.594.9098

10 / FEB. 24, 2022

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Mid-American Conference power rankings JACK GLECKLER SPORTS EDITOR With less than two weeks until the Mid-American Conference Tournament begins in Cleveland, The Post took a look at all 12 teams and ranked them from top to bottom: Toledo (22-6, 14-3 MAC) Toledo is a team to be feared. Despite recently escaping with a two-point win over Central Michigan and being toppled

by Kent State, Toledo has dominated conference play. It won both games against its biggest competitor, Ohio, and has only truly been stumped by Kent State. Toledo’s lineup is a well-oiled machine.

Kent State (18-9, 13-4 MAC) The Golden Flashes upset the balance of the MAC after stomping out both Ohio and Toledo in the same week. They’ve been nigh invincible while on their ninegame win streak, and it comes at the perfect time. The Golden Flashes are just one game behind Toledo and Ohio in the standings, and there is plenty of time for them to make a last second leap.

Ohio (23-5, 14-3 MAC) Despite being tied for first place at the moment, there’s reason for Ohio to be placed at No. 3. It dropped both of its games against Toledo, and its loss to Kent State last Friday was the ugliest of the season. There have been few roadblocks Ohio has hit this season, but it can’t seem to get a leg up over teams near the top.

Buffalo (17-8, 11-4 MAC) A seven-game win streak launched Buffalo toward the top of the MAC. Its conference-leading offense scored more than 100 points in two of those games to boot. Still, the foundation of Buffalo’s recent success will be tested when it hosts Toledo and travels to Kent State in its final two games of the season.

Akron (18-9, 11-6 MAC) The Zips started out conference play 9-3, but a three-game skid midway through February knocked them down a peg. Wins over Bowling Green and Eastern Michigan put them back on track. If the Zips can close out narrow games, they’ll put up a fight in their final three games.

Ball State (12-15, 7-9 MAC) The Cardinals have won once in their past five games and are in danger of forfeiting their sixth place spot in the standings. The worst of their schedule is behind

them. Their upcoming game against Akron presents an opportunity to shake up the power dynamic before the regular season ends.

Miami (12-15, 6-10 MAC) Even though Miami has won three of its last five games, it has trudged through a murky February slate with little to come away with. It could’ve upset Buffalo at home Tuesday, but it came up short after a last second 3-point attempt. Miami grapples with inconsistency, but it has the tools to stay in the MAC Tournament picture down the final stretch.

Northern Illinois (8-18, 5-11 MAC) A pair of road wins over Ball State and Akron last week were offset by back-toback losses to Miami and Eastern Michigan. The Huskies have been competitive as of late — their last four games have been decided by six points or fewer — but they still have a hard time sealing close games.

Central Michigan (6-19, 5-9 MAC) From Jan. 29-Feb. 8, the Chippewas won four of their five games and seemed to have turned a corner following a rocky start to conference play. But they’ve gone on a five-game losing streak since. The Chippewas aren’t having much luck in the first season with a new coach.

Bowling Green (12-16, 5-12 MAC) The Falcons were dealt a poor hand to end the season. They host Western Michigan on Saturday, which shouldn’t be too hard to handle. However, they close the season with games against Ohio and Toledo. If their five-game losing streak is taken into consideration, the Falcons’ prospects of a late run for the No. 8 seed are grim.

Eastern Michigan (10-18, 5-12 MAC) The Eagles have won two games in February, and they won both by a combined seven points. Its last seven losses have all been decided by double digits. At this point in the season, the Eagles are simply fighting to stay out of the basement.

Western Michigan (6-22, 2-15 MAC) The Broncos are well out of the MAC Tournament picture. They earned their only two conference wins after upsetting Central Michigan and Akron at home.

Aside from those wins, there’s little optimism brewing for the final three games of the regular season.

@THEJACKGLECKLER JG011517@OHIO.EDU

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Adjusting with absences WILL CUNNINGHAM SLOT EDITOR A quick look at Ohio’s record this season would make it seem as if it has drastically underperformed. Ohio was picked to win the Mid-American Conference in the regular season and received more votes than any team except Buffalo to win the MAC Tournament.

However, the Bobcats are currently 1410 overall and 8-7 in the MAC, where they sit in sixth place — barely in a position to qualify for the MAC Tournament.

Ohio has grappled with several issues this season that have hurt its record and performance. There are two main reasons for these struggles, and Ohio’s play on the court is not one of them.

First, the Bobcats have dealt with numerous schedule changes. Their first three conference games in late December and early January were postponed. This led to the rest of their schedule being rearranged and Monday games being added to make up for lost time.

The schedule shuffling resulted in the Bobcats playing eight games in the final three weeks of the regular season, an already laborious task made more difficult

by Ohio’s second issue this season: sporadic and long-term absences.

Long-term absences began to affect Ohio before the season tipped off, as Caitlyn Kroll, Peyton Guice and Jasmine Hale — who were major parts of Ohio’s rotation during the 2020-21 season — have not had an on-court presence this year. The trio averaged a combined 62 minutes a game and were helpful in taking some of the load off Cece Hooks and Erica Johnson last season but haven’t played a minute since then.

The loss of Kroll, in particular, was devastating. She averaged more than 32 minutes per game in 2020-21 and played an important role as a ball-handler.

Ohio was already down three rotation players at the beginning of the season, but things only worsened from there. Ella Pope and Abby Garnett, the players meant to fill Kroll’s void, were lost as well after a few weeks of play. Garnett appeared in the Bobcat’s first two games of the season and Pope the first five, but neither has seen the floor since.

So, there Ohio sat, just three weeks

into the season, with a rotation of just six players — one of whom being a freshman.

Yaya Felder was thrust into the spotlight, even though she had just begun her time at Ohio.

For the rest of Ohio’s nonconference schedule, the six-player rotation of Hooks, Johnson, Felder, Gabby Burris, Kaylee Bambule and Madi Mace played the vast majority of Ohio’s minutes.

Then, the postponements came into play. The Bobcats began to struggle with having enough players to field a team under the new MAC guidelines during and after winter break. This resulted in several postponements early in their conference schedule.

But the absences didn’t stop there.

Johnson missed their first conference game of the season, a loss to Northern Illi-

nois on Jan. 8. She later missed Ohio’s Feb. 14 win over Eastern Michigan due to injury.

Hooks missed a game that same week, too.

She missed Ohio’s loss to Western Michigan on Feb. 12 after sustaining a head injury in the previous game.

Burris missed the loss to Northern Illinois on Feb. 6. Bambule also missed that game as part of her two-game span of absences in early February. Both her and Burris’ absences were due to COVID-19 protocols.

With that, the only two players who have played in every game for Ohio this season are Felder and Mace, both underclassmen with limited collegiate experience. Ohio coach Bob Boldon has had to lean on his younger players all season, as he has dealt with constant changes to his starting lineup and rotations.

When looking at this Ohio season, the struggles Ohio has gone through cannot be ignored. The Bobcats have had to pick up the pieces on multiple occasions, and now, it is in the position to qualify for the MAC Tournament.

And if the Bobcats can get to that stage of the season with their usual six-player rotation intact, they will be a better team because of what they have overcome — and a team that no one wants to face in a single elimination tournament.

@WILLOCUNNINGHAM WC425318@OHIO.EDU

THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 11

Ohio forward Jason Carter (No. 30) continues with a dunk attempt after the clock was stopped for a foul during an exhibition basketball game against Capital University at The Convo in Athens, Ohio, on Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021.

(JINTAK HAN | FOR THE POST)

Ohio forward Jason Carter takes a fadeaway shot at Rupp Arena on Friday, Nov. 19, 2021.

Ohio lost to the University of Kentucky 77-59 in Lexington, Kentucky.

(RYAN GRYZBOWSKI | FOR THE POST)

Ohio University guard Mark Sears (No. 1) helps his teammate up after scrambling for the ball with Miami University guard Marr Avance (No. 24) at Millett Hall on Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022. (CLAY STARK | FOR THE POST)

12 / FEB. 24, 2022

Ohio University forward Gabby Burris (No. 41) goes up for a two-point shot over Kent State guard Clare Kelly (No. 20) at The Convo on Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2022. (CLAY STARK | FOR THE POST)

Cece Hooks celebrates with her teammates after breaking the record for all-time leading scorer in the Mid-American Conference at Ohio University on Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022, in Athens, Ohio. The Bobcats defeated the Falcons 85-70.

(PEARL SPURLOCK | FOR THE POST)

Ohio University guard Yaya Felder (No. 2) attempts a lay-up while being guarded by Western Michigan University guard Hannah Splitzley (No. 3) at The Convo in Athens, Ohio, on Saturday, Feb. 12, 2022. (DYLAN TOWNSEND | FOR THE POST)

THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 13

Ohio’s sixth woman ASHLEY BEACH ASST. SPORTS EDITOR Yaya Felder always makes sure to wear the same style of white socks when she plays — a clothing item as versatile as she is. White socks can be worn with any outfit, and Felder can play in any spot on the court for Ohio.

The guard has become a quintessential part of Ohio’s roster this season. She’s earned seven starts in her first season and routinely shatters her own career highs.

Though her primary role is as a bench player, Felder can fill spots in the starting lineup when needed.

“I know I have to step up and do what I have to do,” Felder said.

It’s a role she’s grown into. Before she came to Ohio, Felder was often the most dominant player on the court. She began her basketball career at the Boys and Girls Club of Hartford in Hartford, Connecticut, on a team of all boys. Her talents impressed her recreation coach, who then recommended her to the coach of CT Heights, a local Amateur Athletic Union team. Felder joined the program and played there until her junior year of high school.

She didn’t stop there, though. Felder’s talent flourished while she played at Conard High School. She was Conard’s strongest player and made a place for herself in the record books. By the time she graduated, Felder was Conard’s all-time leading scorer with 1,438 career points.

After graduation, Felder made her way to Athens to attend a school over 10 hours away from her hometown. She was nervous to join the Bobcats. The transition from high school to college basketball was stark, but Felder dove in and got to work. She took extra practice shots and listened to her teammates’ advice to build her confidence.

Her work has paid off. Whether starting or not, Felder has brought talent to the table. She has scored in all but two appearances this season and reached double figures five times.

Felder understands her role within the team. It’s her job to come into the game level-headed no matter the situation. She knows that in that role, she’s able to learn from Ohio veterans like Cece Hooks. In fact, Felder looks up to Hooks. She looks up to all of her teammates and knows they’ll always be there to give her advice.

“Everyone is so helpful,” Felder said.

“Whenever I have a question, they’re always there. If I mess up, they make sure I get it right the next time.”

14 / FEB. 24, 2022

Ohio University guard Yaya Felder makes her way across the court against Western Michigan University at The Convo in Athens, Ohio, on Feb. 12, 2022. (DYLAN TOWNSEND / FOR THE POST)

The guard has been thrown into situations that freshmen don’t usually experience. Many of the Bobcats have been sidelined due to injury or COVID-19 protocols this season, and Felder is often thrown into the fire as a result. She’s had to start in place of Hooks and other usual starters when the lineup runs thin.

But Felder takes the role in stride.

Felder broke into her own when Ohio visited Northern Illinois in early February.

She was placed in the starting lineup after Kaylee Bambule and Gabby Burris were forced to sit out due to COVID-19 protocols. Despite fouling out in the fourth quarter, Felder reached a then-career high of 16 points.

Once again, Felder had to adjust to something new. She played the game in a different position than she is used to, but that didn’t phase her. Felder learned fast, and the encouragement from the rest of the Bobcats made it easier. They’d feed her advice as they ran down the court.

Felder set two more personal records within the same week. She snagged nine rebounds and notched five steals against Western Michigan on Feb. 12. The next week, she set a new career high when she scored 20 points against Eastern Michigan while Erica Johnson was out of the lineup.

Her speed gives her an advantage.

Felder is quick on her feet and often beats opponents to the ball. She has no fear and will dive onto the ground without hesitation. Speed has never been an issue for her, though.

“I’ve just always been fast,” Felder said.

“When I was younger, I did track and I broke records. I’ve just always been fast.”

Felder is not just fast on her feet. She’s a quick study, too. She’s had to play a variety of roles this season and fill in for some of the Bobcats’ best players. Coach Bob Boldon recognizes that.

“We’ve started her in place of Gabby, we’ve started her in place of Kaylee, we’ve started her in place of (Cece), we’ve start-

ed her in place of Erica and then we’ve not started her,” Boldon said. “That’s a lot for a freshman to take on, and she deserves to be commended for the way that she’s handled it.”

That’s the role Felder has had to play this season, though, and she fills it well.

No matter what spot she fills, Felder can adjust on the fly. Despite being in just her first season with the Bobcats, Felder has developed into one of the most versatile players on the roster.

@ASHLEYBEACHY_ AB026319@OHIO.EDU

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Catching up with Ohio coach Bob Boldon ASHLEY BEACH ASST. SPORTS EDITOR

anything different you’ve been doing since you first started at Ohio?

From playing National Invitational Tournament games in The Convo to winning the Mid-American Conference and Tournament in the same season, Ohio coach Bob Boldon has been through it all with the Bobcats.

Now in his ninth season at the helm of the program, Boldon has learned a thing or two. The Post recently caught up with Boldon to discuss his career and the things he has learned.

Boldon: I think you have to coach kids differently now. I’ve never been much of a “rah-rah” type coach, but I have learned from my players and the other head coaches here, and I think coach (Jeff) Boals has taught me that you should enjoy winning, but winning is really hard. I used to get upset in the manner that if we didn’t win in the way that I expected us to, if we should have beat a team by 20, and we beat a team by 15, that would upset me. I think I have learned to appreciate the fact that we won the game. Sometimes, wins felt like losses, and now, I’ve got to the point where wins feel like wins, and I enjoy winning.

The Post: The past few seasons have been a little unusual due to COVID-19 and the new protocols. What have you taken away from that experience as a coach?

Boldon: I think I really learned to appreciate the opportunity to play games. When COVID first became a thing, we were in the MAC Tournament, and we’ve had an up-and-down year, and we’d started off really well. We were in first place, then fourth place, then second place. Every time we got to get up to first place, we’d lose a game, so we finished fourth … One through four went right to Cleveland at the time. We were four, so we played five, which was Western (Michigan) ... and so we played that game on Wednesday. Then, on Thursday, we were going to practice and Julie (Cromer), our athletic director, called me and said “Hey, don’t leave for practice yet,” so instead of going to practice, we go back upstairs to our meeting room and kind of wait, and Julie’s like “I’m on my way over.” Later that day, when Julie gets to the hotel, she tells me that they’re canceling the MAC Tournament. And even to this day, if you talk to our kids, it will still bring some of my kids to tears. That was an emotional day: to see that being taken away from those kids is something that I’ll never forget, and it’s still an emotional experience for all of them. So, I think going through that experience, I think it taught all of us that things can be taken away from you on no control of your own. It’s been a long two-and-a-half years, working on three seasons that have been affected

by COVID. The thing that it has taught me is that when you do have a chance to play, you have to play and enjoy the opportunity to play.

TP: You are in the midst of your ninth season with Ohio, and besides all the things we just talked about, is there

TP: What do you enjoy most about coaching?

Boldon: Watching our players develop on the floor and off the floor. We’ve had a lot of success with our kids graduating and moving on. It’s nice to see kids have success, but it’s the development of them that probably is the biggest enjoyment. We haven’t had a lot of kids transfer, so most of the kids I have recruited, or whether I recruited them or inherited them when I first got here, we’ve seen through graduation. I think probably the greatest thing is just seeing the growth and development and seeing them on senior night, seeing what they’ve become and feeling like they’re ready for the world.

was the start of a three-game road trip of games that we had to win, and we knew we had to win. We knew that (Bowling Green) could really shoot the ball, and they did in the first half. Then, our kids did a really nice job in the second half of limiting (Bowling Green’s) 3-point shots. We made it much more difficult and consequently won the game because of it. I thought it was a game where, defensively, we’ve shown the most growth.

ful place for me to be. I couldn’t give you one. It would be a disservice to the others.

There’s just so many that it would be an injustice to try to pick one. I’ve been here for too long.

@ASHLEYBEACHY_ AB023619@OHIO.EDU

TP: If you could give yourself one piece of advice when you first started your coaching career, what would that be?

Boldon: Your relationship with players is more important than your strategy.

When I first started, Xs and Os were the most important things. You had a good offensive strategy, a good defensive strategy, and nothing else mattered. But, I think at this point, your relationship with your players and coaches is far more important than whatever strategy — whether it be offense or defense — plan that you have.

TP: Do you have any favorite memories from your time at Ohio?

Boldon: Thousands. It’s been a wonder-

TP: What is one of the greatest lessons you’ve learned from coaching?

Boldon: That everybody’s different. Every player is a different person. They learn differently. They have different needs.

They need to be coached differently. They need to be talked to differently. We have sisters on the team right now, and they’re not the same. They have different needs.

They need to be motivated differently, (and) they need to be talked to differently.

They have different desires, different aspirations in life. So, understanding that each player is a little bit different and that you need to coach them (how) whatever is best for them.

TP: You recently earned your 100th MAC career win against Bowling Green. What was that game like?

Boldon: It was a game we had to win to keep our MAC Tournament hopes alive. It THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 15

MEN’S BASKETBALL

A.J. Clayton feels rooted in Ohio JACK GLECKLER SPORTS EDITOR A.J. Clayton felt an instinctive pull toward Ohio.

It’s a pull that’s stretched back years. The freshman had always been well-acquainted with the Bobcats. Athens is just over an hour’s drive away from his hometown of Duncan Falls, and he had been attending youth camps hosted by Ohio since he was in middle school.

The pull was so strong, in fact, that Clayton decided to join the team a year ahead of schedule.

For the majority of Ohio’s season, Clayton wasn’t considered a legal adult yet. He just celebrated his 18th birthday Feb. 12, when Ohio battered Eastern Michigan on the road.

The freshman is so young because he skipped his senior year at Philo High School entirely to come to Ohio.

“The culture of OU and being a kid from Southeastern Ohio were big parts in why I wanted to come here,” Clayton said.

Even before he announced his commitment in July 2020, Clayton knew Ohio was where he wanted to be. He’d received offers from six different schools, but Ohio felt like the natural choice. It was the first college he visited, and coach Jeff Boals, along with the

rest of the coaching staff, took any call they got from him and made sure he felt welcomed while they began the recruitment process.

It only made it better that he’d remain in Southeast Ohio and be able to stick close to home.

“He would always call us,” Boals said. “Every time we talk, it’d be a 45-minute-to-anhour conversation, just talking about whatever, whenever.”

Clayton wanted to come early, but he wasn’t sure if he’d be able to. Ohio had limited scholarships to give out and wasn’t able to grant him one at the time. Clayton could have attended a prep school in the meantime, but Boals told him to wait and see if something opened up.

Sure enough, a scholarship soon opened.

Clayton would be able to come to Ohio early, so long as Philo approved the move. The Franklin Local school board assembled a committee to evaluate Clayton, and the complete process took less than a day. Clayton was approved to graduate early, and all he had to do was take two additional English classes to meet the requirements.

Now that he’s made the jump, Clayton feels more at home than ever. He’s adapted

well to his first season with the Bobcats. He hasn’t been thrown into the starting lineup or shattered any records, but Clayton can dependably come off the bench for a few minutes at a time and drill a 3-pointer.

A reliable 3-ball is what Clayton has become known for. He has the fourth-best 3-point percentage on the roster. While he’s never quick to shoot — he’s only had two games where he’s made more than four 3-point attempts — Clayton doesn’t need to rattle off shots. He’s brought in to knock down a few shots while the starters rest.

The freshman didn’t even expect to play this season. He figured he’d redshirt until he grew accustomed to Ohio’s system before stepping into a larger role.

Standing at 6-foot-8 and 225 pounds, Clayton is one of the biggest players on Ohio’s roster. He’s got a long reach and a sturdy frame. He models himself after Jason Carter, whose frame lines up with Clayton’s nearly down to the letter.

The one thing he didn’t have, though, was the years of experience. Going up against seasoned veterans both in practice and in games wore him down and whittled at his confidence.

“The tough thing for him coming in was

confidence, self-confidence,” Boals said.

“Sometimes, it was hard for him to comprehend that, but he’s had a great attitude. He’s had a great work ethic since day one.”

Clayton’s age catches up with him in other ways. When he first moved into Athens in June 2021, he realized he was going to be the young man among veterans. Many of his teammates had been at the youth camps he had attended, and Carter had even played in a high school tournament hosted by Philo when Clayton was in sixth grade.

“It was kind of weird to get here, and he was back,” Clayton said. “It was like I watched him when I was in sixth grade and, now, we’re teammates. It was kind of the first thing we talked about.”

As young as he is, Clayton melded to Ohio’s program with ease. He’s grafted his skills from high school into college almost seamlessly, and progress is already beginning to show. He’s one of Boals’ favorite players to bring off the bench, and he averages over 10 minutes per game.

Clayton picked Ohio because he felt a connection. Ohio picked Clayton because it saw potential.

@THEJACKGLECKLER JG011517@OHIO.EDU

THE POINTE on Mill Street starting at

3&4 $475 bedroom units

per person /month

2 bathrooms off-street parking Full-Time Maintenance close to campus & uptown 16 / FEB. 24, 2022

100

$

SIGNING BONUS

per unit unit/ for limited time

740.594.9098

ourentals.com

Jason Carter’s journey to Xavier and back JACK GLECKLER SPORTS EDITOR Jason Carter is just happy to be playing the game he loves.

The redshirt fifth year is in the final weeks of his comeback tour with Ohio. After transferring from Xavier in April 2021, he has fit in seamlessly as Ohio’s big man who can shoot from any spot on the court and stretch the floor. He’s been one of the key factors to Ohio’s dominant run through the regular season.

Carter has been having the time of his life, and he’s still getting readjusted to the Bobcats. He’s been received with open arms since he returned to Athens, and he’s never felt out of place.

“The coaching staff is awesome, they’ve made me feel well welcome since the start and it’s been fun,” Carter said.

But that’s the thing. Carter never expected to come back.

After the end of his redshirt sophomore season with Ohio in 2019, Carter had one foot out of the door. Ohio was in a state of upheaval. Then-coach Saul Phillips’ contract was not renewed following two consecutive losing seasons, and Jeff Boals was hired as his replacement less than a week later.

Carter had reservations. He was recruited

by Phillips, and he’d built up a respect for the man who brought him to Ohio. He met Boals at the midpoint of his college career and was unsure of what to expect.

“I just wanted to be able to choose who I was playing for,” Carter said. “With everything going on it was just like everything getting turned upside down.”

Three days after Boals was announced as Ohio’s coach, Carter entered his name into the transfer portal. It wasn’t long before he received a call from Travis Steele, the head coach at Xavier.

One of Steele’s assistants, Sam Frayer, had played for Ohio and was teammates with Carter. The two had been close friends, and Frayer recognized Carter’s name when looking at the portal.

“Once I saw him in the portal, Steele asked me, ‘Hey, do you know this guy?’” Frayer said.

“One thing led to another and it kind of worked out. I never thought about it on my end.”

Carter had mentioned his plans to Frayer beforehand, but neither had discussed it past the surface.

But having a friend so close to a coach unintentionally gave Carter an understanding of how the Musketeers operated. Steele paid Carter a visit, and the forward came to his decision in less than a week. Five days af-

ter entering the portal, Carter committed to Xavier and left his time at Ohio behind.

After he joined the Musketeers, Carter was welcomed with open arms. The forward was integrated into the starting lineup off the bat. He started in all but two games and averaged over 28 minutes per game. His affable personality endeared him to the coaching staff, and he formed a quick camaraderie with many of his teammates.

But the longer he played for the Musketeers, the more he felt like he didn’t belong.

Carter couldn’t ignore his own internal reservations. He struggled to adapt to a physically demanding Big East schedule, and his performance suffered as a result. Carter, who’d been Ohio’s leading scorer in 2018-19, rarely cracked double figures during his two seasons with the Musketeers.

“He was playing forward in the Big East for 30 minutes a night, which can beat up a guy,” Frayer said. “I think he was playing 36 minutes at some points. That’s going to take its toll, I was concerned about his health.”

As his two seasons with Xavier wore on, Carter noticed himself slipping. He wasn’t meeting his own standards. He told himself he was too hesitant, and that he lacked the aggression he’d played with at Ohio. Carter had lost confidence in the skills that brought him to Xavier. He refused to cut himself slack.

He wanted to live up to the mounting expectations he began to stockpile on himself.

His love for basketball had been supplanted by a need to please an unpleasable force that clawed at the back of his mind.

“It was a time of struggle, in terms of trying to figure my way out there,” Carter said. “I don’t know if I ever truly did.”

By the end of 2020-21 season, Carter reached a point of complete exhaustion. His strive for complete, unwavering perfection, in lockstep with the COVID-19 pandemic that staggered Xavier’s schedule, had beaten him into submission.

He wanted his basketball career to be over.

Although he had been granted an extra year of eligibility due to the pandemic, Carter initially disregarded it. Basketball was the last thing on his mind, much less the transfer portal.

But while job-surfing one day toward the end of the season, the idea of another year in the portal became more promising. Although he wasn’t looking at it from a basketball perspective, he figured he could get another degree and find a good job after his sixth season concluded.

But then, he began to reminisce about Ohio. His girlfriend — now fiancee — was still in school there, and a handful of his friends

from before his first transfer were still playing.

“I started thinking about the basketball piece,” Carter said. “I was like ‘Yeah, I get to play with Ben (Vander Plas), they’ve got good starters returning and Mark Sears and we were hoping (Jason Preston) would have come back, but he decided to leave, and he got drafted, which is awesome.’”

On March 24, 2021, almost two years to the day after departing Ohio for what was supposed to be his final move, Carter re-entered his name into the transfer portal.

Carter wanted to rejoin the Bobcats, but doubts clouded his mind. He feared Boals and the rest of the Bobcats might resent him. He left when prospects looked uncertain. When Boals asked for trust, Carter left.

It wasn’t long until he and Boals were in direct contact. Carter feared the talks would be unproductive, but Boals listened intently and offered understanding. The two spoke often and at length. Carter spoke honestly about his initial departure. He talked about his time at Xavier and how it had led him back to Ohio, and to Boals.

“Once I got to talk to him, he was probably one of the most understanding people,” Carter said. “He had nothing held against me or anything like that.”

Boals never harbored a grudge against Carter, but he wanted a second opinion before moving forward. He wanted an outside source to tell him if the forward would mesh with the culture Boals had established during his first two years at the helm.

Boals went to the two players who knew Carter best: Vander Plas and Preston.

“He left those two, he didn’t leave me,” Boals said. “If they decided that they didn’t want him or he wouldn’t fit our culture, then

I probably wouldn’t have taken him.”

Vander Plas and Preston vouched for him without hesitation. The process was expedited from there. Carter committed to Ohio on April 2, 2021, after spending nine days in the portal.

He was back with the Bobcats, but now he was with a coach he wanted to play for.

In a sixth season that he initially never wanted to utilize, Carter is back at the top of his game. He’s second on the Bobcats in scoring and rebounds, and his return to Athens was instrumental in the Bobcats formulating the season that they’ve had.

He takes the good with the bad when looking at his time away from Ohio. He’s still grateful for the connections he made, and he still carries them with him.

Carter still grapples with his perfectionism, however. It’s a constant battle for him to break the habits that nearly drove him away from basketball all together. Sometimes he’ll slip, but he knows that his teammates and coaches are there for him.

“I think he’s still definitely his biggest critic,” Vander Plas said. “But he’s gotten better, he’s definitely gotten better. Confidence is pretty high for him, so I’m loving it.”

Last season, Carter considered his basketball career at its logical conclusion. Now, he’s one of the cornerstone players of an Ohio team that has a chance to win its second Mid-American Conference Championship under a third-year coach.

He’s not where he expected himself to end up, but Carter isn’t complaining. He’s still playing the game he loves.

“I want him to have his story book ending,” Frayer said.

@THEJACKGLECKLER JG011517@OHIO.EDU

THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 17

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Attendance by the numbers ASHLEY BEACH ASST. SPORTS EDITOR MATTHEW GEIGER DIGITAL MANAGING EDITOR It’s no secret that women’s sporting events have lower attendance than men’s.

It happens at the professional, collegiate and high school level. Women’s sports are less viewed.

The Phoenix Mercury had the highest average attendance of 2021 in the WNBA. The Mercury’s average attendance number was 5,849. On the other hand, the Chicago Bulls had the highest average attendance of the NBA with 20,697 fans at games.

There is a stark difference in these numbers. It is not that the women’s teams are in a smaller market — they’re just not as attended.

Basketball is a worthwhile sport to attend at Ohio University, whether it be men’s or women’s. The men’s team, coached by Jeff Boals, was the 2021 Mid-American Conference Tournament Champion and went to the second round of the 2021 NCAA Tournament. The women’s team, coached by Bob Boldon, reached the semifinals of the 2021 MAC Tournament and played in the 2021 Women’s National Invitation Tournament.

Despite having two successful teams, OU is not exempt from the attendance epidemic.

The attendance numbers at home conference games for the men’s and women’s teams at OU are not the same. Each team has a weekday game and a weekend game — the women primarily play on Wednesdays and Saturdays, while the men play on Tuesdays and Fridays. There’s plenty of chances to catch the Bobcats.

Tim Conway, a sophomore studying media arts production, finds that the midweek games provide him something fun to look forward to.

“The Convo just has a great atmosphere,” Conway said. “It’s something to do on a Tuesday night. OU, when (it is) good, like (it is) this year, it’s just fun to watch.”

All of these games are free for OU students through tickets on ohiobobcats.com.

For non-students, a men’s single-game ticket is as low as $15 and is purchased by seat. Women’s single-game tickets are sold at a flat-rate of $5, and tickets are $2 for groups of 10 or more.

Sometimes, the seats in The Convo are left empty, though. Here’s a look at Ohio’s season: 18 / FEB. 24, 2022

Kent State was the men’s first home conference game of the season on Jan. 7. Within that same week, the men faced Bowling Green. The women faced Northern Illinois

on Jan. 8 and Kent State on Jan. 12.

Both teams returned to The Convo after road trips for the weekend of Jan. 21. The men lost to rival Toledo that Friday, and the women faced Bowling Green on Saturday.

The women also celebrated Cece Hooks’ achievement of being the new all-time leading scorer in Ohio history.

That day, Hooks broke the MAC all-time scoring record in front of the women’s biggest home crowd of the season.

The women faced rival Buffalo on Jan. 24 in front of one of its smallest home crowds of the season. The men faced Northern Illinois the next day. Both teams won — the women by a small margin. It was the second time in two seasons that the women had upset Buffalo in The Convo.

The men came home for a three-game homestand beginning Feb. 1. During that span, the weather worsened in the tri-state area. Classes were canceled the same day as the men’s game against Eastern Michigan, and the game time was moved up due to the weather. Despite the rain, over 3,000 individuals trekked to The Convo to watch the

game.

The women then had their own three-game home series. They kicked off the homestand against Western Michigan on Feb. 12. The men had been on the road during that time but came back home to face rival Miami on

Feb. 15.

Attendance is not the same for men’s and women’s basketball, and it has been that way for years. However, students still support both programs.

Hayley Danesi, a sophomore studying child and family studies, attends both men’s and women’s games with her friend Sarah Cope, a junior studying education.

Danesi and Cope have been to a majority of both teams’ home games this season.

Danesi has found that even though the number of people attending women’s games is lower than the men’s, the supporters in the stands are just as, if not more, serious about Ohio basketball.

“All the people that are there are genuinely there to support the women’s basketball team and to support the sport,” Danesi said. “You notice a lot less people stay on their phones during the game. More people are more invested in what the score is, or those kinds of things.”

Recently, student attendance has been booming thanks to the resurgence of the O-Zone, Ohio’s student section run in part by Chase Ellis and Rishi Patel. Ellis, a junior studying engineering technology and management, has been part of a team running the O-Zone Instagram account, @ohio.ozone. The account helps enthuse students about upcoming OU sporting events. Recently, it has been focusing on basketball — both men’s and women’s.

“I really want to promote (the women’s) game against (Akron) because it’s really huge for them right now,” Ellis said.

“They’re in the thick of the MAC Tourney battle, they really deserve the support, especially with what Cece Hooks has done,

and what the whole team has done. It would be amazing for two teams in the MAC Tournament.”

There’s only a few more home games left this season. The women have two more home games, and the men have one.

Basketball has a long withstanding tradition at Ohio and in The Convo. There’s plenty of basketball to go around and plenty of seats to fill.

@ASHLEYBEACHY_ AB026319@OHIO.EDU @MATTG444 MG568618@OHIO.EDU

THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 19

Numbers to know from Ohio’s loss to Buffalo WILL CUNNINGHAM SLOT EDITOR Ohio fell flat in the final game of its three-game road trip, losing 79-65 against Buffalo on Wednesday night. Ohio got itself in a hole early, and a furious fourth quarter comeback attempt fell short.

The Bobcats drop to seventh place in the Mid-American Conference with the loss. They are just half a game ahead of the two teams below them competing for the final few spots in the MAC tournament.

Here are the numbers to know from Ohio’s loss: 28.8% The Bobcats shot just 28.8% on 2-pointers in Wednesday’s loss. They missed plenty of layups, both early and late in the game, and it cost them.

Ohio shot well from 3-point range, but that was not enough to save them from their dismal shooting inside the arc.

Missed layups have been a problem all season, but Wednesday’s game was a new level of struggle for Ohio.

25 Buffalo dominated Wednesday’s game on the boards, outrebounding Ohio by 25.

The Bulls were able to take advantage of the Bobcats’ lack of size to earn themselves plenty of extra possessions.

With 17 offensive rebounds and 16 second chance points, the Bulls dominance on the offensive glass was a major factor.

14 Ohio trailed by 14 points at the end of the first quarter, a hole that proved too deep to dig out of.

Ohio guard Cece Hooks (1) jumps to try and pass the ball to her teammate during the Bobcats’ game against Buffalo on Monday, Jan. 24, 2022, at The Convo. The Bobcats’ won 68-66. (ALAINA DACKERMANN | FOR THE POST)

The Bobcats have repeatedly gotten off to slow starts this season – including their first game against the Bulls – and the only difference Wednesday was that they were unable to come back.

It may have just been the fatigue of a

road trip in which it played three games in five days, but slow starts are certainly a worrying trend for Ohio.

DOWN DAILY RUNDOWN DAILY RUNDOW DAILY RUNDOWN DAILY RUNDOWN THE RUNDOWN DAILY RUNDOW DAILY RUNDOWN DAILY RU DAILY RUNDOWN DAILY RUNDOWN D SIGN UP AT THEPOSTATHENS.COM DA RUNDOWN DAILY RUNDOWN DAILY

POST

20 / FEB. 24, 2022

@WILLOCUNNINGHAM WC425318@OHIO.EDU

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Tommy Schmock, Ben Vander Plas propel Ohio past Central Michigan

Ohio forward Ben Vander Plas scores against Central Michigan on Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022, at The Convo in Athens, Ohio. (PEARL SPURLOCK | FOR THE POST)

JACK GLECKLER SPORTS EDITOR Tommy Schmock had plenty of time.

After catching a pass from Ben Vander Plas, the senior didn’t wait more than a second before he made his move. With ample room between him and the closest Central Michigan defender, Schmock sprang up and snapped his wrist.

The guard pedaled back toward the half court line as he watched his 3-point attempt swished through the net.

Schmock’s seventh 3-pointer of the night wasn’t Ohio’s go-ahead basket over Central Michigan — it had held the lead for most of the game. Neither was it a shot that broke Ohio out of a scoring drought.

What Schmock’s basket indicated, however, was the collective performance that Ohio needed.

“I think we really established ourselves

inside-out,” Schmock said.

Schmock’s career-high 23-points and dominance beyond the arc propelled Ohio to a 76-50 rout of Central Michigan inside The Convo on Tuesday night. It was a win Ohio yearned for. After it was dismantled on the road by Kent State last Friday, Ohio was looking for a game to pull itself together.

The Bobcats (23-5, 14-3 Mid-American Conference) finally woke up. They were aggressive from the jump, fighting at the boards and sprinting to break away in transition. A sluggish, stagnant offense that set in over the last month was reworked. The Bobcats spread the Chippewas out and kept the ball moving. While the Chippewas tried to clamp down, the Bobcats prodded at holes in the defense and capitalized on open looks.

“We were just trying to make all the

right, easy, simple decisions,” Ben Vander Plas said. “When you’re hitting shots like that and the ball is moving like that, it’s hard to defend. So, we stuck to the plan.

Vander Plas split the glory with Schmock on Tuesday. He’d scaled back on field goal attempts and instead opted to fight for rebounds and feed the ball to his teammates. He played selflessly, and his performance — 10 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists — was good for the fourth triple-double in program history.

It wouldn’t have been possible without Schmock. Four of Vander Plas’ assists came thanks to Schmock’s career night.

The two played off each other, and the duo prospered.

“I was just like, ‘Tommy’s out there somewhere at 40 feet. I’ll find him. He’s probably gonna make it,’” Vander Plas said.

For the first time in a long time, the

Bobcats feel refreshed. After a backlogged February schedule crammed with quick turnover between games and little recovery time, they are back in a groove.

“They’re in the thick of things and competing for a championship,” Ohio coach Jeff Boals said. “They’ve done a great job all year responding, and they’re resilient.”

It’s come at the right time. There’s less than two weeks until the regular season wraps up, and then the Bobcats are headed to Cleveland for the MAC Tournament.

After the loss to Kent State last Friday, the Bobcats were left dazed and looking for a cure. They needed a shot in the arm to pick themselves up during the final stretch.

As it turns out, a blowout win over Central Michigan is just what the doctor ordered.

@THEJACKGLECKLER JG011517@OHIO.EDU

THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 21

the weekender Tour of Uptown Athens to showcase Black history, landmarks KAYLA BENNETT ASST. CULTURE EDITOR Appalachian Understories will be partnering with Brian Koscho, creator of “Invisible Ground,” a history and storytelling podcast focusing on Southeast Ohio, to host a walking tour of Uptown Athens. The walking tour will showcase the Black history and landmarks that are still standing or now remembered with a plaque.

Madison Donohue, tourism specialist for Appalachian Understories, said the tour will start at HangOverEasy, 18 N. Court St., where the Berry Hotel once stood. After the first stop, the group will be going to the West State Street Cemetery and making their way toward Mount Zion Baptist Church. Koscho, who will be guiding the tour, will be stopping at the locations to share stories of Black entrepreneurship, education and community building.

“The things that have come before us, the people that have come before us, the stories, the struggles and the wonderful things and the terrible things are part of our stories as human beings,” Koscho said.

“I think it’s something that unifies us.”

Koscho said the tour can help people take abstract and complicated ideas and find actual stories, people and touchstones in their own region.

Black history is a momentous part of what makes Athens, Athens, and it has created connections and opportunities for education. Trevellya Ford-Ahmed, communications and media director for the Mount Zion Baptist Church Preservation Society, said knowing about where one comes from and knowing about their history and ancestry can help them elevate

22 / FEB. 24, 2022

thinking about who they are today.

“I think knowing about where you have come from and the people that have inspired, not just their families but people across the country, that’s a very prideful thing to know about,” Ford-Ahmed said.

When thinking of Appalachia, FordAhmed said people are surprised to hear Black people ever lived in the area. However, Athens has always hosted magnificent Black entrepreneurs and attorneys and historical structures, Ford-Ahmed said.

“Athens is a part of that Appalachian understory,” Ford-Ahmed said.

Donohue said this is Appalachian Understories’ 25th tour hosted since September 2021, and she looks forward to having people attend and build comradery and connection to the history of where they live, hence the name of the tours.

“An understory tree is a tree that doesn’t grow as tall as maybe an oak tree but it stays in the understory canopy of the forest, like the pawpaw tree, so it’s an ecological term, because a lot of our tours have to do with the natural history of the region,” Donohue said. “But we also used it as a way to explain the stories that are lesser told of our region, so we wanted to just uplift other stories that maybe aren’t as well known.”

The event, “Lifting up Diversity in Little Cities,” will be hosted on Sunday, Feb. 27, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and a portion of the $40 ticket will be donated to Mount Zion to aid its restoration process.

Koscho said having connections to surroundings changes the way one looks at them, and he, along with Donohue and Ford-Ahmed, encourages people to attend the tour or learn more about the ground they walk on.

“All these folks that we’re going to talk about are important not only to Athens history in Southeast Ohio history, but they’re important national figures and they’re people whose stories I think really provide a connection to some really im-

portant ideas about history, culture and what we do and don’t tell sometimes in history,” Koscho said.

@KKAYYBEN KB084519@OHIO.EDU

The former Mt. Zion Baptist Church stands at the corner of N. Congress St. and Carpenter St. in Athens, Ohio. (DYLAN TOWNSEND | FOR THE POST)

IF YOU GO WHAT: “Lifting up Diversity in Little Cities” walking tours WHEN: Sunday, Feb. 27, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

WHERE: Begins at HangOverEasy, 18 N. Court St. ADMISSION: $40

WHAT’S GOING ON? Learn about Athens’ Black history; take a polar plunge

KATIE MILLARD FOR THE POST FRIDAY, FEB. 25 Judge Russo, The Wastemen and Tasteful will perform at The Union, 18 W. Union St., Friday at 8 p.m. Doors open at 7 p.m. to see this exciting triple performance, hosted by Blackout Booking. Make sure to catch this colorful show.

Admission: $8 The Strike Down the Stigma benefit concert will take place at 10 p.m. at Casa Nueva, 6 W. State St. The concert requires proof of vaccination to attend and will feature Sneakthief and Caitlin Kraus.

Admission: $5 for those 21+, $7 for those under 21 The Winter Dance Concert has its opening night Friday at 7:30 p.m. at MemAud, 33 University Terrace. Come support Ohio University dance students and, if you can’t make it Friday, the show has a second performance Saturday at the same time and place.

Admission: Free for OU students with a valid student ID at the door, $12 for anyone else SATURDAY, FEB. 26 A Photo Walk will take place at 2 p.m., meeting at a soon-to-be-announced location. Updates will be made on the Athens, Ohio Wanderlust Facebook page.

Participants are to bring only one camera and lens so as to not be weighed down.

Admission: Free The 7th Annual Polar Plunge will take place from 12 p.m. until 3 p.m. at the River Park Pool, 36 N. McKinley Ave. All are welcome to brave the cold to help sup-

port the Southeast Ohio Food Bank/ HapCap, and the event will feature food trucks, music, games, drinks, free T-shirts to the first 150 participants and a $100 gift card to the winner of the “Best Dressed” competition.

Admission: Free Puppy Hour will take place from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. at Bubbles Tea and Juice Company, 18 S. Court St. Bubbles is coordinating with Bobcats of the Shelter Dogs to bring this adorable puppy hour to life. Several adoptable pups from the shelter will be joining customers, and $2 from every purchase will go to dogs in need.

Admission: Cost of your order “Black Wall Street Athens County” is set to air its first of three installments of the docuseries at the Athena Cinema, 20 S. Court Street, at 7 p.m. Come and learn about the hidden history of Athens County, and stay for the following documentary films about two incredible Black women of Southeast Ohio.

Admission: $6.50 SUNDAY, FEB. 27 Lifting up Diversity in Little Cities walking tour of Uptown Athens will take place from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m., and it will begin in front of HangOverEasy, the site of the former Berry Hotel, 18 N. Court St. A portion of ticket sales for this 1.5 mile walk will support the Mount Zion Baptist Church Preservation Society.

Various locations

BLOOD DRIVE

The need is constant, the need is urgent, sign up and give today.

FRIDAY NIGHT 6PM: BILL FOLEY

visit the Red Cross online.

Enter your zip code to search for an available drive. Times availble each week

scan to schedule your donation

Admission: $25 Winter Wolf Painting Party will be held at 3 p.m. at Mama Renie’s Pizza, 23 Public Square in Nelsonville. The twohour class led by artist Sharon Dean and hosted by Gaia’s Realms will have participants follow along to paint a cold wintry scene. All materials are provided, and participants can enjoy food and drinks as they paint.

Admission: $35

@KATIE_MILLARD11 KM053019@OHIO.EDU

PLUS ▼▼▼▼▼

MEGAN BEE ALBUM RELEASE PARTY hosted by SEORA upstairs

The Market on State ATHENS FARMERS & ART MARKET Locally grown and raised meats, cheeses, vegetables, fruits, prepared foods, , traditional and specialty bread, coffee, wine and cider, shelf stable canned goods, sweets, plants and seeds. Plus locally made artistic goods Find us in the front parking lot and inside the Market on State Mall

Saturdays 9 am - Noon

Admission: $40 Learn to Crochet this Sunday from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. at Chosen Pathways Spiritual Emporium, 400 E. State St. Hosted by Nadine and Nancy’s knitting class, the event will teach the basics of crochet, beginning with a washcloth. Come learn a new skill, and a crochet hook and ball of yarn will be provided.

The perfect place to gather ANY NIGHT OF THE WEEK! we have 32 Beers on Tap & Don’t Miss Tuesday night trivia.

Athens Co Public Library

THIRTY-YEAR JOURNEY: THE STORY OF A BLACK AND BLIND PROFESSOR This presentation will tell the story behind Dr. JW Smith’s new autobiography, From the Back of the Bus to the Front of the Classroom. Dr. Smith is a professor of Speech Communication in the School of Communication Studies at Ohio University.

Saturday Feb. 26th 2-3:00 pm myacpl.com FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

For more Music, Arts, and Events scan

Saturday 7PM

Come join Megan and co-producer Bruce Dalzell to celebrate the release of her album Cottonwood

@EclipseBeerHall Open to All

promote

YOUR NEXT EVENT HERE

because it’s an affordable (cheap) way to expose art, music, theater, films, exhibitions, and non-profit events and happenings

TO

THOUSANDS OF READERS for as low as

ATHENS BLACK WALL STREET PREMIERE Mount Zion Baptist Church Preservation Society proudly presents the premiere of Athens Black Wall Street (Episode 1). This project, developed in association with Bent Street Films and Hyfocal Multimedia focuses on the incredible triumphs of Black business owners in Athens County in the late 1880’s and early 1900’s. The series chronicles the destruction of Athens Black Historical structures and depicts community efforts to halt the erasure of its last standing cultural icon.

The evening will also feature documentary films on the lives of two incredible Black matriarchs Ada Woodson Adams and Dr. Francine Childs as part of Liz Pahl’s film project Legacy: Women of Southeast Ohio.

Saturday Feb 26th 7:00 pm

Stuarts Opera House

LATE 20TH CENTURY

DANCE PARTY

WITH DJ BFUNK

DJ B-Funk will be playing music from 1950 to early 2000’s for your enjoyment. send us an email There will be food provided postadvertising@ohio.edu

by Lacey Rogers, fellow Semester pricing and book club Facilitator and community organizer, a full discounts are available. cash-bar, and Sharrell Wise Space is limited Photography will be on hand to snap photos of all of you having fun.

The event will be streamed for The Union those who can’t make it.

ALL PROCEEDS benefit the LAST DISCO anti-racism book club.

WITH

$15 per week!

DJ BARTICUS Thursday, March 3rd Doors open at 8:00

▼▼EVENT DATE▼▼ Friday, MAR 11th 7 pm- 11 pm

TICKETS & DONATION HERE: linktr.ee/djbfunk $15 Donation and proof of vaccination required to attend

THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 23

THERE ARE TIMES WHEN

size does matter WHEN IT COMES TO AUDIENCE

BIGGER IS BETTER

OUR audience may be your next client.

ADVERTISE inTHE POST PostAdvertising@ohio.edu 2 / AUG. 26, 2021

FOR INFORMATION ABOUT OUR RATES