Monday, March 22, 1999
Madeira, Moeller take maiden voyage
First state trips for both teams
BY DAVE SCHUTTE
Enquirer contributor
Madeira and Moeller are less than a mile apart. Both basketball teams wear gold and blue uniforms. Both have coaches in their ninth year at their respective schools. And both teams will be making their first appearance in the state basketball semifinals.
Madeira and Moeller will represent Cincinnati at the Value City Arena on the Ohio State University campus in Columbus.
Madeira (24-1) meets Coldwater (17-8) in the Division III semifinals at 11 a.m. Thursday while Moeller (19-6) plays Mansfield (22-3) on Friday at 9 p.m. in Division I action.
The winners advance to Saturday's title games with the Division III scheduled for 11 a.m. and Division I at 8:30 p.m.
“Coldwater got off to a slow start because several of their players were on the football team that played in the state championship game,” Madeira coach Jim Reynolds said. “After the football players returned, they've played well.”
At 17-8, Coldwater has the worst record of the 16 teams in the tournament. The Cavaliers knocked off Huron 68-57 to reach the semifinals.
Senior guard Ryan Rammel is one of four Coldwater players averaging in double figures. The others also played football: Adam Huwer, Keith Walls and Jeremy Gaerke.
“From what I know, it looks like Coldwater is a half-court team although they've scored 80 points in several games,” Reynolds said. “They used only six guys the entire regional championship game which sounds good for us.”
Madeira prefers an up-tempo game. Todd Schlensker and Ken Fields the catalysts along with point guard Jon Newbery. On the inside, Madeira relies on Bret Underwood, Nate Parkhouse and Jon Dinsmore.
Bedford Chanel (24-0) meets Beverly Fort Frye (24-2) in the other semifinal.
En route to the semifinals, Moeller was involved in three close games. The Crusaders beat St. Xavier (55-53), Vandalia Butler (62-59) and Beavercreek (59-57).
The reverse is true for Mansfield with the Tygers winning by an average of 16 points in the tournament, including Saturday's 63-46 victory over Cleveland St. Ignatius.
Mansfield relies heavily on three players as Marquis Sykes, Jeremee Butts and Rick Minard average in double figures.
Both teams rely on the half-court attack. East Liverpool (23-1) and Shaker Heights (24-1) meet in the other semifinal.
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