Thursday, March 16, 2000
Mason whoops it up for team
City agog as girl cagers seek state title
BY KEVIN ALDRIDGE
The Cincinnati Enquirer
MASON — This suburban city of 18,850 may become a ghost town this weekend.
Be they grocers, teachers, policemen or gas-station attendants, thousands of Mason residents are expected to fast break up Interstate 71 to Columbus this weekend to watch the nation's second-ranked girls basketball team compete for its first state title.
“The whole town is going to be there,” said Ceri Paul, 42. “Everybody's pumped up.”
The undefeated Lady Com ets face the Cleveland East Tech Scarabs, 24-1, at 9 p.m. Friday at Value City Arena in the Schottenstein Center on the campus of Ohio State University. It will be the Lady Comets' third trip to the Final Four in four years.
While most Tristate basketball fans were busy this week filling out their NCAA Tournament brackets, Comets' fans were booking hotel rooms in Columbus and lining up to buy tickets. People waited for hours Wednesday for beginning of ticket sales at the high school.
“We've already got our hotel reservations,” said Jeff Landis, 44. “Me, my wife and my kids are going to make a little mini-vacation out of it.”
The senior citizen-dominat ed pep club has chartered two buses and plans to send along more than 90 people to cheer on the Lady Comets. Several politicians are even planning to make the trek to Columbus.
“I wouldn't miss it,” said Mason Mayor John McCurley. ""But after that exciting overtime game against Beavercreek last weekend, I don't know if I've got any lungs left to scream with.”
Downtown businesses have Lady Comets banners in their windows, while green-and-white flags line U.S. 42 and Main Street entering the city. Mean while, school officials are planning to dismiss students at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, so fans can get the jump on traffic.
Students and fans clogged the lobby of the basketball arena at Mason High School on Wednesday to buy tickets. School officials had asked fans not to form a line for tickets at the high school prior to 2:40 p.m., when students are let out for the day.
However by 2:15 p.m., eager ticket buyers had formed a line that wrapped nearly halfway around the building.
Andrew Chrisanthus, a 17-year-old junior at Mason High, was one of the first in line for tickets.
“I've been here since 12:30 p.m. and it's worth it,” said Andrew. “I think we're going to win it (the state championship) this time. Comets all the Way!”
If the Lady Comets defeat Cleveland East Tech on Friday, they will advance to the state championship game Saturday at 8:30 p.m. to play either Pickerington or Parma Holy Name. It would be Mason's second consecutive trip to the state finals. A year ago, the Lady Comets lost to Pickerington in the championship game.
GO OR TUNE IN
Tickets went on sale Wednesday for Friday's game against Cleveland East Tech. Leftover tickets can be purchased today during school hours or Friday at the Schottenstein Center in Columbus.
Tickets are $7 and fans can buy up to six tickets. If the Com ets win, ticket-holders can take their stubs to a booth at the Schottenstein Center and buy tickets for Saturday's championship game at 8:30 p.m.
Also, WPFB (910 AM) will be broadcasting the Lady Comets' game live from Columbus on Friday.
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