319 replies to this topic

[Joshua_Morgret]

First off, good morning to all of you!!

I am LIVE from Berlin Hiland's Reese Center for the 10th edition of the basketball spectacular known as the Classic in the Country! There is a pretty good crowd for this opener between the Orrville Red Riders and the Reedsville Eastern Lady Eagles.

Today's games are stacked top to bottom as we'll see the top team in Division 4, the top team in Division 3, the top two teams in Division 2, and the biggest matchup of the day - the top team in Division 1 and #6 nationally, Kettering Fairmont take on the top team in Colorado and #12 nationally, Regis Jesuit. As a friendly reminder, the game between Fairmont and Jesuit has been ranked as the best game in the country this entire Martin Luther King Jr. weekend by Maxpreps.

Sit back and relax as Rocketcorner staff bring you the sights, sounds, updates, game recaps, box scores, and mostly important, food updates from Classic in the Country X.

If you have any questions or requests, please let us know and we'll give you the best information we can.

[Joshua_Morgret]

SATURDAY:
10:00 AM: Reedsville Eastern vs. Orrville
Rocketman: Reedsville Eastern D4 NR; Orrville D3 #5
Flounder: Reedsville Eastern D4 #5; Orrville D3 #6
AP: Reedsville Eastern D4 #10; Orrville #5
Maxpreps: Reedsville Eastern D4 #7; Orrville D3 #1

11:45 AM: Sylvania Northview vs. Hathaway Brown
Rocketman: Sylvania Northview D1 NW Ohio #2; Hathaway Brown D2 #2
Flounder: Sylvania Northview D1 NR; Hathaway Brown D2 #2
AP: Sylvania Northview D1 NR; Hathaway Brown D2 #3
Maxpreps: Sylvania Northview D1 NR; Hathaway Brown #76 National Ranking, D2 #2

1:30 PM: Columbus Africentric vs. Millersburg West Holmes
Rocketman: Columbus Africentric D3 #1; West Holmes D2 #1
Flounder: Columbus Africentric D3 #1; West Holmes D2 #1
AP: Columbus Africentric D3 #2; West Holmes D2 #1
Maxpreps: Columbus Africentric D3 #21; West Holmes D2 #1

3:15 PM: Memphis Central, TN vs. Cincinnati Princeton
Rocketman: Cincinnati Princeton D1 NR
Flounder: Cincinnati Princeton D1 "Other"
AP: Cincinnati Princeton D1 NR
Maxpreps: Memphis Central #9 in Tennessee, #7 in Tennessee Division AAA rankings; Cincinnati Princeton D1 #17

5:00 PM: Gahanna Lincoln vs. Canton McKinley
Rocketman: Gahanna Lincoln D1 NR; Canton McKinley D1 NR
Flounder: Gahanna Lincoln D1 NR; Canton McKinley D1 #10
AP: Gahanna Lincoln D1 NR; Canton McKinley D1 NR
Maxpreps: Gahanna Lincoln D1 #13; Canton McKinley D1 #10

6:45 PM: Regis Jesuit, CO vs. Kettering Fairmont
Rocketman: Kettering Fairmont D1 #1
Flounder: Kettering Fairmont D1 #1
AP: Kettering Fairmont D1 #2
Maxpreps: Regis Jesuit #12 Xcellent, #41 National, #2 in Colorado, #2 in Colorado 5A rankings; Kettering Fairmont D1 #2

8:30 PM: Damascus, MD vs. Berlin Hiland
Rocketman: Berlin Hiland D4 #7
Flounder: Berlin Hiland D4 #1
AP: Berlin Hiland D4 #3
Maxpreps: Berlin Hiland D4 #2

My picks today: Orrville, Hathaway Brown, West Holmes, Memphis Central (TN), Canton McKinley, Kettering Fairmont, Damascus (MD)

[Joshua_Morgret]

Reedsville Eastern is led by junior Jenna Burdette, who is headed to Dayton. Orrville is led by senior Hannah Plyborn, who is headed to Akron next season.

[Joshua_Morgret]

A jumpball off the jumpball starts the game off. Orrville with a pair of lay-ups, sandwiched around a missed 3-pointer from Eastern.

O: 4
RE: 0
6:54 left in 1st quarter

Big crowd here for Orrville

[Joshua_Morgret]

Beautiful pass from Burdette to 6'0'' junior Erin Swatzel gets Eastern on the board. Orrville with the quick response in the post.

O: 6
RE: 2
5:59 left in 1st quarter

[Joshua_Morgret]

Swatzel steps back and nails a long 3-pointer and Orrville turns it over. A missed bucket leads to a Orrville 3-pointer. Missed 3-pointer from Eastern. An Eastern foul sends Orrville to the line and they make 1-of-2. Eastern gets a quick bucket.

O: 10
RE: 7
3:58 left in 1st quarter

[Joshua_Morgret]

Swatzel makes 1-of-2 from the line. Swatzel has six points but she'll take a breather. Orrville brings it up quickly and nails another 3-pointer, this one from 5'5'' senior Maggie Davault.

O: 13
RE: 8
3:17 left in 1st quarter

This gym is really filling up.

[Joshua_Morgret]

Eastern misses shot and committs foul. Orrville misses both free throws but an offensive rebound to Davault, who makes a beautiful drive, actually down a player who headed down for defense, not realizing the offensive rebound. Eastern misses and again commits a foul that will send Orrville to the line. Timeout Eastern.

O: 15
RE: 8
2:34 left in 1st quarter

[Joshua_Morgret]

**Note** The player that headed back for defense is yanked and given a talkin' too! (5'11'' junior Lauryn Wright)

Orrville makes 1-of-2 from the line. Orrville shows full-court pressure and Eastern turns it over. Orrville turnover and Burdette finds Swatzel under the basket for a score. Swatzel with eight of Eastern's 10 points. After an Orrville missed 3-pointer, Burdette misses a bunny and then commits her second foul!

O: 16
RE: 10
1:00 left in 1st quarter

[Joshua_Morgret]

Orrville finishes the quarter strong and that'll finish up the first quarter!

Orrville: 20
Reedsville Eastern: 10
END 1ST QUARTER

[Joshua_Morgret]

**Tribute to Rocketman**
We get a little bit of Flo-rida's "I Got A Feeling" as our mid-quarter music and of course, small goodies from sponser Under Armour.

Davault hits a 3-pointer to open the quarter for Orrville but Eastern responds.

O: 23
RE: 12
6:37 left in 2nd quarter

**A lot of college coaches, or representatives from colleges already here, among them being Princeton, Akron, Xavier, and Michigan State.**

[Joshua_Morgret]

Orrville really taking it to Eastern now. Davault and the aforementioned Hannah Plybon with eight points apiece for Orrville.

O: 27
RE: 12
5:19 left in 2nd quarter

Devault rebound on another Eastern missed shot, and that will put Orrville in the bonus.

[Joshua_Morgret]

Some good back and forth defense between the two teams. Eastern sure does like to shoot the 3-pointer. They're shooting just 31.7% from behind the arc on the season.

3-pointer for Plybon and Swatzel responds for Eastern. Timeout Orrville.

O: 32
RE: 20
3:22 left in 2nd quarter

[Joshua_Morgret]

The college version of Princeton's head coach is sitting right beside me, interviewing with ESPN 990. She leaves and George Mason's coach sits down. I apologize as I do not know if these are head coaches, assistants, or just scouts.

Orrville drops in another two buckets. Plybon has 13 (7 in 2nd quarter) points and Davault has 10 points.

O: 36
RE: 20
1:40 left in 2nd quarter

[Joshua_Morgret]

The studs, Burdette and Plybon exchange buckets and a missed shot by Eastern gives Orrville a possession, which is a 3-pointer!

O: 41
RE: 22
56.5 seconds left in 2nd quarter

[Joshua_Morgret]

The record for points in a game at the Classic is 45 as we near the end of the half. Orrville brings it down and Burdette will pick up her third foul while going for the steal, down a good choice. You have to wonder why she wasn't pulled, being on defense to end the half with two fouls. Plybon makes both free throws.

Going for a steal, Plybon goes flying into the Eastern bench, tripping over a chair but she's okay. Eastern turnover but Orrville throws it out and bounds. Eastern gets down the court but misses to end the half!

Orrville: 43
Reedsville Eastern: 25
HALFTIME

[Joshua_Morgret]

Orrville will go into the team records, tying for 3rd-most points all-time in a half.

Plybon leads Orrville with 17 points and we have "interesting" halftime entertainment.

[Joshua_Morgret]

I do note that the "Weatherman" and I differ on two picks today. He has taken Cincinnati Princeton over Memphis Cental and Berlin Hiland over Damascus.

Orrville starts the third quarter off just like they ended the first half but Burdette of Eastern responds. She has nine points today.

O: 45
RE: 27
6:20 left in 3rd quarter

[slice slice baby]

Joshua_Morgret, on 19 January 2013 - 10:21 AM, said:

**Tribute to Rocketman**
We get a little bit of Flo-rida's "I Got A Feeling" as our mid-quarter music

I believe that's "Good Feeling"; BEP did, " I got a feeling".....but, just got word that RM and floundear will be there within the hour to cover the music end of things

Stellar performance, as always, josh!! We're so lucky to have you!

[Joshua_Morgret]

Plybon and 5'7'' junior Savannah Hawley of Eastern exchange buckets. There's a very nice crowd here today. Orrville's side is pretty full while the Eastern side is about 2/3 full.

Burdette fouled and she makes both. They add a bucket but Davault adds a 3-pointer.

O: 50
RE: 33
4:00 left in 3rd quarter