LOOKING BACKWARD IN AHS BASKETBALL

The 102nd AHS Basketball Season 2009-2010

The 2009-2010 Season is the 102nd year of AHS Basketball and the seventh season in the Ohio Cardinal Conference, which is their fourth league affiliation.  The Orange and Black have won 1145 games and lost 756 times. AHS teams won the Northern Central Ohio League 11 times in 26 seasons with the best record of 145 wins and 66 losses for a 68.7 percentage. The Arrows won the Cardinal Conference 10 times in 27 seasons with the second best record of 166 wins and 120 losses for 58 percent. In 16 years of the Ohio Heartland Conference AHS won it twice with 67 victories and 69 loses for 49.3 percent, which was the 4th best record. In the OCC the Arrows have a record of 36 wins and 46 losses. In tournament play they have won the Sectional or District 20 times. Four times they have advanced to State in 1932, 1936, 1937, and 1941, when the State was the Sweet Sixteen. All 101-seasons can be found on the web site: www.centuryarrowsbkb.com

5 Years Ago 2004-2005 Season 6-16 record

MVP Anthony Bell led the Arrows in scoring 410 points, rebounding 136 boards and FG and FT accuracy. Daniel Hess set the school record for 3-pointers with 68 treys for the season and 123 for his career. Scott Heimann led the team with 82 assists.

10 Years Ago    1999-2000   Season 16-6 record and 2nd in the OHC 9-3 record

MVP Jason Hess finished his senior year (334 pts) and career (905 pts) 9th on AHS’s all-time list. Matt Schlingman led the OHC with a shooting percentage of 68.3. Matt Hess was All-OHC with 268 pts. Jerome Anderson led the team with 173 assists (second best all-time to Mark Hamilton in 1970-71) and 35 trays.

10 Years Ago 1999-2000    Ashland 75, Madison 62

It was the Sectional opener and the third meeting of the year with the Rams. The Arrows made it three straight behind a fabulous 31-point performance by Jason Hess. It was a Hess night when Matt Hess chipped in 12 points and Mark Hess contributed 9 points. Matt Schlingman, also, had 12 points.

15 Years Ago 1994-95 Season Record 14-8

Coach Jody Peters’ team faced three State finalists: Zanesville, Orrville, and Clyde. The biggest win was a road victory against Lexington. It was the first time the Arrows had defeated the Minutemen since the OHC’s inception. MVP & All-OHC Jeff Honaker (15.9), Jeff Gierhart (15.0), and Craig Starkey (12.1) led the team in scoring.

20 Years Ago 1989-90      Ashland 69, Medina Buckeye 53

The 6-1 Arrows of Coach Walt Harrop won their sixth game with only a one-point loss to Lexington. All-OHC first teamer Grant Fauver led the scoring on his way to an 821-point career, which placed him 8th on the all-time AHS Career list.

25 Years Ago 1984-85 Season    AHS 53, Madison 50

After the school's worst defeat by Malabar 90-32 (58 pts) the Arrows pulled a stunning upset of the Cardinal Conference co-champs in the Sectional at Kates Gymnasium. Scott Shilling had a brilliant 26-point night. The win was the only tournament victory between 1979 and 1989.

25 Years Ago 1984-85     6-17 Season Record


Coach Phil Hawk’s squad was bolstered by three Mapleton transfers: Bruce Fagert, the MVP and leading scorer (255 pts); Chuck Ritchey, the best shooting percentage (57%); and Darrell Crall, the most assists.

30 Years Ago 1979-80 Season   

Back-to-back come-from-behind wins over Dover (55-48) and defending CC champ Wooster (57-55) was the highlight of the season. Coach Jim Barr gave the Tornadoes a freaky zone and Howard Householder pumped in 17 points. The Arrow's overcame a 13-point Wooster lead, when Matt Schumaker sank two free throws with 13 seconds in the game.

30 Years Ago 1979-80    5-15 Season Record    3-9 CC Record

Harry Johnson was the MVP. Howard Householder was the leading scorer (260 pts). Terry Baughman had the best free throw percentage. Tim Lash was the most improved. All were seniors for Coach Jim Barr, but the defensive and rebounding awards went to a junior Scott Valentine, the present Arrow’s football coach

35 Years Ago 1974-75 Season   AHS 48, Tiffin Columbian 46

Sectional Champs! The 14th win of the season. The 14th AHS tournament championship and the 94th tournament victory in the school's history. Doug Cheadle scored 13 and Deacon Poole had 12, but Tom McKinley sank two free throws for the winning margin after Coach Jim Barr promised him a steak dinner for the pair. The opposing coach was Doug McDonald, former AHS coach 1968-72.

35 Years Ago 1974-75 Season       14-7 Record

Third in the Cardinal Conference at 7-5 and the Sectional Champs at Ashland College. Don Hostler led the team in scoring (265 pts), and John Smith (243 pts) led the team in rebounds (211). The other starters were: Doug Cheadle (241), Ronnie Jones (141), and Kim Poole (133). The Arrows had wins over Mansfield Senior and CC Champs New Philly.

40 Years Ago 1969-70 Season      AHS 70, Wooster 55

The Arrows (12-0) were ranked 9th (UPI) in Ohio and had won their 18th straight Cardinal Conference game. Center Tom Malone (24 pts), Randy Baum (14), Dave Honaker (11), and Milt Mooney (10) tied the best start (1953-54) in AHS basketball history. The Arrows, also, ran their home-unbeaten streak to 29-games.

40 Years Ago 1969-70 Season   Marion 54, AHS 48

The Shocker! The Upset! After a 17-1 Season and an place 8th state ranking in the UPI and AP polls, the dreams of a long tournament trail were shattered as the Prexy's shot 63-percent. It was the only Doug McDonald team of his four years that didn't win the Sectional tournament. Tom Malone ended up with the best season scoring average in AHS history with 24.8 points per game. He, also, set the single game scoring record with 42 points in the Brunswick game.

45 Years Ago 1964-65 Season   AHS 57, Madison 55

The third time was a charm against the Rams. It was the Sectional opener at Malabar Gym.  Joel Smith scored 17-points and Tom Roberts had 19-rebounds, but sophomore guard Denny Humrichouser was the hero sinking two free throws with 13 seconds on the clock.

45 Years Ago 1964-65 Season 7-13 Record

The T-G MVP award went to Rosey Robinson, but the Boosters Club’s Banquet speaker was the feature of the evening. He was Dick Messner, Grace College’s AD-coach, who was a 1948 AHS grad and held the all-time AHS scoring record of 1114 pts. 

50 Years Ago 1959-60 Season Record 16-4

Coach George Valentine's quintet set the all-time AHS scoring record at 76.4 points per game. The starting five all averaged in double figures. Dave Wait (22.4), Ken Oxenrider (13.6), Guy Meininger (13.2), Bob Sweet (11.1) and Dick Hunter (10.9) produced 16 wins.

55 Years Ago 1954-55 Season     AHS 59, Shelby 55

The semi-finals of the Marion Sectional. The undefeated (19-0) Shelby Whippets ranked 9th in Ohio were led by sophomore Larry Siegfried, who became famous at OSU and in the NBA. Upset! Coach George Valentine called for a slow down style. Max Messner (18 pts), Dave Brubaker (15), Tom Enck (13), and Jim Runyon (11) scored a stunning upset. Coach Valentine called the win “the most memorable of his coaching career.”

50 Years Ago 1954-60    Ashland 75, Mansfield 49

It was the second worst thumping of the Bengals in the 105 meetings, and the worst since the 1927 closer by 31 points. Dave Wait led the scoring with 25 points, while Dick Hunter and Bob Sweet each had 13 pts, and Ken Oxenrider and Gay Meininger had 11 each. Coach Vern Hoffman’s team scored the first basket after that George Valentine’s team ran away with the game.

55 Years Ago 1954-55 Season Record 12-9

The Arrows improved greatly under first year Coach Valentine after losing 7 of the first 11 games. The inside scoring was led by Max Messner (315), Dick Rankin (289), and Tom Enck (268). The guards were Jim Runyon (222) and Dave Brubaker (163). The team made 39.3 percent of their field goals and 58.7 percent of their free throws. Unfortunately Max Messner, who fouled out of nine contests, led the aggressive Arrows.
 
60 Years Ago 1949-50 Season   AHS 108, Bucyrus 48

It was the opener of the Mansfield tournament and the all-time AHS scoring record. 42 field goals and 24 free throws. The scoring: Ray Bates (29), Paul Jones (29), Bill Rogers (16), Lew Russell (12), Howard Fackler (9),
Norm McVicker (9), Bob Brand (3), George Glasser (1). T-G Sports Editor Loren Tibbals scribbled that it was a new state record for a Class A sectional-district tournament game.

60 Years Ago 1949-50 Season 19-2 Record

The only losses came at the hands of the Mansfield Tygers. Bud Jones (299 pts) and All-Ohio Bill Rogers (265 pts) led the team in scoring. Ray Bates (169 pts) had the best free percentage (65.1). In his 5th season at Ashland Coach C.E Taylor established a record as the winningest Class A coach in Ohio for the period 1945-50 with an 87-18 record for s 82.9 percentage.

65 Years Ago 1944-45 Season    Record    14-2

The 26th and final year in the North Central Ohio league was the 11th league championship. Capt. Chuck Reese (138), Bob “Bulldog” Miller (144), and Dick “Clem” Denbow (112) all contributed to the scoring, but a freshman and future All-Ohioan Dick Messner (169) was the top scorer. A complete history of the NCO is available on the high school web site and at the Lincoln Highway Leagues history - www.3lhloh.com.

65 Years Ago 1944-45 Season

A.L. Buckner's squad beat Shelby 53-50 for the 11th straight win to remain one of only 5 unbeaten teams in Ohio. The victory cinched the 11th and final North Central Ohio league championship for AHS. Dick Messner, a 9th grader, led the scoring with 18 points. Bob Miller (13), Clem Denbow (12), and Capt. Chuck Reese (12) rounded out the scoring.

70 Years Ago 1939-40 Season   13-7 Record Coach John Longley

Vince Barr set the all-time AHS scoring record with 260 points. Ray Miller's 232-points in 1926-27 was the previous mark. The JV team was 17-1 and Co-Champs of the NCO league.

75 Years Ago 1934-35 Season   Lima South 31, AHS 26

The Orange & Black fell one game short of a State tournament appearance. AHS got hot the last month of the season and won the Sandusky Sectional. Bud Plank led the season scoring with 117 points. The team finished with a 10-10 record and gave NCO champ Marion their only league defeat. Other scoring leaders were: Bus Hockensmith (99), and Gib Clark (46)

80 Years Ago 1929-30 Season   Record 8-11 Coach G.D. Rosie Starn

The A's beat Millersburg 42-7 for the best win of the season. Returning lettermen Johnny Matthews (14 pts) and Max Esbenshade (12 pts) led the scoring. A 9th grader Earl Thomas, AHS's first All-Ohio player, started his first varsity game.

85 Years Ago 1924-25 Season   AHS 38, Cleveland South 24

Ashland High played in Cleveland's Public Hall and Phil Lersch scored 24-points to match the opponents. However, the high mark of the season was two victories over Mansfield making it eight straight over the Red and
White. Lersch finished with 200 points for the season and Maurice Johnson had 106-points.

95 Years Ago 1919-20 Season    Record 13-3 Coach Harry Barnhart

The first year in the North Central Ohio league ended in a second place finish and 13 wins. Cresco "Nip" McHose broke the AHS scoring record with 231-points. Raymond Plank's 230-points in 1916-17 was the old record.
The team captain was Eddie Wells, who had a major league baseball career. Nip McHose went to Stanford and eventually played professional basketball on the West Coast.

100 Years Ago 1909-10 Season Record 2-1

The high school team only played three games, which included the first away game in AHS cage history at the Galion roller rink. The A’s beat Galion 44-19.  The YMCA, which had a new gym, had the most prestigious basketball, also. While many boys played in the local “House League” at the Y, the best players played on the undefeated traveling team in the Central Ohio League which was made up of area YMCA’s. Only Paul “Spitz” Ganyard and Gordon Sites were starters on all three of the teams.