http://www.cantonrep.com/sports/x1650247359/East-Canton-continues-on-road-to-perfection
Sorry for the lack of coverage on Friday's game. I was in Kentucky visiting my former college. I did have a few thoughts and observations on Friday's game.
It was undeniable that the environment played a huge factor in Fridays game. With WHBC in the building and all the alumni, the atmosphere was electric. There were no empty seats in the gym. Some special people from East Cantons basketball history were getting to watch the Hornets for the first time in years. Boy, did the Hornets not disappoint. The game was over just minutes in.
Campbell had a huge 1st quarter. 8 of his 13 came during the first period and he didn't even start. This is a great sign and a huge boost to the Hornets overall depth and toughness inside.
The third quarter was a bit of a let down. Rootstown outscored the Hornets, 15-12. In fairness, the game was well past decided at this point and it didn't matter what East Canton did, the result was solidified. The Hornets seemed content, lax with their pressure and a lack of precision on offense. But I am a bottom line type of guy and the bottom line says: East Canton 80, Rootstown 40. Still, 4 quarters of basketball is the goal, not 3.
East Canton didn't allow any Rootstown players to reach double digits for indivdual scoring. I love it when this happens, personally. It shows that the Hornets are as much of a team on defense as they are on offense.
Bradley was all over the place stealing balls. He was in passing lanes and swiping crossovers. He finished with 6 total steals. Oh yeah, he also made a season high 4 3-pointers, all in a short time span. When he got hot, it was truly the death knell for the Rovers. Most teams know they are in trouble trying to harness Bradley's quickness, but to have to worry about the 3-point shot too is devastating.
East Canton scored 12 points in the 3rd quarter. 6 Hornets scored during the 3rd with no Hornet scoring any more or less than 2 points. Weird.
Rootstown is a good 3-point shooting team. We bothered their sets and didn't let them get many good looks from three range. Rootstown only hit 4 3s, while East Canton put 8 3s in.
The JV team lost, 40-53. Leading the way for the Hornets was Pennell with 11 and Kennedy with 9.
Free-Press Article
http://www.the-press-news.com/news/article/4776624
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13 comments:
Explaining Our Opponent's Nickname and logo:
The first interpretation of the word Rover at Rootstown was the dog; a collie or German shepherd. In 1960 a new version of the mascot was adopted: the Rover that is defined as "a pirate, a wanderer, or a roamer" in in Webster's Dictionary. The Rovers logo is a ship that is meant to symbolize the Norsemen.
This new version of the nickname came into existence in the early years of RHS sports. The Rovers did not have a facility in which to engage in competitive sporting activities, thus they would "wander and roam" to other schools for sports, pirating victories.
Last Meeting:
@ Rootstown in January, EC won 68-55
Very cool that WHBC is carrying this game tonight. I do not remember us having a regular season, home game covered by radio (tournament games, yes, but never regular season). Another step toward media domination!!!
Feel the Bzzzzzz!!!!
This is the 39th meeting of the schools. East Canton is 27-11 all time versus the Rovers, but suffered a 7 game losing streak from 2002 to 2007. Spurgeon coached teams are 4-1 against Rootstown.
Year Opponent EC Opp
1963-64 Rootstown 56 54
1964-65 Rootstown 60 48
1965-66 Rootstown 53 44
1966-67 Rootstown 73 28
1967-68 Rootstown 50 63
1968-69 Rootstown 80 75
1969-70 Rootstown 93 36
1970-71 Rootstown 95 61
1971-72 Rootstown 77 65
1972-73 Rootstown 78 70
1973-74 Rootstown 87 73
1974-75 Rootstown 82 89
1975-76 Rootstown 73 60
1976-77 Rootstown 81 60
1977-78 Rootstown 67 36
1978-79 Rootstown 83 47
1979-80 Rootstown 63 52
1980-81 Rootstown 62 65
1993-94 Rootstown 78 71
1994-95 Rootstown 81 71
1995-96 Rootstown 75 62
1996-97 Rootstown 53 52
1997-98 Rootstown 71 58
1998-99 Rootstown 105 68
1999-00 Rootstown 69 64
2000-01 Rootstown 77 64
2002-03 Rootstown 57 67
2003-04 Rootstown 44 54
2004-05 Rootstown 50 64
2005-06 Rootstown 50 80
2005-06 Rootstown 40 84
2006-07 Rootstown 52 71
2006-07 Rootstown 48 54
2007-08 Rootstown 73 61
2007-08 Rootstown 40 52
2008-09 Rootstown 67 53
2008-09 Rootstown 54 37
2009-10 Rootstown 68 55
The 105 points scored in 1998-99 represent the most points scored in a game that did not go 7 overtimes (see legendary 1991 Conotton Valley game)
75th anniversary celebration tonight. Excited to have so many great players in the gym together, highlighted by Bob Werley who was the first Hornet All-Ohioan (third team in 1946 and first team in 1947).
WHBC will be streaming the broadcast online at whbc.com if there is anyone out of town that would like to listen to the game...
Is there anyway to tape the radio call?
WOW! First all the ink in the Rep, now WHBC with big Sammy Bourquin. Great post game interview on the radio, as sammy is signing off you can hear spurge in the background tell the radio crew about the food and mixer in the other gym. Sky is the limit, I hear rumor that Coach Spurge will be cast in the remake of the 80s movie "The BeastMaster"
Great win Hornets!
W. Sobchak
I have seen this team play nine games. obvious observations: First the three point shot, they all can hit from out there. Second the rebounding, slater smith and stu will have had plenty of oppertunity for offensive put backs + to strong = and ones. Third the press, zell joe sam and ryan make it a nightmare for the opposition example...woodridge player "they are everywhere" Forth the ball handling of the guards, i haven't seen travels or erroant passes five second calls andything that tells me they can't handle. Fifth and not final, these players play as a TEAM. good luck down the road, hopefully it's a long trek.
News, Notes, and Observations:
1. This team is really playing well. Rootstown is feisty and reminds me a lot of last year's hornets: scrappy and bothersome, but not quite over the hump. I thought they would have a legit shot at giving us problems. However, the players made them look far from formidable. It is the latest in a series of beat downs at home of a league opponent who played with us at their place:
Woodridge +5 there and +40 at home
Mogadore +12 there and +38 at home
Rootstown +13 there and +40 at home
I wouldn't know, but I think home court advantage is universally agreed upon at about 5 points...not 26 or so.
2. Very proud of the continued high effort every night. They are very hard to play against right now and react equally well to low stress and high stress situations...very impressive. Tournament run will end whenever it ends, but if they are going to play this way (and I see NO evidence that they won't), then it is going to take a very good team playing well to beat them. That is a pretty good legacy to have.
3. Good luck friday. ALL fans encouraged to wear blue as we support this great group and close the Smith Gym. Let's pack it one more time and then get ready to invade Salem for the next couple weeks!!
Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
What a great night Friday. Over 60 former players and coaches, including two players from the 1947 County Champions....All-Ohioan Bob Werley and Bob Schreck....Son of the first coach in EC history
side note: they were undefeated in football that year, outscoring their opponents something like 183-8!!
Looking for another player profile before the year ends .. what do you have for me Mr Blog?
expect one this week.. Big Stu is up next
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