Coaches Association Newsletter December 2022

OHSBCA Announce Hall of Honor Winners 2023
The Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association (OHSBCA) is proud to announce the selections to the Hall of Honor for 2023. This year, the association selected eight contributors from the odd districts of the association. The selections are Terry Wentworth, Scorekeeper of Newton Falls, Phil Horrisberger, Scorekeeper of Wadsworth, Ed Marsh, Tournament Manager of New Philadelphia, Dan Cummins, Media of WTOL, Taylor Armstrong, Announcer of Urbana, Doug Griffin, Coach of Newark Catholic, Becky Zimmerman, Ticket Taker of Fairland, and Dave Long, Sport Writer of the Dayton Daily News.

Download PDF VersionTerry Wentworth, Newton Falls - Scorekeeper
Terry Wentworth has been the official scorekeeper for Newton Falls since the 1985-1986 season. This season will be his 38th with the Tigers. “Terry has not only been a very loyal, dedicated, and professional scorer for us for the past 37 years, more importantly he is a great person who sets a great example for all of our student athletes on how to conduct themselves,” stated Roy Sembach, head boys basketball coach at Newton Falls. “He has served our community as a court bailiff, football official, and umpire for many years. He is simply known throughout our community as a “good man” who always puts service to others at the forefront of his life.”

Phil Horrisberger, Wadsworth - Scorekeeper
Phil Horrisberger has served as the girls’ scorekeeper since 1978 for the Wadsworth girls basketball program. He took over as the boys scorekeeper in 1988 and still holds that position as well. Wadsworth head girls basketball coach, Andy Booth, stated, “Phil Horrisberger has given many, many years of service to Wadsworth City Schools as our scorekeeper for both the boys and girls basketball programs. Although Phil is not in the spotlight, he has been an important part of our game day success for over four decades.”

Ed Marsh, New Philadelphia - Tournament Manager
Ed Marsh has done a little bit of everything for the New Philadelphia School District. He has served as a scorekeeper and assistant tournament manager for all boys and girls sectional/district tournaments for over 30 years. He also served as the official public address announcer for all OHSAA football playoff games that were held at Woody Hayes Quaker Stadium. He currently serves as the assistant athletic director for the school. Kevin Cornell, current head girls basketball coach at New Philadelphia stated, “Eddie Marsh bleeds red and black. Eddie provides great support and leadership to all New Philadelphia athletic teams, coaches, and fans. He is a great historian of both New Philadelphia athletics and District 5 athletics. His contributions to area athletics are unmatched.”

Dan Cummins, WTOL - News Archor & News Reporter
Dan Cummins is currently a news anchor and reporter for WTOL 11 out of Toledo, Ohio. His Big Board Friday Scoreboard Show and familiar face on the sidelines were mainstays for over two decades.  “The District 7 executive committee enthusiastically nominated Dan Cummins for the OHSBCA Hall of Honor. We all feel fortunate to be the benefactors of Dan’s energy and tireless efforts to promote NW Ohio programs and athletes for over 25 years,” stated David Boyce, District 7 Director.

Taylor Armstrong, Urbana - Announcer
Taylor Armstrong is the voice of Urbana Athletics and local all-star basketball tournaments, along with championship tournaments with the Central Buckeye Conference. Taylor has also been the announcer for the District 9 All-Star Game, the Bill “Skeeter” Moss Underclass All-Star Game, the Dayton Senior All-Star Game, and during his senior year of high school at Urbana, he had the opportunity to announce the OHSBCA Girls North-South All-Star Game at Denison University. District 9 Director, Kris Spriggs stated, “Taylor has been a great volunteer for the District 9 Basketball Coaches Association over the years. He does an outstanding job announcing the District 9 Boys and Girls All-Star games. We greatly appreciate all he has done.”

Doug Griffin, Newark Catholic - Coach
Doug Griffin has been coaching for over 50 years with the last 7 being at Newark Catholic. Coach Griffin is the first one at practice and last one to leave. His dedication to basketball and the way he treats and interacts with student athletes is top notch. An amazing coach and a much better person! Doug takes care of all practice and game uniforms. His daily responsibilities include, helping to develop daily practice schedules, as well as all film and scouting reports for our next opponent. Rob Smith, Athletic Director at Newark Catholic stated, “Coach Griff is the first one at practice and last one to leave.  He spends countless hours helping girls work on their individual skills to improve. Newark Catholic is in a better place with Coach Griff on its staff.”

Becky Zimmerman, Fairland - Ticket Taker
Becky Zimmerman has served as a ticket taker for the past 42 years at all fall, winter, and spring sporting events held at Fairland High School. “Becky is the front door of our school, the first person everyone encounters when they attend a sporting event at Fairland. Becky has been such a great influence on our students, athletes, and in our community. Every school in southern Ohio has fans who have come to know and love Becky.  She always greets others with a hug and a smile,” stated Jon Buchanan, District 13 & 14 Girls Director.

Dave Long, Dayton Daily News - Sports Writer
Dave Long spent 38 years as a sports writer for the Dayton Daily News. His main duty during those years was writing about high school sports. He was the chairman of the Associated Press Southwestern District for 30 years. That group chose individuals for All-Southwestern District and All-Ohio in football and boys and girls basketball. He was also on the selection committee for picking Ohio’s Mr. Football and Mr. and Ms. Basketball. He was named Ohio Prep Writer of the Year 12 times and is a member of five Ohio sports halls of fame, including being the first media member inducted in the Ohio Soccer Hall of Fame. District 15 Director Adam Priefer stated, “High school sports, especially basketball, were covered the best when Dave was covering the area. Dave was a terrific ambassador for basketball in the area.”

Sportsmanship, Ethics and Integrity Award Winners 2023

Each year, the Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association has the opportunity to recognize and honor a boys and girls coach with the OHSAA Sportsmanship, Ethics, and Integrity (SEI) Award. The recipients are selected by a committee that is made up of boys and girls basketball coaches across the state of Ohio. Individuals selected should reflect the values of sportsmanship, ethics, and integrity in all their professional responsibilities.

The Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association has chosen Jeff Lisath of Dayton Northridge High School as the boys coach recipient and Tyler McIlwraith as the girls coach recipient of the OHSAA Sportsmanship, Ethics, and Integrity Award. Each coach will be honored at their respective 2023 OHSAA State Basketball Tournament.

Jeff Lisath is entering his 25th year as a head coach. He spent three years at Unioto High School, three years at Chillicothe High School, nine years at Piketon High School, and is set to begin his 9th year at Dayton Northridge High School. He has a career record of 340-221. He is currently the Operations Director/Assistant Superintendent for Dayton Northridge Local Schools. “Coach Jeff Lisath has transformed our basketball program by investing in and caring deeply for each and every student athlete,” stated Dave Jackson, Superintendent at Dayton Northridge Local Schools.  “Coach holds extremely high expectations for attitude, behavior, sportsmanship and effort; and he develops the caring, difference making, positive relationships that allow our players to meet and even exceed those lofty expectations. Our culture and climate have been changed, not only on the basketball court, but in the classroom and community, because of Coach Lisath’s commitment to sportsmanship, ethical behavior and integrity! He is a true role model and leader, and others follow him eagerly and enthusiastically. Coach is a real difference maker within our Northridge Family, and he is so deserving of the OHSAA/OHSBCA SEI Award!”
  
Tyler McIlwraith has served the last 12 years at The Seven Hills School as the head girls basketball coach and Pre-Kindergarten teacher. In her 12 years as a head coach, she has compiled a record of 134-115. Scott Willard, Athletic Director at The Seven Hills School stated, “Coach McIlwraith has proven over more than a decade of coaching to be not only an accomplished coach, but more importantly a lifelong mentor to her players. To have the all-time school leading scorer, a Division I standout, hall of fame recipient, and a current teacher coaching our young ladies is a luxury most programs do not have. We are most certainly blessed to have her and couldn’t think of anyone more deserving to receive the SEI Award.”

"Congratulations to Jeff and Tyler for receiving the Ohio High School Athletic Association’s Sportsmanship, Ethics, & Integrity Award,” stated Joe Balogh, Executive Director of the Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association. “Jeff, Tyler, and their respective school districts should be very proud of their selection for this award.”

OHSBCA Membership
Membership Deadline is Tuesday, December 31, 2022. Please get your membership in by that date. You must be a member to receive the Coaches and Players Awards. In addition to this year’s membership, you will be a member of the NHSBCA which will provide the benefits from Luceo Sports - Online Registration, NHSBCA Resource App, and the NHSBCA Playbook App. All ACTIVE members are entitled to these benefits. 

Hooplines
This year, there will three editions of Hooplines as the OHSBCA starts to move to digital content. The Fall/October edition was mailed to every school in the state of Ohio. The Year in Review / January edition will be released around Mid-January. The Spring / May edition will be released in Mid-May. Our Monthly newsletters. like this one, will be sent to your email address provide on the membership form.

OHSBCA Celebrates 75th Year
The OHSBCA is celebrating its 75th Year of existence. The Association was formed back in March of 1947 with the express intent of changing some of the problems the coaches and players were having with the tournament organization. Problems with seeding, expenses for competing teams, the method of selecting game officials, and a general interest on the part of the coaches to return to the prewar basis of having all 16 teams in each class all go to Columbus to compete.

North-South All-Star Game
The Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association has changed the format of the North-South All-Star Game. There will be only one girls' game and one boys' game. The number of players on each team has been increased from 10 to 12 players. The games will be played on Friday, April 28, 2023 at Olentangy Liberty High School. Girls' game will tip-off at 6:30 pm followed by the Boys' game at 8:15 pm. All the OHSBCA awards presentation will take place during the games. The selection process for players and coaches have been revised. 

Players Selection
The player selection is done by the following procedure: The State is divided into 16 Districts, eight southern and eight northern. One player and alternate are selected from each district – One Player from Division I & II / One Player from Division III & IV. District must designate the First Player and Second Player. Voting is done at the Local level with each school receiving the number of votes as they have state members in the Association. Twelve players will be select for the North and Twelve players will be select for the South – (1) Each District will have their First Selection represent their District in N-S Game, (2) All Player of the Year will receive automatic selection to the N-S Game, (3) If a District has a Player of the Year, the Second Selection receive automatic selection to the N-S Game, (4) If the First Selection is unable to play in the N-S Game, the Second Selection from that District receives the automatic selection to the N-S Game 

Coaches Selection
District Directors from the North will select the North coaches and District Directors from the South will select the South coaches. Nominees can come from all districts. Coaches must be an OHSBCA Member and coached in the District Finals in the previous season. Two (2) Coaches from the North District (District 1 – 8) will be selected to coach the N-S Game for the North. One coach is from Division I & II and one coach is from Division III & IV. Two (2) Coaches from the South District (District 9 – 16) will be selected to coach the N-S Game for the South. One coach is from Division I & II and one coach is from Division III & IV.

N-S Game Activities 2023
6:30 pm Girls Game
     Introduction
     Presentation of All-Star by OANG
Halftime of Girls Game
     Team Pictures
     Girls Players of the Year
     Girls Coaches of the Year
     Ms. OHSBCA
     Assistant Girls Coach of the Year
After Girls Game
     MVP of Game
     Scholarship Winner
8:15 pm Boys Game
     Introduction
     Presentation of All-Star by OANG
Halftime of Boys Game
     Team Pictures
     Boys Players of the Year
     Boys Coaches of the Year
     Mr. OHSBCA
     Assistant Coach of the Year
After Second Boys Game
     MVP of Game