Coaches Association Newsletter November 2024

OHSBCA To Sponsor Shot Clock Shootout
History will be made on December 27th-29th, 2024, as the Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association (OHSBCA) sponsors the first-ever high school event using the shot clock. This event will take place at the Canton Memorial Field House, featuring fifteen games over a three-day period.

OHSBCA Executive Director, Joe Balogh, stated, “THE OHSBCA is excited to sponsor the 2024 Shot Clock Shootout. This exclusive event  will feature 15 games all  utilizing the shot clock  under the guidelines of the National Federation of High Schools. Data and information will be gathered from this event to continue discussions surrounding the future implementation of the shot clock in the state of Ohio.”

Over the past few months, the OHSBCA has worked with the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) to get approval for this event. “Upon a request from the OHSBCA, the OHSAA has approved the use of the shot clock for an exclusive three day event at the Canton Memorial Field House,” stated OHSAA Commissioner, Doug Ute. “We are excited about seeing how the shot clock works during this event with the possibility of expanding the event to various locations next year.”

The games will be played at the historic Canton Memorial Field House in Canton, Ohio. Joe Bogdan, Director of Sports, Athletic Partnerships, Facilities, and Physical Education for the Canton City School District stated, “Canton McKinley High School is excited to partner with the OHSBCA on this event. The OHSBCA’s commitment to running first class events and their willingness to help make this a fan friendly event on pricing really sets them apart from other large scale showcases. Canton Memorial Field House is the best high school basketball venue anywhere. Having the Shot Clock Shootout here is the perfect combination of basketball’s past and future.” Tickets will go on sale December 1st. You can stay all day on one ticket, but you will be unable to leave and return. Ticket prices are as follows:
Student...$5.00
Pre-Sale Adults...$7.00
All Tickets at the Door...$10.00

“This event is a pivotal moment in Ohio High School basketball, offering our student-athletes and coaches a unique opportunity to be a part of history,” stated Adam Hall, Public Relations Director for the OHSBCA. “We’re hopeful that this event will drive continued conversations about implementing the shot clock in high school basketball statewide. The anticipation for this event is incredible, and we can’t wait to see the talent on display.”

For more information about the 2024 OHSBCA Shot Clock Shootout, please contact Adam Hall at ohsbcapublicrelations@gmail.com or Joe Bogdan at bogdan_j@ccsdistrict.org.

Friday, December 27. 2024
12:00 PM - Martins Ferry vs Indian Valley (Boys)
1:45 PM - Streetsboro vs Akron Ellet (Girls)
3:30 PM - Maysville vs Carrollton (Boys)
5:15 PM - Worthington Christian vs Moon Area (Boys)
7:00 PM - South Point vs Norton (Boys)

Saturday, December 28. 2024
12:00 PM - New Lexington vs Meadowbrook (Girls)
1:45 PM - Hiland vs Laurel (Girls)
3:30 PM - Olmsted Falls vs Pepper Pike Orange (Boys)
5:15 PM - Elyria vs Cardinal Mooney (Boys)
7:00 PM - Gilmour Academy vs Canton McKinley (Boys)

Sunday, December 29. 2024
12:00 PM - Moon Area vs Streetsboro (Boys)
1:45 PM - St. Ignatius vs Canton McKinley (Boys)
3:30 PM - Richmond Heights vs Gilmour Academy (Girls)
5:15 PM - Olentangy vs Stow Munroe Falls (Girls)
7:00 PM - Lakewood vs Stow Munroe Falls (Boys).

Download PDF Version

Holding Court with Adam Hall / Walt Cerrato
The Holding Court Podcast is presented by the Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association. These podcasts are another way to connect coaches to the game of basketball. They are free and encourage you to listen to them.

Join hosts, Adam Hall and Walt Cerrato, as they sit down with some of the biggest names in Ohio High School Basketball and beyond. To date, 33 episodes of the podcast have been released. The 2024-25 basketball season begins the third year of the podcast and here are the episodes released to date.

Episodes 
8/8 - Lou “Scooter” Toldza, Girls Basketball Coach at Union Local High School - Finding Success
8/17 - Jordan Green, Chief Executive Officer of Ballogy
9/14 - Adam Toohey, Boys Basketball Coach at Mason HS - Coaching at the Largest School in Ohio.
10/17 - Josh Pastner, College Basketball Analyst - Applying Lessons Learned.
11/18 - Randy Brown, Former D1 Coach, - Rebound Forward.

These podcasts are available anywhere you listen to podcasts. Make sure to subscribe. Also, you can access them on the web at: linktr.ee/OHSBCA.

OHSBCA OHSBCA North-South All-Star Game
The Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association will continue the same format of the North-South All-Star Game. There will be only one girl’s game and one boy’s game. The number of players on each team has been increased to 12 players. The games will be played on Friday, April 25, 2025 at Olentangy Liberty High School. Girl’s game will tip-off at 6:30 pm followed by the boy’s 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, III, IV and One Player from Division V, VI, VII. The District will then designate the representative (first selection) and the alternate (second selection) from these two candidates. 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 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, III, IV and one coach is from Division V, VI, VII. 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, III, IV and one coach is from Division V, VI, VII.

North-South Game Activities
6:30 pm Girls Game - Introductions / Presentation of All-Star by OANG
Halftime Girls Game - Team Pictures / Girls POY / Girls COY / Ms. OHSBCA / Girls Assistant COY
After Girls Game - Girls MVP / Scholarship Winners
8:15 pm Boys Game - Introductions / Presentation of All-Star by OANG
Halftime Boys Game - Team Pictures / Boys POY / Boys COY / Mr. OHSBCA / Girls Assistant COY
After Boys Game - Boys MVP

Sportsmanship, Ethics & Integrity Award
Each year, the Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association (OHSBCA) has the opportunity to recognize and honor a boys and girls basketball coach with the Ohio High School Athletic Association (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 the professional responsibilities.

The OHSBCA has chosen Jason Vermillion of Arlington High School as the boys coach recipient and Rick Isaly of River High School as the girls coach recipient of the OHSAA SEI Award. Each coach will be honored at their respective 2025 OHSA State Basketball Tournaments.

Jason Vermillion is entering his 27th year as a head coach. All of those years have been spent at Arlington High School where he has a career record of 411-193. He is currently a 6th grade teacher in the district. “District 8 is grateful that Jason Vermillion was named the state of Ohio SEI award winner for 2025,” stated Arron Elwer, District 8 Director. “Jason has coached in District 8 for 26 years at Arlington High School. With a consistently successful and well-respected program he is the perfect example of someone who shows sportsmanship and integrity for the game of basketball. Coach Vermillion has always been a respected coach in District 8 and across the state.”

Rick Isaly has spent the last 21 years at River High School as the Head Girls Basketball coach. He has a career record of 244-224. He is currently the Construction Trades teacher at Swiss Hills Career Center. Mark Romick, Athletic Director at River High School, stated, “Rick has been an integral part of the athletic programs at River High School. He instills his beliefs of ethics, integrity, and sportsmanship within his program and anyone that surrounds it. He and his family have made a positive impact on the entire community.”

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

OHSBCA Coaches Clinic
The Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association (OHSBCA) is pleased to announce that the 2025 OHSBCA Clinic will be held at the Frank Murphy Convocation Center, located on the campus of St. Charles Preparatory School in Columbus, Ohio. St. Charles is a four-year Catholic college preparatory school founded in 1923. Originally established as a seminary, the school new serves as an all-male high school within the Catholic Diocese of Columbus, with a strong reputation for academic and athletic excellence.

Mike Ryan, Head Basketball Coach and Assistant Athletic Director at St. Charles, expressed the school’s enthusiasm, “we are thrilled to host the OHSBCA Clinic in 2025. St. Charles is eager to welcome coaches from across the state to our exceptional facilities, providing a dynamic setting for learning and collaboration. With a tradition of excellence, both academically and athletically, we are proud to support the growth of high school basketball in Ohio. We look forward to offering a memorable experience for all attendees and contributing to the success of the OHSBCA Clinic.”

The Frank Murphy Convocation Center, which opened in 2023, is a state-of-the-art facility designed to enhance both athletic performance and fan experience. It features seating for 1,300, three video boards, and a dropdown scoreboard, making it an ideal venue for the clinic.

“We are excited to partner with St. Charles Preparatory School and host the 2025 OHSBCA Clinic at the impressive Frank Murphy Convocation Center,” said Adam Hall, OHSBCA Clinic Director. “This state-of-the-art facility will provide an exceptional environment for learning and networking. St. Charles has a long-standing tradition of excellence, both academically and athletically, and we’re grateful for their commitment to supporting high school basketball in Ohio. We’re confident that this clinic will be a fantastic experience for coaches, helping to foster collaboration and growth across our basketball community.

The 2025 OHSBCA Clinic will be held September 14th & 15th.

OHSBCA Hall of Fame Banquet
The Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association is proud to announce the coaches and date for the Hall of Fame Class for 2025. The Induction Ceremony for the Thirty-Seventh Class will be at the Columbus Marriott University Area at 3100 Olentangy River Road in Columbus, Ohio on Saturday, April 26, 2025 at 5:30 PM. Scott Aronhalt, Ray Corbett, Tim Tucker, and Paul Wackerly are this year’s coaches who will be inducted into the OHSBCA Hall of Fame.

Hooplines
This year, there will two editions of HOOPLINES as the OHSBCA starts to move to digital content. The Year in Review / January edition will be release around Mid-January. The Spring / May edition was be released in Mid-May. The OHSBCA has increased the number of Monthly newsletters, like this one, to provide more timely information. The newsletters will be sent to your email address provided on the membership form.

OHSBCA Membership
Membership Deadline is Tuesday, December 31, 2024. 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.