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Ohio Basketball Recruiting Topic
Topic: OT: Basketball 30 at the Convo
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OhioCatFan
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Posted: 2/24/2019 5:05 PM
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I have a related question for you folks, who know much more than I go about high school athletics. Why do you think the old SEOAL dissolved? For many, many years it was the best league in this part of the state. Over the years the roads got somewhat better, so travel should have been easier, in general, now then it was 50 years ago when I was at AHS. There was also some change in membership. When I was in school the teams were Athens, Nelsonville, Jackson, Middleport, Pomeroy, Gallipolis, Logan and Wellston. Then consolidations happened and some schools merged and some new members were added. It then seemed a rather stable league, from all i could tell, for many years. Then in the 21st Century it began to have defections and new members and seemed on the surface to be an even stronger league. I'm just curious why you think it ultimately failed. Was it just a matter of driving distances? Again, I'm just asking a question. I don't presume to know the answer. I just know that I was sad to see the old, fabled SEOAL be resigned to the dustbin of history.
Last Edited: 2/24/2019 5:11:51 PM by OhioCatFan
BillyTheCat
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Posted: 2/24/2019 7:26 PM
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Driving distance once the league expanded to include Portsmouth, Zanesville, and Chillicothe. Attendance decline greatly and Athens bolted for the much smaller and less competitive TVC (which was a good move for Athens in the form of transportation cost, competitiveness and more importantly gate receipts). After that the fringe distance schools bolted next, and the league was left with 4.
Last Edited: 2/24/2019 7:30:44 PM by BillyTheCat
Jeff McKinney
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Posted: 2/24/2019 10:32 PM
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BillyTheCat wrote:expand_more
Driving distance once the league expanded to include Portsmouth, Zanesville, and Chillicothe. Attendance decline greatly and Athens bolted for the much smaller and less competitive TVC (which was a good move for Athens in the form of transportation cost, competitiveness and more importantly gate receipts). After that the fringe distance schools bolted next, and the league was left with 4.
Add Ironton to the list of long and inconvenient SEOAL travel sites along with the others you named.
ohio9704
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Posted: 2/24/2019 10:40 PM
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I loved watching Dante Jackson and Greenfield McClain play in the Convo, damn he was so much fun to watch score and score and score.
OhioCatFan
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Posted: 2/25/2019 12:35 AM
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Jeff McKinney wrote:expand_more
Driving distance once the league expanded to include Portsmouth, Zanesville, and Chillicothe. Attendance decline greatly and Athens bolted for the much smaller and less competitive TVC (which was a good move for Athens in the form of transportation cost, competitiveness and more importantly gate receipts). After that the fringe distance schools bolted next, and the league was left with 4.
Add Ironton to the list of long and inconvenient SEOAL travel sites along with the others you named.
If I remember correctly, Ironton was one of the original, or very early members of the SEOAL, then bolted. They were not in it in my day. Then came back. Interesting in the very early days the transportation was less an issue. I wonder if high school teams back then traveled by train. Back in the 1930s there were lots of railroads criss-crossing SEO. I'll have to ask my son about this, as he is a real expert on railroad history both locally and nationally.
BillyTheCat
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Posted: 2/25/2019 12:24 PM
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OhioCatFan wrote:expand_more
Driving distance once the league expanded to include Portsmouth, Zanesville, and Chillicothe. Attendance decline greatly and Athens bolted for the much smaller and less competitive TVC (which was a good move for Athens in the form of transportation cost, competitiveness and more importantly gate receipts). After that the fringe distance schools bolted next, and the league was left with 4.
Add Ironton to the list of long and inconvenient SEOAL travel sites along with the others you named.
If I remember correctly, Ironton was one of the original, or very early members of the SEOAL, then bolted. They were not in it in my day. Then came back. Interesting in the very early days the transportation was less an issue. I wonder if high school teams back then traveled by train. Back in the 1930s there were lots of railroads criss-crossing SEO. I'll have to ask my son about this, as he is a real expert on railroad history both locally and nationally.
What????? You do not know the history of team travel in SE Ohio for athletic events? I'm shocked!!!! I figured that at some point you'd have had a meeting with Vern where this was discussed.

As far as Ironton is concerned, they were removed from the SEOAL under Sowel's nose, right in the middle of his term as President and he did not have the courage to stand up! If he was a stronger President he would have been able to keep that move from happening.
Last Edited: 2/25/2019 12:25:50 PM by BillyTheCat
Buckeye to Bobcat
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Posted: 2/25/2019 8:42 PM
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BillyTheCat wrote:expand_more
I think Warren benefitted from being in the SEOAL. Their enrollment was more than the other TVC members. That included a drastic drop in enrollment at Belpre, which was their biggest rival while in the TVC. Warren went from playing the Federal Hockings of the world to playing schools of similar enrollment, like Jackson, and bigger schools like Parkersburg.
Marietta is now their biggest rival and they never even played them in their TVC days. While they havent done well in football, I think the move out of the TVC has helped them in all other sports. I doubt they would have made the Div II final four in Columbus as a TVC member. I have read they were offered membership by the ECOL but turned it down. I'm not sure I see where MVL travel would be any worse for them than SEOAL travel was for them.
And look how growing to a large league with great travel distances worked out for the oldest non-city league in Ohio.
I believe the NWOAL would have somethin to say about this
BillyTheCat
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Posted: 2/25/2019 11:12 PM
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Buckeye to Bobcat wrote:expand_more
I think Warren benefitted from being in the SEOAL. Their enrollment was more than the other TVC members. That included a drastic drop in enrollment at Belpre, which was their biggest rival while in the TVC. Warren went from playing the Federal Hockings of the world to playing schools of similar enrollment, like Jackson, and bigger schools like Parkersburg.
Marietta is now their biggest rival and they never even played them in their TVC days. While they havent done well in football, I think the move out of the TVC has helped them in all other sports. I doubt they would have made the Div II final four in Columbus as a TVC member. I have read they were offered membership by the ECOL but turned it down. I'm not sure I see where MVL travel would be any worse for them than SEOAL travel was for them.
And look how growing to a large league with great travel distances worked out for the oldest non-city league in Ohio.
I believe the NWOAL would have somethin to say about this
The NWOAL doesn’t travel the same roads.
Buckeye to Bobcat
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Posted: 3/1/2019 10:50 AM
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BillyTheCat wrote:expand_more
I think Warren benefitted from being in the SEOAL. Their enrollment was more than the other TVC members. That included a drastic drop in enrollment at Belpre, which was their biggest rival while in the TVC. Warren went from playing the Federal Hockings of the world to playing schools of similar enrollment, like Jackson, and bigger schools like Parkersburg.
Marietta is now their biggest rival and they never even played them in their TVC days. While they havent done well in football, I think the move out of the TVC has helped them in all other sports. I doubt they would have made the Div II final four in Columbus as a TVC member. I have read they were offered membership by the ECOL but turned it down. I'm not sure I see where MVL travel would be any worse for them than SEOAL travel was for them.
And look how growing to a large league with great travel distances worked out for the oldest non-city league in Ohio.
I believe the NWOAL would have somethin to say about this
The NWOAL doesn’t travel the same roads.
Was talking in terms of age. They claim to be Ohio's oldest as well and did even when the SEOAL was around.....though Wiki says SEOAL came one year prior.....nonetheless, sad to see the locals get KO'd last nite.
Last Edited: 3/1/2019 10:52:29 AM by Buckeye to Bobcat
Buckeye to Bobcat
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Posted: 3/4/2019 4:05 PM
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Impressive W by Trimble and nice to see New Boston back in the finals
BillyTheCat
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Posted: 3/6/2019 11:15 AM
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Buckeye to Bobcat wrote:expand_more
Impressive W by Trimble and nice to see New Boston back in the finals
Back in the Finals? New Boston has not been to the finals since the tournaments were held in the Convo 50 years ago. That was their first ever win in the convocation center according to the Portsmouth Daily Times
Buckeye to Bobcat
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Posted: 3/6/2019 12:47 PM
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BillyTheCat wrote:expand_more
Impressive W by Trimble and nice to see New Boston back in the finals
Back in the Finals? New Boston has not been to the finals since the tournaments were held in the Convo 50 years ago. That was their first ever win in the convocation center according to the Portsmouth Daily Times
Hence why I said nice to see them back haha.
GoCats105
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Posted: 3/11/2019 6:58 PM
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Two IVC teams to Athens this year for Regionals: Berlin Hiland, a regular regional qualifier and Magnolia Sandy Valley, alma mater of none other than JEFF BOALS.
BillyTheCat
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Posted: 3/14/2019 10:13 AM
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GoCats105 wrote:expand_more
Two IVC teams to Athens this year for Regionals: Berlin Hiland, a regular regional qualifier and Magnolia Sandy Valley, alma mater of none other than JEFF BOALS.
Sandy Valley could use Jeff Boals tonight in their matchup.
Tom-Bob
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Posted: 3/14/2019 12:41 PM
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One question I've always wondered. Why do they keep the lower bowl/bleachers retracted for the high school tournament games? I never really understood or heard any reason.
OU_Country
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Posted: 3/14/2019 1:00 PM
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Tom-Bob wrote:expand_more
One question I've always wondered. Why do they keep the lower bowl/bleachers retracted for the high school tournament games? I never really understood or heard any reason.
While I don't know this to be true, I can think of a a reason: creates easier situation with security.
brucecuth
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Posted: 3/14/2019 3:26 PM
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OU_Country wrote:expand_more
One question I've always wondered. Why do they keep the lower bowl/bleachers retracted for the high school tournament games? I never really understood or heard any reason.
While I don't know this to be true, I can think of a a reason: creates easier situation with security.
yeah, I don't think they want anyone rushing the court after a district or regional championship.
oldkatz
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Posted: 3/15/2019 11:35 AM
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brucecuth wrote:expand_more
One question I've always wondered. Why do they keep the lower bowl/bleachers retracted for the high school tournament games? I never really understood or heard any reason.
While I don't know this to be true, I can think of a a reason: creates easier situation with security.
yeah, I don't think they want anyone rushing the court after a district or regional championship.


Speaking for myself, and maybe B-T-B, I hope we NEVER put the bleachers down. Way too many fan problems.
longtiimelurker
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Posted: 3/15/2019 9:25 PM
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oldkatz wrote:expand_more
Speaking for myself, and maybe B-T-B, I hope we NEVER put the bleachers down. Way too many fan problems.
Who is B T B ?
oldkatz
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Posted: 3/15/2019 10:32 PM
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longtiimelurker wrote:expand_more
Speaking for myself, and maybe B-T-B, I hope we NEVER put the bleachers down. Way too many fan problems.
Who is B T B ?

Buckeye to Bobcat; I got lazy and only typed the first letters.....and now have typed many more.
Buckeye to Bobcat
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Posted: 3/17/2019 10:54 PM
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oldkatz wrote:expand_more
Speaking for myself, and maybe B-T-B, I hope we NEVER put the bleachers down. Way too many fan problems.
Who is B T B ?

Buckeye to Bobcat; I got lazy and only typed the first letters.....and now have typed many more.
You gotta negotiate with your union better on those letter usages. We shall meet on a basketball court to avenge my loss and then we can proceed the negotiations :)

Agree with oldkatz here. The bleachers being kept in is a very smart and effective security tool. For two towns battling it out, can see student sections getting into it unless they keep the middle section open between the bases and nothing happening. But then again, why risk it?

The set-up as it is now doesn't provide either team with home court advantage, and the gym is carnivorous enough to fit schools for a 2 game session. Now if it sells out on a consistent basis or the second coming of LeBron were blowing thru, the ballgame changes big time. Til then, proceed as is.
longtiimelurker
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Posted: 3/17/2019 11:53 PM
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carnivorous or cavernous? It can be a little bit of both
Buckeye to Bobcat
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Posted: 3/18/2019 1:34 PM
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longtiimelurker wrote:expand_more
carnivorous or cavernous? It can be a little bit of both
You and your English class buddies.....I hate you all :)
Scott Woods
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Posted: 3/18/2019 2:32 PM
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Basketball 30 story in Ironton Tribune: https://www.irontontribune.com/2019/03/16/the-voice-of-th... /
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