Upper Sandusky Rams (Upper Sandusky, OH)

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

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2/19/06

Dry spell does in Columbian

By Dave Feltner, [email protected]


UPPER SANDUSKY - The way Columbian and Upper Sandusky scored points in their Jan. 13 matchup, - as if they were getting paid to do it - and the way the rematch started Friday night, the drought the Tornadoes labored through in the third quarter defies logic.

But it definitely happened, and it definitely opened the door to the Rams' 84-73 Northern Ohio League victory at The Barn.


These two teams combined for 205 points the first go-around, and Upper Sandusky's Jon Diebler and Columbian's Josh Moore set school records with 77 and 52 points, respectively.

It seemed as if the refresh icon on the record book would need another click after Moore, who matched Diebler with 35 points, poured in 17 first-quarter points while the Tornadoes built a 23-21 lead.

The frantic pace continued in the second quarter, and the Rams had a 43-39 halftime lead while Moore sat the entire period with two fouls.

Ironically, when Moore returned, the Tornadoes dug themselves a hole by scoring only four points the first six minutes of the third quarter.
By the time Brady Decker scooped in a bucket off a drive through traffic with two minutes left in the third, the Tornadoes had 59-45 deficit.

"Don't know what happened," Columbian coach Derek Lewis said. "We looked our kids in the face during [third-quarter] timeout, and they kind of had a blank look in their face. And that's not like our team. We talked about that, and I thought they did a great job responding.

"I don't know, but that's the tale of the game right there, other than Josh being in foul trouble. But our kids did a good job hanging in there. I do not know what happened in the third quarter. We got complacent, and we made turnovers we don't normally make."

Eight in the third quarter, to be exact. And the Rams were there to make the Tornadoes pay.

Diebler opened the second-half scoring with a pair of free throws - the Rams made 11-of-13 freebies in the third - and freshman Alex Falk stuck a 15-footer for a 47-39 lead.

After Decker's hoop made it 59-45, the Rams scored seven unanswered points, capped by Aaron Wetherell's 3-ball off an inbound play, to open a 21-point lead, 66-45.

A late Columbian flurry in the third, which Moore punctuated with a running 3-pointer at the buzzer, had the Tornadoes within 68-52 at the start of the fourth.

"We came out [in the third quarter] and just played tremendous man-to-man defense," Upper Sandusky coach Keith Diebler said. "We decided to junk the other stuff and try to stay solid on them, make them shoot the ball from the outside and rebound. I thought mission was accomplished."

The Tornadoes chipped away in the fourth quarter and got within 77-68 when Moore hit a pair of free throws with 2:16 left after the Rams' Kevin Brodman called a timeout his team did not have.

Columbian, though, got no closer, and Upper Sandusky had enough free-throw shooting (7 of 11) down the stretch to seal it.

Diebler finished with eight steals, six assists and six rebounds, while leading five double-figure scorers. Wetherell backed him with 15 points, and Falk and Curtis Sebenoler (eight rebounds) contributed 11 points apiece. Ian Mason finished with 11 points.

The first meeting, Diebler was the lone Ram to score in double figures.
"I think our kids have matured, are taking good shots under control, and they're open, and Jon's going to get them the basketball," coach Diebler said. "Since the first time we played Tiffin, we've become better at moving the basketball, finding the open man, and more kids are scoring.

"(Jan. 13) was one night, and I like Tiffin's team. I think coach does a great job, and they're going to be a team that's hard to beat in the tournament.

Both teams are better, and both teams really fought on this floor tonight."
Moore added eight rebounds to his team-leading scoring, and Decker finished with 21 points. Aaron Hurd had four points and nine rebounds.

"I thought it was going to get ugly," Lewis said. "But one thing I've always said is, 'Our kids aren't going to quit. They're going to fight to the very end.' I'm not going to lie: There was a time when I thought our kids could have folded the tents, and they didn't. I thought they did a great job playing to the final whistle.
"I told them, 'We're playing our best basketball right now; we just don't have the wins to show it.'"

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

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2/14/06

Wynford upended at Upper

By Jeff Smith
Telegraph-Forum correspondent




UPPER SANDUSKY -- The stars shone brightly Monday night, but it was the supporting cast that made the difference.
Jon Diebler led Upper Sandusky with 35 points and 17 rebounds, while Wynford's Joe Kalb didn't disappoint anyone with his 31 points, 10 boards, and five blocked shots.

But the depth of the Rams paid off time and time again as they wore down the Royals 90-71. Upper's 6-foot-6 post man Curtis Sebenoler had his way inside for 13 points and 15 rebounds, and if that wasn't enough for the Royals to contend with, freshman Alex Falk pitched in with 20 points. Toss in guard Aaron Wetherell's 14 points, and the visitors had more Rams to worry about than an county fair livestock judge.


"They're a good team," stated Wynford Coach Tim Ehresman. "They have good players, and Jon (Diebler) is a great player. They move the ball really well. Upper just keeps coming at you."

Kalb's performance was no less of an All-Ohio night than the highly-touted Diebler, as he carried his team on both sides of the court.The Royals' big man stepped up to the challenge withseven field goals, three three-pointers, and eight free throws for his 31 points, and his five blocks and 10 boards showed the crowd his hops. He also guarded Diebler for a portion of the game, and he was the point man to break the Upper press.

"Joe played pretty well tonight," noted Ehresman. "I told Joe to take more shots and get more options, and he did. I was really proud of him."

Upper Coach Keith Diebler was impressed with the Wynford senior, as well.

"Wynford uses Joe a lot like we use Jon. He handles the ball real well and shoots extremely well. We have a lot of respect for Joe Kalb, and we have a lot of respect for the Wynford ball team."

The Rams came out firing from the get-go and took a double-digit lead five minutes into the game at 20-8. They stretched it to 23-8 before Wynford cut it to 25-18 after one period.

And that was the theme of the game. Upper kept the lead throughout, and they stretched their advantage back to double-digits at 29-18 one minute into the second quarter.

The Royals fought valiantly to keep the game respectable, but the Rams flexed their muscle in the first half, especially on the boards. Upper held a 32-13 rebounding edge at halftime with 15 of those caroms being offensive rebounds.

The Royals cut the Rams lead to 12 at 46-34 early in the third quarter on a Corey Black spin move in the paint, but two Upper buckets in a span of 30 seconds made it 50-34, and that was the closest the Royals could manage to get the rest of the game.

Diebler's points were hard to come by from the field, but he more than made up for it at the foul line. He canned 20 of 23 free throws to go along with his six field goals and only one trey.

In fact, the Rams made more free throws than the Royals shot, going26 of 34,while the Royals only made 14 of 22.

Diebler recognized the importance of the non-conference win.

"You know I'm from Crawford County and went to Colonel Crawford, so I know all about Wynford. They are basketball in that area, and they know what winning is all about. I looked up in the stands and saw Jim Bauer and then I saw Rob Sheldon, and I knew what we were facing. We were worried about this game."

Ehresman was philosophical after the contest.

"We didn't come in here with our eyes wide open and in awe of Upper. We came here and my guys played their hearts out. They had fun, and that was what pleased me the most. I would have liked to come out of he re with a win, and if a couple shots would have fallen our way here and there, we might have kept it close and had a shot at the end."

The jayvee Royals of Lee Rowlinson made a valiant fourth-quarter effort only to fall short, losing 53-51. The young Royals trailed 44-33 after three periods and tied the game at 51 on a Brock Coomer bucket, but the JV Rams hit two free throws with 1:13 left and held on for the win. The 6-foot-4 freshman Coomer led all scorers with another strong performance of 21 points.


Originally published February 14, 2006

 

[afgolfer]

Im just glad to see teams having success in Upper. Too bad we couldnt have had teams like that when i went there.

 

[daddyphatsacs]

Im just glad to see teams having success in Upper. Too bad we couldnt have had teams like that when i went there.

You went to Upper? I'm a Norwalk grad, NOL alums.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

I am from Bucyrus.....when I was in high school, Bucyrus was a part of the NOL. I used to hate driving up to Norwalk.

 

[daddyphatsacs]

I am from Bucyrus.....when I was in high school, Bucyrus was a part of the NOL. I used to hate driving up to Norwalk.

Yeah, that cruise up route 4 sucks ass. My buddy has to endure the boring drive down route 4 today in fact. He's coming from Bellevue down to Columbus to catch the game.

Man, when I was in school Bucyrus ran an offense full of misdirection plays. I played MLB, so it was challenging to stop them.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

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3/3/06

Diebler reaches 2,000 plateau in sectional tournament victory

By Gary Ogle
News Journal




MANSFIELD -- Upper Sandusky's Jon Diebler scored his 2,000th career point and showcased his teammates as well while booting Galion out of the sectional tournament on Wednesday night.
The Rams put four players in twin digits to dismiss the Tigers 79-50 and advance to Friday's 8 p.m. sectional title game with Ontario.

"They're a good basketball team," Galion coach Steve Kent said. "It's no disgrace to lose to them." The Rams (16-5) are the defending Division II state champions, and showed they're gong to be a tough out for anyone in the postseason. Galion tried to counter by slowing the pace, and trailed just 15-11 after one quarter.


"We had a nice game plan. We just don't have the athletes to execute," Kent said. "I like what we did defensively. We limited Jon's (Diebler) shots.

But Jon distributes the basketball and the other kids convert."

There was no holding the Rams back after that. Upper Sandusky rifled the nets in Pete Henry Gymnasium for 33 points in the second frame and a 48-26 lead at intermission.

Diebler, a junior already committed to Ohio State and with a 77-point game to his credit this season, had 14 first-half points and finished with a game-high 21.

He also shook off early foul trouble to register 11 rebounds, four blocks, four steals and numerous assists.

"We wanted to keep Jon in the game because you're taking two and three people with him. The last half of the season you can't do that," said Keith Diebler, Jon's father and the Upper Sandusky coach. "Using Jon as a decoy really helps."

His 2,000th point came on a fadeaway baseline jumper.

"For the Upper Sandusky program, it's a milestone. But it wouldn't have meant much if we hadn't won," Keith Diebler said, noting Jon wasn't aware of the 2,000-point mark because "he doesn't read JJ Huddle."

"I think Jon is more excited about the kids he's playing with and making passes, and I think he'll tell you he's played with some pretty special people."

The second half was anticlimactic, especially after the Rams opened the third quarter on a 10-2 run.

Alex Falk had 15 for the Rams, Ian Mason added 14 and Aaron Wetherell added 12.

"I said Upper was probably the most improved team in the league (Northern Ohio League) since Christmas time," Kent said. "We just can't score. We average 49 points a game, but we did a lot of things right defensively."

Luke Sutton led the Tigers with nine points and James Zeuch came off the bench to add seven, all in the final quarter.

Kent came back to the Tigers on a one-year basis only. He noted how special it was to end his career Wednesday at Mansfield against Upper Sandusky.

"It's ironic. The last game I coach, Upper Sandusky is the school my dad (Carroll Kent) is in the hall of fame for," Kent said. "And my grandfather (Vernon Hoffman) is in the Hall of Fame here at Mansfield."
[email protected] 419-563-9225

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

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3/4/06

Willard, Upper Sandusky boys advance to district

By Rob McCurdy
News Journal




MANSFIELD -- Willard and Upper Sandusky quickly took care of business Friday during a Division II boys basketball sectional championship doubleheader at Pete Henry Gymnasium.
Both Northern Ohio League teams forged early leads en route to convincing victories.

Willard ran out to a 15-5 lead in the first quarter then a 25-10 edge in the second period before cruising to a 56-42 win over rival Shelby. Upper Sandusky followed the same script in eliminating Ontario, 76-49, in the nightcap. Willard didn't leave anything to chance, especially against a team they beat by a combined nine points in two regular season wins.


"It's a rivalry game and both teams will get up for it. We were ready all week and had a good week in practice. We couldn't wait to play, and it showed tonight that we were ready," Willard senior guard Jimmy Langhurst said.

Langhurst dropped in 21 points, while senior Kevin Johnson scored 17 points on 8- of-9 shooting from the field, also grabbing a team-high nine rebounds.

"We worked all week focusing on half-court defense and rebounding because you're going to have nights where you don't shoot well," Willard coach Greg Nossaman said. "It was a great week of practice. We sat down and played defense."

Did they ever. The Flashes (21-0) held Shelby to 21 percent shooting in the first half and 30 percent for the game. No one hit double figures for the Whippets (14-8), as senior Wes Bevelhymer led with nine points and six boards.

"With their history in our sectional, we knew we would have to come out and play well early and we just didn't do that," Shelby coach Pat Lewis said.

He said the difference between the first two games with Willard and Friday night was offensive execution.

"You just can't shoot the ball that poorly against a team that's 20-0 and state ranked and expect to be in the ball game," Lewis said.

Ontario coach Joe Balogh could empathize. The Warriors (16-6) led 10-7 early in the first quarter, then went on a scoreless drought which lasted nearly eight minutes. When they finally scored, the Rams were up 30-10 in the second quarter.

"We had some open looks, but the key was we didn't make shots," Balogh said, adding Upper's pressure defense baited them into quicker than normal shots. "We didn't do a good job of taking it at them early, and in the second half we took the attitude if they block the shot, then they block the shot."

Upper junior Jon Diebler, who went over 2,000 career points in Wednesday's semifinal game was given the game ball by Mansfield Senior during Friday's celebration.

While he had 23 points on just 8 of 22 shooting from the floor (1 of 5 from the arc), it was the other things he did which hurt the Warriors.

He nearly posted a quadruple-double, adding 13 rebounds, nine assists, six steals and four blocks.

"It wouldn't have happened without the guys on the team. They stepped up and hit some big shots," the Ohio State signee said. "I like these kind of games a lot more than when I'm scoring a lot. I love getting people the ball. When they get their confidence up, that's really good especially when everybody is involved."

Nine players scored for the Rams, as Drew McClellan came off the bench for 14 and Ian Mason had 11.

"I'm proud of the growth these kids have displayed. I thought we came out as intense as we have all year especially at the defensive end," Upper coach Keith Diebler said.

Ontario shot 41 percent from the field and turned it over 19 times. Senior Adam Bays popped in 14, while junior Hassan Beard came off the bench for 11 with three 3-pointers.

Balogh credited the Rams unselfishness.

"I think it's why they've been good the last third of the season," Balogh said. "Their kids were stepping up and hitting shots." Both Willard and Upper will play Wednesday night at the Ashland University district tournament.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

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3/9/06

Victory comes with price tag

By Dave Feltner, [email protected]


ASHLAND - The defending Division II state champions will return to the district final after a comfortable 73-60 victory over Norwalk at Ashland University Wednesday night.

The news, though, was tempered midway through the second quarter when All-Ohio guard Jon Diebler collided with the Truckers' Thomas Ott while defending a pass.


Diebler used his hand to brace for the ensuing fall and slightly hyperextended his right (shooting) elbow, forcing him, at one point, to shoot a free throw left handed in the fourth quarter.

"Ott, he went to go pass, and I went to get in a stance," Diebler said. "As he passed, his knee hit mine, and it kind of took my leg out from under me.

I put my arm down, and that's when I knew I hyperextended it 'cause it didn't feel good.

"I'll be all right to go. I'll have to stem it tomorrow, but I'll practice and everything."

The Rams (18-5) already faced a tough challenge in Saturday's 7 p.m. final against unbeaten and second-ranked Willard, a team they lost to twice in the regular season.

Now they'll do so with a less-than-100-percent Diebler, an Ohio State verbal commitment who averages 35.5 points and 9.3 rebounds per game.

Diebler, who tossed in a game-high 28 points, made 4-of-5 field goals in the second half - after he sat the balance of the first half after his injury - but those were mostly shots close to the basket.

The tell-tale sign of the injury's seriousness came at the free-throw line. Diebler, an 84 percent free-throw shooter, made only 3 of 6 in the second half before he tried one left handed. He missed that one and went 5 of 11 from the line in the second half.

"A slight hyperextension," Rams coach Keith Diebler said when asked about his son's condition. "Not real good. We'll see tomorrow. We're going to start stemming it now; he was in a lot of pain.

"I told him to (shoot the left-handed free throw). He couldn't extend his arm."

Before the injury, Diebler was the catalyst behind a Rams' 3-point barrage which turned a close game into a game of catch-up for the Truckers (10-13).

Norwalk led 16-11 after Marcus Clark split a pair of free throws with 2:30 left in the first quarter.

But Upper Sandusky nailed four 3-pointers over the next two-and-a-half minutes, and when Diebler opened the second period with a 3-ball, the Rams owned a 28-20 lead on the strength a 17-4 run which took just over three minutes.

Aaron Wetherell started the push with a trey off a Jarryd Nelson cross-court pass. Then, Diebler sandwiched two 3's from the top of the key around two Alex Falk free throws, and Ian Mason stuck a wide open 3 off an inbound pass with 30 seconds left in the quarter for a 25-18 lead.

"(We) played exceptionally hard tonight, real prepared," coach Diebler said.

"(The Truckers) hurt us a couple times, but I thought our pressure wore on them, and a lot of kids stepped up."

Upper Sandusky owned a 29-27 lead when Diebler got injured. Though he didn't play the rest of the half, the Rams actually tacked on a point to their cushion when Curtis Sebenoler stuck a putback right before the buzzer for a 36-33 halftime lead.

With Diebler's status unknown at the time, and trailing by only three points, the immediate future looked bright for Norwalk.

But the Rams prevented any switch in momentum with a swift 17-2 run to open the second half. Mason stuck two jumpers during the push, and it closed with a Wetherell 3-pointer off a pass from Sebenoler in the post.

That made it 50-35, and the Truckers never got closer than 12.

Mason backed Diebler with 16 points, and Wetherell hit three 3's on his way to 13 points.

Ott turned in 15 points and six rebounds for Norwalk. Shane Johnston had 13 points and seven boards.
"Jon Diebler's pretty good," Norwalk coach Steve Gray said. "People ask me if he can play at Ohio State. I have no idea, but if [Buckeyes coach] Thad Matta thinks he can, I agree with him. I think Jon's unbelievable. I thought my kids played very, very hard tonight. I thought they gave a tremendous effort; I thought they played with tremendous heart."

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

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3/9/06

Willard to play Upper Sandusky for third time


ASHLAND — The stage is set for the third game of the season between the Willard Flashes and the Upper Sandusky Rams.
This one will be for a Division II district title Saturday at 7 p.m. at Ashland University and a spot in the state's Sweet 16.

Willard knocked off Port Clinton, 62-51, tonight in one district semifinal after Upper Sandusky bounced Norwalk, 73-60, on the same floor earlier tonight.

Willard (22-0) defeated the defending state champion Rams (18-5) twice earlier this season, 102-72 on Dec. 17 and 90-73 on Jan. 27, in a pair of Northern Ohio League clashes.

The winner of Saturday's game advances to the University of Toledo regional on March 16 at 7 p.m. to meet the winner of the Bowling Green district.

Be sure to check the print and online editions of Thursday’s T-F for complete coverage of the unbeaten Flashes.

Originally published March 8, 2006

 

[smitty03]

Diebler and Upper Sandusky ended their season tonight to Willard in the District Finals. Diebler finished with 55 points, but it was not enough as Jim Langurst also scored 55 in a 101-98 win for Willard. Congrats on a great season Jon, go after that scoring record, your only one year away now!

 

[ScriptOhio]

Diebler and Upper Sandusky ended their season tonight to Willard in the District Finals. Diebler finished with 55 points, but it was not enough as Jim Langurst also scored 55 in a 101-98 win for Willard. Congrats on a great season Jon, go after that scoring record, your only one year away now!

101-98; Wow, not much defense from either team unless it happened to go 10 overtime periods.

 

[Nemisis]

I was unable to go to the game tonight, but I heard the game was very close. From what I heard from friends who went to the game, Jon had the ball in the last few seconds and was behind the three-point line and shot it as the buzzer was about to go off to tie the game...and missed. :( (Keep in mind, I was told this and did not witness this so it could be false).

I am sorry to say that I did not follow the B-ball team very much this year...and I regret it so...:(

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

NewsJournal

3/12/06

Epic duel sends Willard to Sweet 16

Flashes defeat defending Division II state champs, 101-98

By Bob Fisher
News Journal correspondent




ASHLAND -- Rarely does a highly anticipated game live up to expectations. This one exceeded them.
Undefeated and second-ranked Willard nipped defending state champ Upper Sandusky 101-98 in a surreal Division II district championship contest that should go down as the greatest game in Northern Ohio League history.

What a great high school basketball game," Flashes coach Greg Nossaman said. "You've got over 3,000 people here, you have the two Northwest District Players of the Year, what more could you ask for?" Not a refund.


Playing before a wild sellout crowd at Kates Gymnasium on the campus of Ashland University, Willard senior guard Jimmy Langhurst poured in 55 points, shattering a four-year-old school re- cord set by Nick Dials (53). Langhurst also added six rebounds and four assists.

He was matched shot for shot by Upper Sandusky junior Jon Diebler, who has already verbally committed to attend Ohio State. Diebler, a 6-foot-7 sharpshooter, had 55 points, 17 rebounds, six steals, four assists and three blocks.

"My teammates were very supportive of me tonight," Langhurst said. "They wanted me to have the ball in my hands. It was a very physical game and we knew Upper was a very good team."

Willard (23-0) moves into Thursday's 7 p.m. regional semifinal at the University of Toledo against Wapakoneta, a 62-59 winner over Waus- eon.

It was the third time the Flashes have beaten the Rams this season, but this was the toughest tussle of all.

Battling an injured elbow, Diebler had 23 points in the first half and 32 in the second half. Langhurst had 16 in the first two quarters and 39 after intermission. Diebler reinjured the elbow in the fourth quarter, sat out a minute, then returned to score nine straight points and rallied his team to a final shot. His trey would've tied the game when it bounced off the iron with two seconds remaining.

"I'm a Willard Flashes fan," Upper Sandusky coach Keith Diebler said. "I hope they go all the way. This was just a great high school basketball game.

"Jimmy Langhurst is a great player. I've said all along I voted for him as the top player in our league and I'll be glad to see him graduate. I might go to his graduation if he invites me."

Upper Sandusky (18-6) fought back from a 98-86 deficit with just over a minute remaining. A couple of 3s by Aaron Wetherell pulled Upper to within 98-96 with 23 seconds to play.

Willard's Kevin Johnson, who had 17 points and 13 rebounds, hit a free throw, but a basket by Diebler got Upper within one point (99-98) with 11 seconds left.

Langhurst hit two free throws with nine seconds showing that gave Willard a 101-98 lead, setting the stage for Diebler's final shot.

"I'm very proud of my team, we're 23-0," Nossaman said.


Originally published March 12, 2006

Box Score


Division II district final



Willard 101, Upper Sandusky 98

Willard 24 21 24 32 -- 101

Upper Sandusky 21 21 22 34 -- 98

WILLARD (101)

Brent Baldridge 7 2 16, Ash Christie 0 2 2, Darren Douglas 1 2 4, Kevin Johnson 7 3 17, Jimmy Langhurst 16 21 55, Ryan Loar 3 0 7. Totals 34-62 30-43 101.

UPPER SANDUSKY (98)

Ian Mason 3 2 9, Kevin Brodman 2 0 4, Jon Diebler 18 15 55, Aaron Wetherell 3 0 8, Alex Falk 5 1 11, Drew McClellan 1 0 2, Curtis Sebenoler 4 1 9. Totals 36-78 19-29 98.
TEAM STATISTICS
3-pointers -- Willard 3-9 (Langhurst 2, Loar); Upper Sandusky 7-30 (Diebler 4, Wetherell 2, Mason). Rebounds -- Willard 44 (Johnson 13, Baldridge 12); Upper Sandusky 37 (Diebler 17). Turnovers -- Willard 18; Upper Sandusky 14. Records -- Willard 23-0; Upper Sandusky 18-6. Next -- Willard vs. Wapakoneta, Thursday, 7 p.m., University of Toledo.

 

[ramandbuckfan]

willard 101 upper sandusky100

NewsJournal

3/12/06

Thats what the score should have been. During the game at ashland
upper had a score of 50. Aaron wetherall snr. for upper shot the ball for 2.
After the points were put on the board we only had 51 points.Also when Diebler shot a 3 and made it they gave us 4 points. After the score was corrected they took away 2 extra points. so the score went 68-72-70.I
Hate to complain but if those refs would have counted those points diebler would only have to have done a lay up or just shoot a 2 rather than the 3 he missed.