Random Thoughts: basketball and more

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent sports editor

This week’s Random Thoughts center around Van Wert hoops, a strange delay, bowl games, a coach that quit and a change by OHSAA.

Tough stretch for the Cougars

Things are about to get harder for Van Wert’s boys’ basketball team. The Cougars will begin a stretch of six consecutive weekends with Friday and Saturday games.

To round out the 2018 portion of the schedule, Van Wert will play Delphos St. John’s, at Wayne Trace, at Ottoville and at Columbus Grove. Those teams currently have a combined record of 15-5. Also looming in early to mid January: a string of games against Crestview, Ottawa-Glandorf, Marion Local and Shawnee.

On a somewhat related note, Van Wert head coach Mark Bagley and Lady Cougars head coach Rob Adams will be featured in Wednesday’s Coaches Corner.

Basketball delay

Lima Sr. at Toledo St. Francis game started as normal last Tuesday night, but the game wasn’t finished until the following night.

The reason: a shattered backboard early in the second quarter.

I’ve been at a couple of games where the backboard was shattered, but they managed to replace it and continue the same night. Either St. Francis didn’t have a spare or didn’t have someone on hand to install the new one, so the Spartans (and presumably some fans) had to make another 81 mile trip to see the completion of the game.

St. Francis was leading 23-20 when the game was paused, but Lima Sr. rallied to win 61-54.

Bowl game mania

Are there too many college football bowl games? Of course there are, but it doesn’t bother me. I try to watch at least a little bit of each one because once it’s over, that’s it until August or early September.

Some of the “minor” bowl games turn out to be the most entertaining. Case in point: Saturday’s Camellia Bowl, which featured Eastern Michigan and Georgia Southern. Both teams are named the Eagles, and the Georgia Southern Eagles won on a walk off field goal, 23-21.

A sad state of affairs

This happened last week in Trumbull County, not too far from the Pennsylvania border –Niles High School girls’ basketball coach Mike Cappuzello abruptly resigned after just five games.

Cappuzello later told The Youngstown Vindicator he resigned because of parental interference.

According to the Vindicator, Cappuzzello faced “numerous altercations” with the parents of some players since the beginning of preseason workouts. The tension came to a head following last Monday’s 51-39 over Jefferson.

“I played a girl for three quarters, and her mom got in my face and screamed at me, ‘Three quarters isn’t enough, she’s a senior,’ Cappuzzello said. “After that, the father was even more vocal and much more aggressive. It was the last straw. I tried to coach through it Tuesday at practice, but I knew it wasn’t going to work.”

Wow.

Cappuzzello is a 30 year coaching veteran and has enjoyed success at various stops. No doubt he’s taken some guff over the years, but this is something else. Who knows, maybe everyone will be happy now, but I doubt it.

By the way, he also served as the girls’ tennis coach and softball coach at Niles, and resigned those positions as well.

OHSAA change

The Ohio High School Athletic Association announced a change to the boys basketball state tournament on Monday.

The change basically involves making semifinal games two for the price of one. In other words, just one ticket will be needed to see both semifinal games of each division.

It’s not a bad idea, and it’s one that should boost attendance at the games, even if it’s a bit artificial.

I think the Schottenstein Center is a beautiful facility, but I sometimes wish the state tournament would move back to St. John Arena. With less seating and closer quarters, it would make for a great atmosphere as it did for many years.

If you have thoughts on any of the above subjects, please feel free to email me at sports@thevwindependent.com.