By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

Twenty years ago today…

… was the start of the 2005-06 season.

The most incredible single season I have ever covered as a journalist.

And I can say that because of Eric Schiele.

The Waterloo boys basketball standout averaged 41.4 points per game that season. He scored 870 total points and buried 119 3-pointers for the season (5th-most in Ohio high school history).

Twice he scored at least 60 points in a game:

   • 69 at Mogadore on Feb. 17, 2006, including 13 3-pointers in the final game ever in Mogadore’s old gymnasium.

   • 60 vs. Windham (which was a state semifinalist) on Jan. 27, 2006, including 14 3-pointers. The Bombers attempted a series of double and triple teams on him in this game.

Schiele led the Vikings to a 17-4 record in an extremely competitive time in Portage County basketball.

He was named First Team All-Ohio, All-Ohio Player of the Year, Northeast Inland District Player of the Year and Portage Trail Conference Player of the Year.

The crowds grew game by game and the games were like nothing I covered before that season or after it.

It was a magical season for anyone who was part of it.

Eric and I remain friends, and we have sat down multiple times over the last couple of years to piece together thoughts and memories from that season in what will eventually turn into a book to document the historical season.

MORE SCORING RECORDS

Kent Roosevelt senior forward Claire VanDamme set a new single-game school record for points on Monday with 36 in a 76-37 victory at Nordonia.

VanDamme, a 6-foot-2 forward, scored 30 of her points in the first half.

The previous record was 33 points and set by Kayla Fischer during the 2017-18 season.

In VanDamme’s record night, she connected on 15-of-17 field goals, including 3-of-4 from 3-point range and a perfect 3-for-3 effort at the free-throw line. She also had seven rebounds and two blocked shots.

FIRST CAREER COACHING WINS

A group of new coaches across the high school basketball coaching landscape in Portage County have recently celebrated the first wins of their career.

The group includes Ravenna boys basketball coach Justin Rahim, Ravenna girls basketball coach Davante McKinney and Rootstown boys basketball coach Joe Siciliano.

ANOTHER PERSONAL MEMORY

Friday, Nov. 28, was another unique full circle moment for me as a journalist.

New to the Rootstown boys basketball coaching staff this season is Rovers graduate and basketball alumni Tom Jenior.

Jenior’s senior season was 1994-95, and he was named First Team All-Portage County League. I was an 7th grader that year and spent the season as a ball boy alongside Russell Boland. We would have our middle school basketball practice directly after school, then walk across the parking lot to the high school and help the team for its 2 hour practices.

For us, the more basketball, the better.

We learned a lot about basketball that year and Jenior provided one memory that definitely stands out.

He made the game-winning putback layup from an offensive rebound, as time expired, to lift the Rovers to a win over Warren JFK in a sectional tournament game at Howland High School.

Russell and I very nearly lost the team’s tearaway warmup pants amongst the chaotic postgame celebration.

Sports have a way of weaving fun memories like these back into your life!

LARKIN BRINGS BEN CURTIS FOUNDATION TO MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL

The Ben Curtis Family Foundation is headed for Monday Night Football.

As part of the NFL’s “My Cause My Cleats” initiative, New England Patriots offensive assistant coach Riley Larkin, who is a Kent Roosevelt High School alumni, will be wearing a pair of custom designed Air Jordan 1 lows — complete with the Ben Curtis Family Foundation’s logo and additional artwork — during the team’s MNF showdown against the New York Giants on Dec. 1.

The shoes were hand drawn by Larry Mosca, who is another Kent Roosevelt graduate.

“This national spotlight is a powerful chance to spread our mission and continue helping children facing food insecurity right here in our community,” the BCFF said.

The “My Cause My Cleats” campaign allows NFL players and coaches to wear custom cleats to raise awareness to a charity or non-profit of their choice.

COLLEGE SIGNINGS

   • Gavin Peeps, Kent Roosevelt football, Kent State University

   • Rylee Clark, Mogadore softball, Bluffton University

   • Jayden Martin, Mogadore softball, Bethany College

   • Braden Wright, Rootstown football, Sacred Heart University

METRO ATHLETIC CONFERENCE ALL-SPORTS TROPHY STANDINGS

Here are the updated standings for the league’s all-sports trophy following the end of the fall 2025 season:

   1. Cloverleaf, 98 points

   2. Norton, 83

   3. Streetsboro, 82

   4. Woodridge, 74

   5. Field, 59

   6. Springfield, 48

   7. Coventry, 34

   8. Ravenna, 20

JALYSIA THOMPSON’S BIG NIGHT

Ravenna senior forward Jalysia Thompson set a new single-game record with 30 rebounds on Monday, Nov. 25, during the Ravens’ 50-15 victory over Alliance.

Thompson is only the 35th player in Ohio high school girls basketball history to have 30 rebounds in a game.

Her total is also the second-most in Portage County history, with only Streetsboro Naomi Benson pulling down more in a single game when she had 33 in a win over Field on Dec. 8, 2022.

Thompson added 16 points, 8 blocked shots, 6 steals and 2 assists in the win.

RETURN OF THE GOLDEN BASKETBALL!

We are proud to announce that…

The Portage Sports Golden Basketball Trophy will return for its fourth season for the 2025-26 high school basketball season!

This trophy is awarded to the school which has the student section with the best overall:

   • Theme creativity

   • Theme participation

   • Attendance

   • Chant volume

   • Chant creativity (something different than “you can’t do that!”)

   • Spirit signs throughout the gym

   • Sportsmanship

   • Game environment

The previous season winners were:

   • 2022-23: Mogadore

   • 2023-24: Crestwood

   • 2024-25: Kent Roosevelt

This season’s winner will need to consistently take their student section to the next level to be noticed and win the Golden Basketball Trophy.

FOOTBALL ALL-TIME COACHING WINS

An updated list following the end of the 2025 season:

1. John Nemec, Kent Roosevelt, 231
2. Matt Adorni, Mogadore, 219 (active)
3. Bob Mihalik, Aurora, 218 (active)
4. Tom Campana, Kent Roosevelt, 158
5. Norm Lingle, Mogadore, 150
6. Scott Pollock, Streetsboro/Mogadore/Southeast, 147
7. Tom Hannan, Crestwood/Rootstown/Lake/Lorain Catholic/Ledgemont, 142 (active)
8. Jim Lunardi, Ravenna, 126
9. Pete Thompson, Crestwood/Streetsboro, 116 (active)
10. Joe Leigh, Ravenna, 115
11. Matt Furino, Field, 108
12. Jack Bair, Southeast/Aurora, 106
13. Mike Moser, Garfield, 104 (active)
14. Patrick Youel, Field/Southeast, 85 (active)
15. Doug Mori, Rootstown, 83
16. Leo Kot, Windham, 81
17. Harry Gilcrest, Ravenna, 77
18. Bill Evans, Mogadore, 71
19. John Arlesic Streetsboro, 68
20. John Keegan, Streetsboro/Ravenna, 61
21. Bob Dunn, Rootstown; Joe Baum, Windham, 59
22. Steve Wyllie, Garfield, 54
23. Dave Dubinsky, Southeast, 50