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Versailles
senior Nick Campbell works the ball in the frontcourt
against Roger Bacon in the
regional final game at Trent Arena in
Kettering Saturday. They play LaBrae Vikings at
2 p.m. today. CNO photo
by George Starks
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Versailles going to Columbus with high hopes
McEldowney
looks at when season turned around
By George Starks
VERSAILLES- The last time the Versailles Tigers stepped foot on the
floor of the Schottonstein Center at Ohio State University was in the
state final against St. Henry.
Coaching Versailles was Roger McEldowney.
Now, its nine years later and the Tigers are going back with a
McEldowney at the helm.
Scott McEldowney.
It’s been an up and down, up and down season for the Tigers but since
the Greenville game, Versailles has done a complete 180, especially
after losing to Minster in the final MAC game of the season and being
knocked out of the conference race.
“These kids really put it together in the tournament,” said McEldowney.
“Ever since Christmas, we have played every Friday and Saturday night
with a Tuesday thrown in there now and then. Playing that kind of a
schedule I think sometime you get mentally drained. I think this team
got it together against Greenville. Not to disrespect the head coach at
Greenville (Mike Bayshore) because he’s done a great job there and we
remain really good friends. We went to Greenville that Saturday night,
after getting beat by Minster, and just played extremely well. It
seemed that win really gave us some confidence. I even told Coach
Bayshore that I hated that it happened to him but I said we really
needed this. It was a shot in the arm for us and it gave us some of our
confidence back.”
Once the tournament started, it was new life for the Tigers and they
have taken advantage of the second season.
“When we lost to Minster, we really had nothing to play for at that
point and it was tough for them,” said the Versailles coach. “When they
came back to play in the tournament, they realized they had something
to play for. We started playing well again and putting things together.
They stepped up and started shooting the ball better than what they had
been and things started to click. We got jumped so much this year with
tri-angle and two’s and box and one’s then the role players started
stepping up and doing the job. Now, teams realize they can’t do that
anymore. They can’t go and double and triple team those guys as much
and get away with it.”
When the Tigers went to state on 2004, sophomore Kyle Ahrens was there
as a seven year old and the now seniors were all of nine and ten years
of age.
“I think at the age when you’re talking junior high and below, those
are the kids it affects the most because they go out, pick the
basketball up and start to immolate some of these older kids,” said
McEldowney said. “Now the younger kids want to be like Kyle Ahrens and
Chad Winner. They have a big influence on the younger kids.”
Coming out with a huge start against Worthington in the regional
semi-final and a solid start against Roger Bacon in the regional final,
McEldowney would like to see that kind of a start against the Vikings.
A start the McEldowney says is not essential.
“It would be a big benefit to get out of the gate against this team but
I don’t think it’s a must but it’s a benefit,” said McEldowney. “I
think the kids relax and they play with confidence. When they get that
lead, they play with more of a bounce in their step when things are
going right. You’ve got to be able to maintain your composure a little
bit and settle down and hopefully be able to execute and get the
buckets and put points on the board.”
In the game with Columbus Worthington, the Tigers started off with a
bang, dropping one bomb after another on their opposition.
“We hit four or five straight three’s at the start of that game,”
McEldowney stated. “We’ve been shooting the ball extremely well in the
last two or three games. In practice, we’ve kept it going. The first 15
minutes after we got warmed up, we went up and down the court and
jokingly I said, alright, we’re done, we’re outta here. I don’t think
anyone missed a shot in that timeframe. Practice has been great for us
this week.”
One thing’s certain.
If the Tigers want to play Saturday, it will take a totally team effort
and some great defense against LaBrae today.
If you’re unable to be at the game, it can be heard on The Tiger, 97.5
and wtgr.com.
Tip is set for 2 p.m.
If successful, Versailles will play Saturday at 10:30 a.m.
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