T-M Heads To Regionals

By Bruce Kettelle

After being stopped by Centerville last year, things are quite different for the Trotwood-Madison Rams basketball team. Trotwood’s decisive 52-32 win over the Centerville Elks this weekend moves the basketball team into the regional brackets.

Trotwood earned its sixth straight GWOC Championship title this season. The last time they saw regional action was 2008 after they won a face off against Moeller for the sectional title. This year the team is deep in talent propelled by DaWaun Thomas named to the all-district first team and Darnell Tubbs named to the all-district third team. The Rams record now sits at 19 wins, 4 losses.

The regional playoff starts with a run against Archbishop Moeller (18-4) on Saturday March 13 in UD Arena at 3:45. Moeller will undoubtedly be thinking about the close 48-45 Ram victory at their last meeting. Considering the talent on both benches Saturday’s game will be filled with drama.

The winner will move on to play the winner of the Princeton/Fairmont match on March 17. Advance tickets will be available at the high school.

Trotwood Returns To Flyin' To The Hoop January 16

The Trotwood-Madison Rams will appear in the 2010 Flyin' To The Hoop basketaball showcase for the 5th consecutive year. This year the Rams are scheduled in prime time on Saturday evening January 16th at 6:30 pm vs. Montverde Academy (FL).

Montverde Academy is the twelfth ranked national high school team by ESPN. This central florida private boarding school delivers a top notch basketball program year after year under coach Kevin Sutton. Suttons carreer coaching record stood at 373-80 as of last summer.

Trotwood's public school program continues to produce division championships in southwest Ohio and includes visits to the final four state championships in 2006 and 2007. Those two years the teams offense was led by Chris Wright now a junior at the University of Dayton. Wright, a standout shooter, is expected to be a first round NBA draft pick upon graduation.


Tickets and more information about Flyin' To The Hoop is available at http://www.flyintothehoop.com

Trotwood Centerville 2008 Division Championship

The Trotwood-Madison Rams won the GWOC title for the fourth straight year in 2008 and were looking for their fifth Division Championship but Centerville and some questionable refereeing got in the way. Now we don't like to cry over spilled milk but there was so much covering the floor at the UD Arena on Saturday March 14th it is worthwhile to bring it up.

It must be noted that the Rams never led this defensive battle but managed to claw their way back from a 12-point deficit to tie it up twice in the 4th period. And that is where the milk really started flowing.

With .8 seconds left in the game Centerville made one last charge at the hoop. It looked like overtime was inevitable but there was that annoying whistle once again. A foul called against Trotwood gave the Elks two shots. The first one missed and the second one won the game 52-51.

The foul call did happen and is recorded for posterity on video available on the Dayton Daily News web site. But was the call really necessary. The light brush on the arm by Trotwood was late in the shot that wasn't going in.

The still picture above was taken a fraction of a second before the foul occurred. Trotwood's defensive bloc was well in place and Centerville seems to have just run into it.

A Trotwood Fan filed a protest with the athletic association but they have ruled the call and the game stands. On Tuesday the high school held a press conference.

Students at the press conference were quick to say they don't hold anything against Centerville. Their quibble is with the referee that made the last second call. That referee, Angelo Jolatos, is the center of all the complaints.

Coach Mark Baker said, "That call should never been made, in the end I think it was flat out wrong."

"We want to congratulate Centerville," continued Baker. But Baker wants OHSAA to look into the officiating matter.

He believes there were inconsistent calls throughout the game against both teams. "We want someone to give us an explanation." He also hopes that something like this won't happen again to Trotwood or any other team.

Teammate Arron Robinson said from his position on the court there did not appear to be contact.

The bottom line came from Trotwood high school principal Gerald Cox. "It is our opinion the outcome of the game was taken out of the hands of the athlete." "A foul call in the last second should be for flagrant or obvious violations."

Tell us what you think by clicking on the comments at the end of this post.

Trotwood Madison Centerville 2009 Playoff Pics

Both teams wanted this championship!
Players were often seen visiting the floor
Keith Winn tries to get around Patrick Crawford
Centerville comes up with this rebound