Middletown vs. Moeller
Pyramid Hill light show preparation
Were you spotted tailgating?
Chick Ludwig covers the Cincinnati Bengals. He also writes about his other passions: college football, basketball and golf.Home > Blogs > Chick Ludwig At Large > Archives > 2009 > January > 30 > Entry
CJ-Alter: 2 great programs; 1 great rivalry
CHECK OUT ALTER VS. CJ
AT THE ‘CAGE CLASSIC’
SATURDAY AT UD ARENA
When it comes to intense basketball rivalries, CJ-Alter is about as good as it gets.
Three state championships for Alter (1978-1999-2001); two for Chaminade (1966-1970).
And the coaches are named Joe.
CJ’s Joe Staley owns a 305-242 record is in his 24th season. He took over the Eagles in 1985-86 after serving three years as junior varsity coach at Alter, where he went 56-4.
Alter’s Joe Petrocelli owns a 766-266 record in his 45th season as the Knights’ only head coach. He was inducted into the Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1999, having secured his 600th victory on Dec. 20, 1998, against CJ.
The two teams rumble for the 76th time at 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 31, at UD Arena in the final game of the “Cage Classic.” Although Alter holds a 44-31 series lead over CJ, Petrocelli’s advantage over Staley is just 29-22.
“It is a great rivalry,” Petrocelli said. “Being in the league and same division has made these games that much more important. Before, when we weren’t in the league, it was all for pride. Could you beat them? Could they beat you? Now it’s usually for first or second place in the league. It puts a little more on the line.”
Said Staley: “Alter, of course, is our rival. When I got hired at Chaminade, the first thing I said was: ‘For Chaminade Julienne to become a legitimate basketball power, we had to be able to compete with Alter.’ And through the years, we’ve competed pretty well with them.”
HOMAN HEADED TO OHIO STATE
Coldwater High School Athletic Director Eric Goodwin has alerted the media that Cavaliers star Adam Homan has verbally committed to attended The Ohio State University and play football. Homan’s brother is Buckeyes star Ross Homan.
Adam will be signing his national letter of intent on Wednesday, Feb. 4, at 4 p.m. at the Woody Hayes Center in Columbus.
“There will not be a signing at Coldwater due to the time schedule that Adam is needed to be in Columbus on that day,” Goodwin said. “Adam is currently enrolled and attending classes at Ohio State at this time as well.”
A RICK MAJERUS RECRUITING STORY
Centerville High School basketball coach Jim Staley tells a great story about Rick Majerus’ recruitment of Dwight Sistrunk at Trotwood-Madison High School.
Majerus was coaching at Marquette and Staley was coaching at Trotwood.
Sistrunk’s five schools were Virginia, West Virginia, UConn, UC and Marquette. He had eliminated Dayton.
Majerus visited T-M as the Rams were preparing to play Springfield South with Jayson Gee and Karlton Clayborne.
“I remember two things Majerus said,” Jim Staley said. “He asked, ‘Where’s a good place to eat,’ and ‘I’m not sure Sistrunk can play for us (at Marquette).’
“Well, we’re in the gym and Dwight comes running across the floor — he’s a tremendous athlete — and does a full flip in the air — just runs and does a flip. And he says, ‘I feel good today.’
“In the first half against South, Dwight goes off for 20 in the first half and we beat ‘em in the sectional finals, and they don’t lose for the next two years.
“We’re going into the locker room at halftime and Majerus is coming down the steps at Hobart Arena. He says, ‘Coach Staley, coach Staley. He can play at Marquette.’ I said, ‘I’ll tell him. coach.’ He said, ‘Thanks vert much.’ “
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_Majerus
UNTIL NEXT TIME…
This is “The Chickster” saying, “Make Love, Not War; Give Peace a Chance; and Strawberry Fields Forever.”
For more on Chick Ludwig, go to:
http://www.linkedin.com/in/chickludwig56#h150-309
Contact Chick Ludwig at (937) 225-2253 or cludwig@daytondailynews.com
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Preps
Comments