MHS Celebrates 100 Years Of Basketball, 1980-99
BY DOUG HUFF
Special to the Sports
Department
(Note: This is the fourth in a five-part series “Celebrating 100 Years of Magnolia Basketball.” This article deals with the 1980-99 era.)
This era produced some memorable individual performances but wasn’t good for team achievements.
The Blue Eagles didn’t advance past sectional tournament play the entire period while losing 25 straight sectional games from 1975-1999. In fact, Magnolia bowed 14 straight seasons (1981-94) to Wheeling Central in sectional play.
Three coaches guided the Big Blue during this period: Bob Ripley from 1980-85, Mark Blair from 1987-92 and current coach Dave Tallman in 1986 and since 1993.
Individually, this period featured a new school career scoring leader who tied the all-time game record and two other cagers who scored over 40 points in a game.
John Boswell, who was recruited to play at Wheeling College, ended his three-season career in 1989 with a new school career record of 1,293 points-53 better than the mark set by Carter Castilow from 1959-61. The 6-foot-2 Boswell would also tie the school single game scoring mark of 51 points set in 1958 by Jim McCormick. Boswell recorded that feat in a 93-90 overtime win over North Marion.
He earned first team Class AA All-State, All-Valley “Big School” and repeated as Class AAA All-OVAC as a senior.
During Boswell’s three seasons, the Big Blue went 12-9, an era best 15-6, and 11-11, all under coach Blair.
Other All-OVAC selections during that period included Jamie Clegg, second team in 1989 and honorable mention in 1988; Mike Himmelrick, mention in 1989; Greg Newman, mention in 1988; and Jim Robinson, second team Class AAAA in 1987 after 3-A mention in 1986.
The era started in 1980 with two top scorers. That team was led by Rick Riggenbach with a 19.5 average and junior Jeff Ward with a 17.7 gait. A year later, the rangy forward Ward would average 19.3 points, including a 43-point game, and earned first team Class AAA All-OVAC and All-Valley “Big School.”.
The 1982 team had two All-OVAC mentions in top scorer Joe Gacek and Mike Simmons, A two-time second team All-OVAC pick, and team top scorer, was Steve Shenefiel in 1983 and 1984. Earning All-OVAC mention in 1983 were Darren Cook and Bill Starkey. A year later, Shane Glass and Mark Volin earned the same honor. Mike Long was a first team All-OVAC Class AAA choice in 1985 while Glass and Dwight Mullett were mention picks. In 1986, Jim Lasick earned second team 3-A All-OVAC with Jim Robinson and Mark Moore rating mention.
The 1991 squad was led by two second team 3-A All-OVAC choices in Kenny Brown and Matt Fruner. Danny Mullet earned mention in ’91.
In 1993, three Eagles were cited by the OVAC-Jerry Rice second team and Kenny Fisher, later a four-year football letterman at West Virginia U., and Aaron Stripple were honorable mention.
The 1994 team was led by three-sport standout Mark Cisar, an OVAC Hall of Famer and two-time winner of the Kennedy Award as the state’s top football player. The guard, who would later play minor league pro baseball after performing at the University of Charleston (S.C.), scored 45 points in one game and was a first team 3-A All-OVAC and All-Valley pick.
The 1997 team featured two Class AAA second team All-OVAC honorees in Mike Barrows, a 7-foot high jumper in track, and Tex Morris. Erik Fetty earned mention. Morris and J. D. Hawkins earned mention in 1996. A year earlier, Chris Dean was a second team All-OVAC choice with Barrows and Todd Hood on the mention list.
In 1999, two Eagles were second unit All-OVAC picks-Jonathan Ricciardi and David Tallman, the current head coach at Morgantown High School. A year earlier, Chase Ripley was on the second team All-OVAC with Tallman and Chad Miller rating mention.
While the era didn’t produce any team titles, the best was yet to come in the next four years.
(Note: Next week, the fifth-and final, part of the series will focus on the period
from 2000-14.)