Friday, March 12, 1999
Boys district previews
TONIGHT'S GAMES
Seven Hills (18-4) vs. Franklin Monroe (20-3)
• Division: IV
• Where: University of Dayton Arena
• When: 6 p.m. today
• Admission: $5
• Starting lineups: Seven Hills: Scott Whitehead, Eric Crew, Saliou Diagne, Steve Scroggins, Matt Drane. Franklin Monroe: Marcus Bixler, Landon Spitler, Josh Riffle, Jason Blumenstock, Jarrod Brumbaugh.
• Coaches: Seven Hills: Jeff Stowers. Franklin Monroe: Steve Jutras.
• What to expect: This matchup should be a spectator's delight. Both teams have high-powered and up-tempo offenses and pressing defenses.
After losing starting point guard Grayson Sugarman to an anterior cruciate ligament injury prior to the season, many wrote Seven Hills off but the Stingers overcame the adversity and have played well.
Scott Whitehead (16.1 points), Eric Crew (16.4) and Matt Drane (12.5) have provided much of the offense. Saliou Diagne (8) and Steve Scroggins (3.5) have also contributed along with substitutes Brandon Smith and David Sprafka.
Franklin Monroe fields a big and balanced team with four players in double figures, led by Jason Blumenstock at 20 points a game.
Marcus Bixler (12 ppg), Landon Spitler (13 ppg) and Jarrod Brumbaugh (12 ppg) are also offensive threats along with forward Josh Riffle (5 ppg) and substitutes David Post and Dustin Myers.
On paper, these team are evenly matched with Franklin Monroe having the height advantage with two 6-foot-7 and two 6-3 players on the inside with Seven Hills holding the quickness advantage.
Cincinnati CD (18-5) vs. Houston (17-6)
• Division: IV
• Where: University of Dayton Arena
• When: 7:30 p.m. today
• Admission: $5
• Starting lineup: Seven Hills: Jamin Johnson, Berron Lewis, Jonathan Smith, Brian McPhie, Trey Wright. Houston: Steve Polhamus, Derrick Perry, Hank Ernst, Doug Ernst, Mike Homan.
• Coaches: CCD: Howard Brownstein. Houston: John Willoughby.
• What to expect: The similarities are many with neither featuring a dominant scorer or a big man. They also prefer the uptempo game and change defenses throughout the game.
Brian McPhie is CCD's leading scorer (11.6 points) with eight players averaging between four and nine points. Jonathan Smith may be the most consistent with a 6.6 scoring average while pulling down 5.5 rebounds and dishing out 5.3 assists.
Houston's leading scorer is Steve Polhamus at 14 a game followed by Derrick Perry (12) and Hank Ernst and Doug Ernst, both at eight a game.
If Houston has an advantage, it will be the crowd.
“One of my assistants scouted Country Day last week and couldn't believe how small their crowd was at the sectional,” Houston coach John Willoughby said. “He told me they had about 35 fans. We'll bring the whole town.”
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