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Swank on Sports
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Dover Tornadoes High School Athletics
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Dover
Looking For Advantages
Dover, the Ohio Cardinal Conference co-leader, plays at archrival New
Philadelphia on Friday night and a win by the Tornadoes gives them no less
than a share of the conference title.
They remain tied for first with Ashland, who plays at Lexington on
Friday in “OCC” play.
Dover belted West Holmes (55-29) in an “OCC” game on Monday night
to remain in a share of the lead.
Coach Matt Von Kaenel says his kids gutted it out.
“We were fortunate to get out there and find a spot on both our
schedules where it kind of worked. This
time of year, it's kind of hard, but it went down the road on a Monday.
Not used to playing on a Monday.
That was our third game four days with no practice and I was proud of
the way the kids battled,” he said.
Dover (13-8,10-3) will make the short trip across the river to play
New Philadelphia (15-5,9-4) on Friday night.
The Quakers smoked Madison (64-43) on Tuesday night.
They can win a share if they beat Dover and Ashland loses to
Lexington.
Von Kaenel says they are very used to playing big games against New
Philly. “We're used to playing
them at the end of the year. We've
been in the league with them in the past and so we've been in this situation
with them before where someone has a chance to win it outright and someone
has a chance to play spoiler get a piece of the title, that kind of thing. I'm
happy that our kids are now in the same league as them and we have a chance
to play for a league title in February,” said Von Kaenel.
Von Kaenel says the Quakers do everything well.
“They do a little bit of everything.
They defend so well. You
look at their scores and they put people in the clamps for sure.
They have great team size. They
have 6’3”, 6’5” and 6’5” and the point guard's been playing
since he was a sophomore,” he told Swankonsports.com on Tuesday afternoon,
“They have all the little pieces. They’ve
got scorers, they have got strength, I really think that they were top to
bottom talent wise top two or three in the league for sure.”
When it comes to the outcome of this game Von Kaenel says it might
come down to someone off the bench having a big night.
“Whose role guys we're going to step up and make a play that maybe
you didn't expect because the stars are going to come out and they're
probably going to cross each other out.
Which role player is going to step up and make a couple shots that
you didn't expect to make. Every game has only scored in the low 40s, high
30s every bucket matters,” said Van Kaenel. Published 2/11/26 © Swankonsports.com Your first source for all things sports “Out of Bounds” Fridays 10 to midnight “Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1
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Dover
Can’t Allow Spurts
Ohio Cardinal Conference leader Dover will host Mansfield Senior in a
big conference game on Friday.
Right ow, Dover leads Ashland by one game and Mansfield Senior and
New Philadelphia by two.
On Tuesday night, the Tornadoes lost a non-league (62-47) to
Steubenville.
Coach Matt Von Kaenel says their offensive execution wasn’t the
best. “We just couldn’t get
the ball go in the basket and got caught up in the turnover problems and
some foul trouble. Steubenville
is a tough team to play, especially at their place.
I believe they're 15-1. They’re
a division III school in our district. It’s
time to give up move on and get ready for the Tygers,” he said.
Dover (11-7,9-2) is at home for Mansfeld Senior (12-7,8-4), #4 in the
Swanknsports.com boys’ basketball coaches poll in the large school
division, on Friday night.
The Tornadoes beat Madison (46-34) last Friday in “OCC” play.
Senior High got past Wooster (68-59) in their league game.
It was the Tygers that won the first game between the two (62-55) on
January 9.
Von Kaenel says this a team that plays with a lot of energy and has
some depth. “They keep getting
better. They lost that crazy one
to Ashland, but since then they've kind of righted the ship.
They keep coming at you in waves.
They’re playing a couple of new people off the bench.
Bringing a lot of energy off their bench and try to get you with the
press. We have got to make sure
we take care of the press and get the shot we want,” said Von Kaenel.
The Dover coach adds against Mansfield Senior you can’t let
turnovers cluster. “We're
trying to limit the big runs. They
went on a run against us, probably 16 points and they made four threes in a
row against us at their place. You're
playing the Tygers at their place and they make four, three pointers in a
row in consecutive possessions you're going to have to dig out of hole
against them,” he told Swankonsports.com on Wednesday afternoon, “That's
what we found ourselves in that night in early January.
It's been a month and we'll see if we made any strides since then.”
Von Kaenel says have to look at the last game and determine how you
get better. “Now you have got
tape on them. You have tape on
how you played against them last time you played.
So, all we do is make adjustments to try to figure out what they're
trying to do and make sure we have our best foot forward,” he said. Published 2/05/26 © Swankonsports.com Your first source for all things sports “Out of Bounds” Fridays 10 to midnight “Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1
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Dover
Must Play Well
Dover, the Ohio Cardinal Conference co-leader, will be up at
Mansfield Madison for a conference game on Friday night.
The “OCC” is pretty much a two team race now as the Tornadoes and
Ashland share the lead now two games in front of both Mansfield Senior and
New Philadelphia.
On Tuesday, Dover had a game against West Holmes postponed to be made
up at a later date.
Coach Matt Von Kaenel says its just something that you have to deal
with the best you can. “Not
many sports go through that. I
guess baseball goes through it. In
football, you don't have to worry about that too often.
There's 22 games to get up for regular season plus your tournament,
so the roller coaster of the season just adds a little bit more,” he told
Swankonsports.com on Wednesday afternoon, “They're kids, I don't remember
what it was like when I was 16, 17 and thought I was going to have a game
and now I’m practicing. You
can imagine, you have to kind of make it interesting to keep their
attention.”
Dover (10-6,8-2) is at Madison (6-8,3-6) in an “OCC” game on
Friday night. Madison has won
five of its last seven. They did
get roughed up by Ashland (65-44) in their last “OCC” game.
Dover hammered them (52-36) in their first meeting on January 2.
Like other coaches in the league have been saying, Von Kaenel says
this is a different team now. “They're
mixing up who their playing since the first time we played them.
They're on a roll right now. They're
beating people that they lost to the first time around.
Coach (Davey) Hipp is going a good job of getting them in the right
spots. They're playing hard.
We have got to bring our “A” game.
So, we want to get on the bus and travel an hour and an hour and a
half and we have got to make sure we got off the bus and are ready to go,”
said Von Kaenel.
Other than the make up with West Holmes, Dover still has Mansfield
Senior and rival New Philadelphia to play in “OCC” games.
Von Kaenel says they will probably have to win all of them.
“You saw how that Ashland game worked out (Tuesday) night, holy cow
what a game. We were watching
that from afar. If you counting
on Ashland to lose or New Philly or Mansfield to lose you have got to just
go out there and keep winning. So,
it's a fun basketball league,” he said. Published 1/29/26 © Swankonsports.com Your first source for all things sports “Out of Bounds” Fridays 10 to midnight “Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1
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Perimeter
Defense Big Dover
Dover, the Ohio Cardinal Conference co-leader, plays at home against
Lexington in “OCC” play on Friday night.
They broke a four game losing streak with a (44-31) win over Wooster
on Tuesday night in conference play.
Coach Matt Von Kaenel says they executed pretty well.
“I'm happy to see the guys that play hard and come together, make
shots in big times and finish out the quarters like the way you’re
supposed to,” he said.
Dover (9-6,7-2) entertains Lexington (4-10,2-6) on Friday.
Some issues with availability of personnel has led in part to a nine
game losing streak for the Minutemen. They
were smoked (70-42) by Mansfield Senior in an “OCC” game on Tuesday.
Von Kaenel says their preparation has been with the expectation that
Lexington could be at full strength. “You
just have to prepare for anything really.
Sometimes you just worry about yourself.
You can still kind of see the patterns Lexington is running and who
they're trying to get the ball to. We
will prepare as if they're full strength for sure,” said Von Kaenel.
Von Kaenel says they have to limit Lexington’s fast break
opportunities and play strong perimeter defense.
“We have got to make sure we get back on defense and stop their
penetration. They do a good job
with kicking it ahead getting to the rim and they got a big guy kind of
cleaning up the misses,” he told Swankonsports.com on Thursday afternoon,
“If you don't put a body on him next thing you know you're giving up
second shots. They are starting
to play with more three point shooters.
So, we got to make sure we identify three point shooters and get a
hand up on them.”
The Tornadoes won the first matchup (50-45) at Lexington on December
5.
Right now, Dover shares the lead with Ashland, a game in front of
both New Philadelphia and Mansfield Senior.
This is Dover’s first year in the league and Von Kaenel says this
is fun. “It still has that
conference tournament feel to it. Almost
like a double elimination conference tournament where you have got to play
the rest of the side of the league and see how it shakes out.
It’s going to be interesting kind of fun to watch and see,” he
said. Published 1/23/26 © Swankonsports.com Follow our scoreboard for Constant updates on Friday nights At www.swankonsportshosting247.com Your first source for all things sports |
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Dover
Has to Get Back
Dover, the Ohio Cardinal Conference leader, takes its act to Ashland
to battle the Arrows on Friday night.
Right now, Dover leads Ashland and Mansfield Senior by game in the
“OCC” standings.
They lost their first league game last week when Mansfield Senior
beat them (62-55) on Friday night.
Coach Matt Von Kaenel says the Tygers were able to take advantage of
some things. “Well, they were
as good as advertised. They kind
of exploited some of the things that we don't do really well.
We let them get into their strengths.
We caught them on the night they made some three pointers all at the
same time. They kind of steam
rolled us there,” said Von Kaenel.
Dover (8-5,6-1) is at Ashland (6-5,5-2) on Friday night.
The Arrows downed West Holmes (77-62) in their league game last
Friday. Dover won their first
matchup between the teams (52-46) on December 12.
Von Kaenel says they have to play great perimeter defense.
“We better defend that three point line.
They have some guys who can really fill it up and shoot it.
Probably one of the better three-point shooting team will face all
year. They really stretch the
floor and make you defend from about 30 feet out,” he said.
Ashland has three players that have made at least 24 three pointers
this season in Paxon Ediger, Reed Emmons and Gabe Baith and all make more
than 30% of their attempts.
Von Kaenel says you have to guard that line even on the break.
“On a make or miss they push the ball up the floor faster than
about anybody. Get up a three
pointer as fast as anybody, whether it's a make or miss,” he told
Swankonsports.com on Wednesday afternoon, “When you have three guys that
shoot it from 25 feet you only have to advance the ball how far, 70 feet you
can get that thing in shooting range. We’re
going to work on that this week heavily.
Getting back, identifying the shooter, and getting a hand up.” Published 1/15/26 © Swankonsports.com Your first source for all things sports “Out of Bounds” Fridays 10 to midnight “Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1
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Dover
Wants to Control Tempo
Dover, the leader in the Ohio Cardinal Conference, plays at Mansfield
Senior in a key game in the “OCC” on Friday night.
The Tornadoes are unbeaten in the conference and coach Matt Von
Kaenel says they have had the ball bounce their way.
“We're lucky, I think we've been very fortunate in the success
we've had. This is a tremendous
basketball conference. Look
around, Ashland, Lexington, Mansfield Senior, New Philly, Wooster, West
Holmes, I mean everybody keeps coming at you every week.
What a test for our kids. It's
exciting, every week there’s a different gym to go in and we're really
excited to be in this league,” said Von Kaenel.
Dover (8-3,6-0), #4 in the Swankonsports.com boys’ basketball
coaches poll in the large school division, visits Mansfield Senior
(7-2,4-2), #3 in our poll, on Friday night.
The Tygers smoked Wooster (76-54) last Friday.
Sophomore Kaylen Brooks had 37.
Von Kaenel says the Tygers are really good.
“They might be the best team we've played thus far.
They get after it. They
have a deep roster. They defend
so well. They attack the rim and
if you don't come out to play the “TY” Tygers will put you in a place
that you have never been in before. So,
we've been prepping our kids all week that this is one of the biggest games
you've ever played in your life it's time to come out and play,” he said.
Von Kaenel says to have success on Friday night, they have to control
the pace of the game. A game in
the 70’s will not be good for them. “We
always say it takes two teams to run and it takes one team to slow it down.
So, we have to make sure we control the tempo.
Their defensive pressure is so tight and so good, credit coach
(Marquis) Sykes and his staff. They
get after it and they play team basketball when it comes to defense,” he
told Swankonsports.com Wednesday evening, “They're looking to score off
their defense. If we don't take
care of the ball it's going to be a long night for the Tornadoes.
So, we've been preparing all week for a tough test in Mansfield.
Some places Dover Tornadoes are looking forward to getting back to in
the Ohio Cardinal Conference, so let's have a good one.” Published 1/08/26 © Swankonsports.com Your first source for all things sports “Out of Bounds” Fridays 10 to midnight “Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM
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