Tiffin Calvert Senecas/Sandusky Bay Conference News

Calvert Respects Lucas

Click here to listen to an interview with coach Jon Otterbacher

          Tiffin Calvert entertains Lucas in sectional final game in division VII on Thursday night.

          Calvert (14-7) has won its last four, including a (58-48) win over Lakota in a “SBC” River Division game on Friday night and five of its last six.

          Coch Jon Otterbacher says they are starting to peak at the right time.  “We're doing a lot of good things, a lot of little things to get better, our rotations getting fine-tuned.  The kids are making plays and when you have kids that do what they're taught and coached and praised to do, then things go well,” said Otterbacher.

          Lucas (0-21) has obviously had some problems winning games this season, but Otterbacher says they will do some things that could give them some issues.  “Well, let's be honest they have as many tournament wins as we do right now.  So, actually they have some nice athletes.  They have a nice big post.  I really love watching their film and coach (Corbin Toms) does a lot of nice stuff, a lot of nice sets,” said Otterbacher.

          Lucas may be winless, but Otterbacher says he believes it is going to be a battle on Thursday.  “Maybe they might not have as many wins as what they wanted to, but they play good basketball.  I'll be honest about that.  They have two nice guards, both upperclassmen,” he told Swankonsports.com on Wednesday night, “Cooper Day is a dynamic athlete.  He leads them the best he can.  Like I said the big post Haden Maloney is 6’6” and a lefty.  He can finish around the rim.  He's got nice moves.  He can jump.  It's going to be a battle regardless of what their record is.”

Published 2/26/26

© Swankonsports.com

Tune in for a special edition of

“Out of Bounds”

Saturday night at 10 PM

“Your First Source for All Things Sports”

Calvert With A Couple Tests

          Tiffin Calvert has a pair of games in the River Division of the Sandusky Bay Conference the week as host New Riegel on Thursday and Sandusky St. Mary’s on Saturday.

          Last week, they buried Northwood (55-17) in a division game on Friday and lost a tough one (74-70) in overtime to Ottoville in non-conference play on Saturday.

          Coach Jon Otterbacher says they did some good things.  “It was a long weekend with a lot of driving.  We took a long bus ride to Northwood for the first time in the league we’re seeing them.  Have some really nice athletes.  I thought we did a good job defensively to take away their three-point shooting, which limited their opportunities throughout the game,” he told Swankonsports.com on Monday night, “Saturday another long drive, a hour and half drive over to Ottoville.  A great game, great atmosphere, it's good competition. I know the record doesn't show it, but that's a pretty good team.  They're playing in a tough area.  So, pretty pleased overall.  I think the kids battled extremely hard Saturday night and we had plenty of opportunities just right on the edge of our fingertips and couldn't pull through a couple rebounds or a couple easy shots.”

          Calvert (10-7,6-4) plays at home against New Riegel (6-12,4-7) on Thursday.  The Blue Jackets beat Woodmore (42-30) in their last division game on Friday.

          The Senecas won the first meeting (61-50) on January 9.

          Otterbacher says they have some good personnel and he expects a battle.  “They're going to give us their best like they did the first time.  It was a dog fight over there the first time.  They've got two nice posts inside, very have got some very capable guards, very talented all the way around.  They could put some things together to make a nice game out of it,” he said.

          Sandusky St. Mary’s (15-3,9-2) is in a share of second place in the league.  They beat Lakota (61-42) on Friday.

          Otterbacher says the Panthers will come after you and they are going to have to be able to handle the ball.  “Another very deep, very athletic team.  I think they're playing eight, nine guys.  They have got some decent size and they have got very capable guards on the perimeter.  They come at you in waves, a lot of physicality, and a lot of pressure throughout the game.  So, I think they're main MO is to wear you down and make you take bad shots and make bad decisions with the ball,” said Otterbacher.

Published 2/10/26

© 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

Calvert Will be Stretched This Week

          Tiffin Calvert, one of the contenders in the River Division of the Sandusky Bay Conference, will play twice this week.

          They will be at Norwalk St. Paul for a non-conference game on Wednesday and at Hopewell-Loudon for a division game on Thursday.
          They edged Lakota (52-50) in a River Division game on Friday.

          Coach Jon Otterbacher says they had to make some plays late to get the win.  “They came out pretty strong and we battled back in the second quarter and actually had a 12 point lead at halftime.  The second half, third quarter especially, we started doing some uncharacteristic things and ended up being in a dogfight down the stretch.  They actually took the lead with 15 seconds left.  We got an and one with 10 to give us a two point cushion and we shaved off the last nine seconds and secured the win,” said Otterbacher.

          Norwalk St. Paul (7-7) has spilt its last six games.  They beat Monroeville (44-38) in a Firelands Conference game on Saturday.

          Otterbacher says they have a lot of athletic scorers.  “That's a very dynamic team.  They have some nice shooters, some nice scorers, some size.  All around their best player is a junior, the Griffin kid.  He can light it up, long, athletic, point guard pretty much.  He likes to shoot the three and get in the middle.  They have the Fries kid back, who's probably a three-year letter winner.  He's a dynamic scorer, athlete, very quick, very athletic.  Then the Fritz kid can play inside and out,” he told Swankonsports.com on Monday night, “So many weapons it's hard to tell how we're going to be able to stop them in every aspect of the game.”

          Calvert (7-4,4-2) visits Hopewell-Loudon (5-4,3-2) on Tuesday night.  They both trail Old Fort, Gibsonburg and Sandusky St, Mary’s by a game in the standings.

          Hopewell has won three of its last four and Otterbacher says they have hit their stride.  “They're finally getting their legs underneath them I believe.  Football going into the late rounds like they usually do.  They get a slow start, so now the basketball legs are starting to get underneath and their figuring out how to score and what they're going to get out of their top five or six guys.  They're playing extremely well, extremely great team basketball right now,” he said.

Published 1/20/26

© 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

Calvert Meets First Place Woodmore

          Tiffin Calvert, a game back in the Sandusky Bay Conference Bay Division south, hosts north co-leader Woodmore on Tuesday night.

          Calvert was belted (70-49) by Margaretta in a non-conference game on Saturday.

          Coach Jon Otterbacher says they just got beat by a better team.  “That team is just so athletic and has so many good basketball players.  We did our best.  The first half we were down five at halftime even with 10 turnovers.  I think we got in some foul trouble in the second half and their quickness and athleticism just got the better of us.  It's one of the best teams in the state.  We knew what we were getting into when we scheduled that team year in and year out and we loved that competition and we just came out on the wrong end this time,” said Otterbacher.

          Calvert (3-3,1-1) is at home for Woodmore (5-4,3-0) on Tuesday.  The Wildcats won their last division game (79-24) over Fremont St. Joe on December 20.

          Otterbacher says they have a couple of outstanding guards.  “They're sitting up top with I believe St. Mary's might be up there with them.  Woodmore’s got two really electric guards.  The point guard (Carson) Slates kid, I went to Heidelberg with his dad,” he told Swankonsports.com Monday night, “He is a very good scorer, very quick, very athletic.  Then they have got a junior (Gavin) Donley, a two guard who is pretty dynamic in his own right.  Those two probably are going to score 30-35 points for them night in and night out.  So, we got to make sure to limit their opportunities.”

          Otterbacher says they are not going to stop the Woodmore guards, but they must contain them.  “In a typical basketball game, it's hard to truly take players out of the game.  So, we just have to limit their opportunities and take away what they like doing the best.  Slates being left-handed loves driving left handed.  So, our job (Tuesday) is going to try to keep him out of the middle on his strong hand,” he said.

Published 1/06/26

© 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

Calvert Starts with Two

          Tiffin Calvert finally gets its season started this weekend when they play two non-conference games at home with Columbus Grove on Friday and Van Buren on Saturday.

          Coach Jon Otterbacher says they have been practicing for more than a month and the kids want to play.  He says he hopes he has them prepared.  “I sure hope so, we've been practicing and we talked about the last couple of days 30 practices and five scrimmages in I think we better be ready, if not, then the coaches haven't done it good enough job,” said Otterbacher.

          Otterbacher says Columbus Grove will be loaded with athletes.  “They're coming off a state final four football team and most of the football players are basketball players,” he told Swankonsports.com on Thursday night, “They're big, strong, physical, athletic kids that know how to play basketball.  They run the floor well and know how to put the ball in the hole.”

          Otterbacher says Van Buren will be a challenge too.  “Van Buren is another well coached team.  A lot of nice little pieces.  They have a couple of guys that play on the inside and a couple shooters.  So, they're both going to be big tests for us at the beginning of the year,” he said.

Published 12/12/25

© Swankonsports.com

Follow our scoreboard for

Constant updates on Friday nights

At www.swankonsportshosting247.com

Your first source for all things sports

Calvert Putting Things Together

          Tiffin Calvert is one of the more consistent boys’ basketball programs around here and they hope that continues this year.

          Coach Jon Otterbacher says this season they have some veterans, but they will need some young kids to be contributors as well.  “A little bit of a mix of both.  We return our starting point guard that will be a junior.  Our two guard averaged about 12 or 13 last year is going to be a senior Logan Ritzler,” he told Swankonsports.com on Thursday night, “Then we return three total letterwinners besides those two, but no size coming back or anything.  So, we're still trying to find our groove of what we're going to be able to do throughout the season.”

          Otterbacher says right now they are still trying to determine what roles kids will have.  “We play three seniors and two juniors and we are trying to mold the younger sophomore guards in and a couple of posts to see how they fit into the program and the system and see what group is going to click well together,” he said.

          Calvert opens the season on December 9 against Hopewell-Loudon in a “SBC” River Division game.

          Otterbacher says the players love the intensity that is always part of their practice sessions.  “These kids work hard every day in practice and we get after it.  The coaches get on them a lot and you see the results in the scrimmages and hopefully into the game too.  They love the pressure and the intensity we have at practice to make games look easy,” said Otterbacher.

Published 11/21/25

© Swankonsports.com

Follow our scoreboard for

Constant updates on Friday nights

At www.swankonsportshosting247.com

Your first source for all things sports

Calvert Falls in Semis

          Newark Catholic downed Tiffin Calvert (6-4) in a division VII state semifinal at Canal Park in Akron on Thursday afternoon.

          Calvert (27-4) took a (3-0) lead in the second inning when Conner Moyer, Jacob Kidwell, and Cash Lee walked.  Two runs scored when Logan Ritzler reached on an error and another scored on Blake Coleman’s infield hit.

          However, the Senecas left 10 runners on base and just couldn’t come up with the clutch hit, like they have pretty much all season.  “I mean that's baseball.  You have got to come through with guys on base and we didn't do it.  We have a lot this season, but not (Thursday).  They had some big hits.  Hats off to them,” said Calvert coach Matt Coleman.

          Newark Catholic (22-9) would score twice in the bottom of the third on a throwing error and RBI single by Miller Hutchinson.  They took the lead with a three spot in the fifth highlighted by RBI singles by Max Moore and Mikey Hess to make it (5-3) Green Wave.

          Calvert got a run in the sixth when Ritzler walked and scored on a double by Blake Coleman.

          The Green Wave got a run in the bottom of the sixth on a bases loaded ground out.

          Coach Coleman says their pitchers didn’t pitch to contact like they have been.  “I think the preparation was there.  We simply didn’t get it done.  It wasn’t in the cards.  I thought all three of our pitchers competed.  I felt like we didn’t compete in the zone enough.  I had a joke with Blake going out to the mound there.  I kind of felt like Harris of Major League.  He has battled all year.  He just wanted to be on the mound.  I feel like we left it out there.  We gave it everything we had, it just wasn’t quite enough,” said Coleman.

          Calvert pitching had seven walks.

          The Senecas have lost in the semifinals in three of the last four years.

Published 6/13/25

© Swankonsports.com

Your First Source for All Things Sports

“Out of Bounds” every Friday night 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Calvert Rallies Past JFK

          A.J. Shoemaker’s RBI single in the seventh inning gave Tiffin Calvert a come from behind (4-3) win over Warren JFK Thursday evening in a division VII regional championship game at Oberlin College.

          Coach Matt Coleman says it was a great win for them.  “It was a fun one.  We hadn't been tested in a little while, so it was what we needed to overcome some adversity and against a formidable opponent that we've seen.  This is the fourth time in the last five years, so we're familiar with each other.  We were able to put it together there in the sixth inning to get a rally and push one across in the seventh, said Coleman.

          It’s the third time in the last four years that the Senecas has made the final four.

          JFK put up three in the first inning.  Calvert had chances, but did score until the sixth.  Vinny Lyons reached on an error, Shoemaker singed, followed by an RBI single by Conner Moyer and then another by twin brother Cameron Moyer.  The third run of the inning scored on a wild throw.

          Sometimes it isn’t easy to come back and score after a big rally the inning before, but Coleman says they gutted it out.  “There were lots of emotional turns back and forth and in that sixth.  We had one thrown out at the plate.  A runner at third with one out.  It was a bang bang call, so it was definitely a tough call.  So, to have him thrown out and then have to come back now the next inning with two outs and a 0-2 count, A.J. Shoemaker came up with a big hit to right field,” he said.

          After giving up three runs in the first, Coleman says starting pitcher Logan Ritzer was tremendous.  “Logan Ritzer did great on the mound.  We got behind 3-0 without having an out.  For him to bear down in that inning and to get out without anymore and I think the rest of the game,” he told Swankonsports.com after the win, “Finishing with 80 some pitches, so a complete game effort after the first three guys score.  A very gutsy performance.  He’s a battler, he's an athlete and proud of his effort.”

          Calvert (27-3) will play Newark Catholic (21-9) in a division VII state semifinal next Thursday at Canal Park in Akron.

          Coleman says he has confidence in his team.  “We like our team.  We're going to play for each other.  Newark Catholic is a good team.  I had a chance to get a look at them when they played Willard earlier in the year.  They've got some really good pitching and a really nice lineup that's patient and opportunistic.  They're a good team, but I think we are too.  I think it'll be a battle.  Hopefully, we make our school and town proud,” said Coleman.

Published 6/06/25

© Swankonsports.com

Your First Source for All Things Sports

“Out of Bounds” every Friday night 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

It’s Little Things for Calvert

          Tiffin Calvert routed McDonald (14-4) Tuesday in a division VII regional semifinal at Oberlin College.

          They face Warren JFK the regional title on Thursday.  JFK beat Ashtabula St. John (8-1) Tuesday.

          The Senecas scored seven times in the third inning and coach Matt Coleman says they hit well one through nine.  “It's it was a fun day.  We found our offense.  We were patient at the top of the order and our middle of the order guys came through in a big way.  Connor Moyer had a couple hits.  Cameron Moyer hit one that I'm not sure if it's landed yet.  It was a shot.  So, it was good to see top to bottom our lineup was patient and opportunistic,” said Coleman.

          Calvert and JFK are as familiar postseason opponents as the Yankees the Dodgers.  “We have a familiar foe that we're going to be facing again in Warren JFK.  This will be the fifth year in a row we've had regional experience.  We've played them four out of the last five years.  They got us last year in a 10 inning game.  We probably will see the same pitcher that we saw last year.  He did not go (Tuesday).  It’s going to be going to be a fun game.  I like the way our team is playing right now and top to bottom playing for each other,” said Coleman.

          Last season, Warren JFK beat Calvert (2-1) in the regionals and Coleman says this year they have to do a better job of taking advantage of opportunities.  “I don't know that it's necessarily revenge.  I think we need to take care of and control what we can control.  We felt like last year we gave some at bats up and didn't execute and didn’t run the bases quite like we could.  That's no disrespect to them.  (Michael) Bartoe is a great pitcher on their side.  We felt like we left some at bats out there and didn't execute and that's been our focus since the offseason workouts and since that game last year.  So, we'll be ready to go and be focused and hopefully can take care of some opportunities that present themselves,” he said.

          It will likely be a tight game again this year and Coleman believes they must execute the little things.  “Just a simple ground out moving runners over.  Second and third and one out you have got to get a ground ball to the right side.  That's been big and things we talked about.  Sometimes it's just the guy on first and getting on third on a base hit,” he told Swankonsports.com after the win, “That could be huge.  (Tuesday) there was a dropped foul ball and that was with two outs and we end up scoring seven runs after that by piecing things together and making the pitcher work.  I think as games get farther and farther into the postseason, it’s going to come down to little things.”

Published 6/04/25

© Swankonsports.com

Your First Source for All Things Sports

“Out of Bounds” every Friday night 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Combined No Hitter for Calvert

          Tiffin Calvert continues to play outstanding baseball.

          They blanked Wynford (10-0) on Monday evening in non-conference play behind a combined not hitter by Charlie Palm and Cash Lee.

          Coach Matt Coleman says it was a good win.  “It’s always good to go up against Wynford.  We’ve kept this late may contest the last several years.  It’s been good tune up for both of us.  They got us the last couple of years and (Monday) we're for able to put things together so it's good,” he said.

          Coleman says Palm and Lee got their chance and took advantage of it.  “We had a had a youngster on the mound (Monday) night.  Charlie Palm made his first start.  He’s pitched somewhere 15 to 20 innings in the year, but (Monday) night he had the opportunity to go out there.  He didn't have his command that he's had the last couple outings, but he was able to throw no hitter combined with Cash Lee,” he told Swankonsports.com after the win, “Charlie's a freshman and Cash is a junior that hasn't got to throw a lot.  It was good opportunity to see some depth in our pitching staff going into a game (Tuesday) against Mohawk.  It will be a nice match up at Heidelberg.”

          Facing Mohawk, the “N10” co-leader, is another chance to get better, according to Coleman.  “You get down to the end of the season.  You're kind of figuring out what rainouts you're going to be able to make up and whatnot.  We're fortunate enough we were able to get all 18 of our league games in.  We had I think three rainouts.  So, we're always looking to get a little bit better and sharpen things up.  Opponents like Wynford and Mohawk will help us do that to get ready for Cardinal Stritch on Friday,” said Coleman.

Published 5/20/25

© Swankonsports.com

Your First Source for All Things Sports

“Out of Bounds” every Friday night 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Calvert Hammers Woodmore

          Tiffin Calvert maintained the lead in the River Division of the Sandusky Bay Conference as they smoked Woodmore (13-3) on Monday evening.

          Coach Matt Coleman says it was a good win for the Senecas (14-3,12-1), #3 in the Swankonsports.com baseball coaches poll in the small school division, on Monday.  “We were very happy with our production. Woodmore’s a good team.  They're much improved under coach (Mason) Beachler.  They were actually a game and half behind us.  They were in second place in our league, right there with Hopewell Loudon.  I think they're 14-7 now.  So, it was a good win.  We had 17 hits and that was probably our best offensive approach at the plate top to bottom,” said Coleman.

          Coleman says they really want their hitters to look for a fastball early in the count.  “Most pitchers we're trying to get a feel those first couple innings.  Get a fastball you like, something straight, you try to attack it.  We also like working.  We see a lot of good pitchers in the River Division,” he told Swankpnsports.com after the win on Monday night, “Some guys that can go deep into a game, but we want to make them work and earn it and not to get ourselves out with off speed stuff.  (Monday) I felt like we did attack the fastball.  We came out with six runs in the first and it was a good, little start.”

          Coleman says when you are able to get six runs early in the game like that, it gives the pitcher confidence.  “Tucker (Coleman) was the beneficiary of that and he was able to come back out and put a zero up in the first.  They did get a couple off of him, but he was making them earn their way on base.  So, that's what you look for is to pitch with the lead and pound the zone.  They got a few hits, but it was a good game overall from the offense and the defense,” he said.

Published 5/06/25

© Swankonsports.com

Your First Source for All Things Sports

“Out of Bounds” every Friday night 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Calvert With Huge Win Over Hopewell

          Tiffin Calvert scored on a ground ball in the bottom of the sixth inning and the Senecas edged Hopewell-Loudon (4-3) in a key game in the River Division of the Sandusky Bay Conference.

          The win gives the Senecas (12-2,10-1), #3 in the Swankonsports.com baseball coaches poll in the small school division, a one game lead over the Chieftains (13-3,9-2), #4 in our poll, in the River Division standings.

          Coach Matt Coleman says they were able to make some big plays.  “It was a fun high school game.  Two good teams, lots of good players on both sides that are familiar with each other, and lots of big moments.  We were able to squeeze out of some bases loaded, one out, jams in the first and the sixth with the heart of their order up.  We were able to come up with some big hits in the clutch,” he said.

          Coleman says they were able to respond on Monday night.  “I think sometimes it's about slowing the game down and how you respond.  They made some great plays.  (Jack) Colatruglio made great throw from center field to throw one of our guys out of the plate.  I think it was in the bottom of the fifth with no outs.  It kind of kept us at bay there for a second.  We responded by continuing to put the ball in play and getting to (Kellen) Frankfurt a little bit,” said Coleman.

          It is going to change quite a bit over the next couple of years, in fact both Calvert and Hopewell-Loudon are leaving the River Division, and will begin competition in the Northern 10 Athletic Conference in the fall of 2026.

          However, when it comes to this spring, Coleman says there always seems to be another game around the corner.  “The “SBC” River is very a competitive division and having 18 games.  Anybody can knock off anybody.  We've been there before on both sides of that.  It's grueling and you can't look too far ahead than the next pitch.  Actually, (Tuesday) we have a non-league game against a very good Van Buren team,” he told Swankonsports.com on Monday night, “We have some big ones this week with Lakota, who beat us earlier in the year, and (Columbus) Bishop Watterson.  We're excited every game, but yes our league schedule is pretty tough and having three league games a week you better have some depth at pitching and be ready to go.”

Published 4/29/25

© Swankonsports.com

Your First Source for All Things Sports

“Out of Bounds” every Friday night 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Calvert Edges St. Mary’s

          Tiffin Calvert got past Sandusky St. Mary’s (2-1) it what was a cold day on the lake in a game in the River Division of the Sandusky Bay Conference on Tuesday evening.

          They continue to share the lead in the division with Hopewell-Loudon and Woodmore.  Lakota is the only school to beat Calvert in a division game this year.  That was (6-5) last week.

          Coach Matt Coleman says it was not an easy day to play baseball on Tuesday, but they had good focus.  “It was as good game as you can play in those temperatures.  It was a good test for our team and a little bit of physical and mental toughness.  I’m glad we were scratch across one more run than St. Mary's.” said Coleman.

          Calvert scored single runs in the second and third innings and they were able to make it stand up.

          Coleman says they threw a kid that normally pitches out of the bullpen and he was tremendous on Tuesday.  “Logan Ritzler, he's a guy that's been, I don't want to say like a rubber arm, but he's been our guy out of the bullpen.  Last year, I think he made 11 appearances all out of the pen.  Same thing this year.  This was his fourth appearance, so this was his first start,” he told Swankonsports.com on Tuesday night, “He wanted the ball.  He had been asking for a start and he delivered with I think 10 strikeouts.  He had the wind behind him.  It was coming in pretty hard from left field.  So, he just let his pitches work.  He had 10 strikeouts and no walks and a one hitter.  So, it was great to see Logan he's a competitor.”

          Coleman says they were able to play some pretty good defense behind Ritzler as well.  “I thought defensively we played decent behind turning a nice double play. We had a diving catch in left from Vince Lyons. We played well overall,” he said.

Published 4/16/25

© Swankonsports.com

Your First Source for All Things Sports

“Out of Bounds” every Friday night 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Calvert Stays Unbeaten in River

          Tiffin Calvert, the defending champion in the River Division of the Sandusky Bay Conference, beat Sandusky St. Mary’s (8-4) n Monday evening to stay undefeated in the division.

          Coach Matt Coleman says it was just good to get a game in.  “Just happy to be out on the ball field.  Spring has not quite here the way we want it to be yet, but anytime you're on a ball field.  The sun did come out for us a little bit (Monday) night and we were happy to be playing,” he said.

          Coleman says they got out a solid lead early, but he would like to finish better.  “We jumped out a little bit as we did against Hopewell on Friday.  We got out to a 7-0 there.  I think it was maybe 8-1 or 8-2 then we kind of sat on it a little bit.  So, we're going to work on that execution.  I felt like situational hitting was pretty good, especially early on in the game,” said Coleman.

          Calvert (3-1,3-0) plays at Kansas Lakota on Wednesday in another division game.  There are 18 league games on the schedule.

          Coleman likes the start they have gotten.  “We challenged ourselves right out of the shoot you know with Gibsonburg.  We moved the game around.  Actually, Gibsonburg had called wanting to move our Monday the first week to Friday, right on opening day.  We got to face a good pitcher right out of the shoot with Nolan Hoover.  Then backed it up with the Louisville product and Bryson Whitmer (from Edison).  So, we saw two good ones right out of the shoot.  Then Hopewell's a great hitting team.  They got out to a 4-0 on the season.  I think they're 5-1 now, but they're a good hitting team.  They're a little banged up,” he told Swankonsports.com after the win, “St. Mary's I think they were out to a 4-0 start.  They're just a fundamental team, well coached, and they play hard.  Cayden Wikel was on the mound (Monday) night.  We were able to make him work quite a bit.  It was fun.  Same approach we had with Whitmer.  We fell to Edison, but those three league wins are what we're looking for.”

Published 4/08/25

© Swankonsports.com

Your First Source for All Things Sports

“Out of Bounds” every Friday night 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Calvert Excited to Get Going

          Tiffin Calvert is likely in the mix again in the River Division of the Sandusky Bay Conference.

          They won the division title last year.

          Coach Matt Coleman says they want to better this spring.  “I'm excited about the season.  We had a pretty good year last year, but we're hopeful we can build on that success and work on our execution and our offense a little more this year.  We have got a group of returners, just one senior, but still an experienced group.  So, we're excited about what we can do.  We really bumped up our schedule to just kind of increase our play and see what see what we can do,” he said.

          Coleman says they have beefed up their non-conference schedule, plus they are going to get the season with a test in the division.  “We made it a point of that with our schedule this year especially.  We get going against Gibsonburg on Friday.  We moved our game from next Monday.  We're just going to play a league game right out of the box and face, I assume, Nolan Hoover and a good group of guys over there in the Gibsonburg Golden Bears,” he told Swankonsports.com on Thursday night, “Saturday we're going to play a varsity and JV doubleheader against Edison.  The (Bryson) Wittmer kid there.  He's low to mid 90s and has been committed to Louisville for a while. Then we have Fremont St. Joe and Hopewell Loudon next week too.  So, lots of big games down the stretch too and we're excited about it.”

          Coleman says in baseball you have top deal a lot with failure and being able to get past that.  “When you have people coming back you know what they're capable of.  You just hope the work they put in shows and that the mental side of things from the beginning of the season to the end they don't get caught up in results.  Obviously, it's a result oriented game, but at the same time anybody can get hot at the end of the year.  We just want to get a little bit better each day and make sure they believe in themselves because there's a whole lot of failure in this game of baseball. A lot more than other sports.  So, you have got to be able to handle some failure and some mistakes.  So, hopefully our guys are ready to take another step in the right direction.  It starts just day by day, at bat by a bat, and pitch by pitch, breaking it down,” said Coleman.

Published 3/28/25

© Swankonsports.com

Your First Source for All Things Sports

“Out of Bounds” every Friday night 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Calvert Faces “Big” Challenge

          Tiffin Calvert tangles with Arlington in a division VII district semifinal on Thursday night at Fostoria High School.

          The Senecas opened tournament play last Friday in beating North Baltimore (60-35) for a sectional title.

          Coach Jon Otterbacher says it was a solid team effort.  “We did a lot of good things. It took us a little while to get going.  I think it was 9-9 in the first quarter and we ended up going on like a 15-0 run.  I thought we zoned in a little bit and got prepared mentally as the game progressed.  I think everybody did their part to be successful and move on to the next round,” he said.

          Both teams can (20-3) records into the game.  The Red Devils overwhelmed Vanlue (63-10) in their sectional final.

          Otterbacher says they have solid guard play and a big guy that’s a difference maker.  “They might be the most dynamic team we'll see all year as in they have plenty of guards and they have a 6’10” kid in the middle to bottle up anything that the guards don't handle on defense,” he told Swankonsports.com on Wednesday afternoon, “The guards can shoot, they're athletic, they have quickness, they play good defense and then with the (Calvin) Willow kid inside, he's a state champion high jumper, so he can get up and he's tall and lanky and he's a big body too.  So, it's going to be a tall order to get by them on Thursday night.”

          Otterbacher says they must be patient against the Arlington zone and on defense they have to make the Red Devils take tough shots., “We're going to have to rely on some patience and some high IQ plays.  They run a half court 2-2-1, almost like a 2-3, but the way they play it is pretty aggressive and they trap out of it.  So, we're going to have to be patient with it.  Then limit their opportunities defense wise get out on their shooters and not let their athletes drive and get to the basket.  Hopefully, they don’t key in on the big kid and let him just pound us inside,” said Otterbacher.

Published 2/27/25

© Swankonsports.com

There will be a special edition of

“Out of Bounds” this Saturday night

10-11 PM

Calvert Wants to Throw it Inside

          Tiffin Calvert, who finished in second place in the River Division of the Sandusky Bay Conference, opens tournament play at home against North Baltimore in a division VII sectional final on Friday night.

          The Senecas (19-3) have won their last nine and coach Jon Otterbacher says they are playing the best basketball of the season right now.  “I think we're peaking and getting to the spot where we need to be to continue our postseason run.  We go through stretches where we need to be encouraged to do the right things and do the little things to get better.  Once we get reminded of that, I think we're pretty efficient.  We do what we need to do.  We need to continue to work at those things,” said Otterbacher.

          North Baltimore (7-16) downed Arcadia (48-30) in a semifinal played on Tuesday night.

          Otterbacher says they must keep the North Baltimore guards out of the lane.  “I love coach (Joey) Hagemyer, he does a great job with the group that he has.  They're going to be well coached, very disciplined and a couple nice scorers.  They're point guard does an extremely good job of attacking the basket and getting to the line,” he told Swankonsports.com on Wednesday night, “It's going to be a tough job for us to contain his dribble penetration.  If we can pound the ball inside like we've been doing and get timely outside shots, I think we should be okay Friday night.”

          When they get it on their end of the court, Otterbacher says they want the ball in the hands of the big guy Gavin Wagner (19.5 ppg).  “Their biggest post is about 6’, 6’1”, so Gavin going inside against them and him being 6’5” is definitely going to play into our favor.  So, we're going to have to make sure that we find him when he's open and he finishes above the rim,” he said.

Published 2/20/25

© Swankonsports.com

There will be a special edition of

“Out of Bounds” this Saturday night

10-11 PM

Calvert Fine Tuning

          Tiffin Calvert is building toward the postseason with a couple games this week as they finish out the long division schedule in the River Division of the Sandusky Bay Conference.

          The play at New Riegel on Thursday and at Danbury Lakeside on Saturday.

          They handled Woodmore (72-47) on Friday night in division play.

          Coach Jon Otterbacher says they played a complete game.  “We're playing well.  We play hard.  We're trying to continue to do the little things and get better at the rebounding and finishing at the rim and it was nice to see us put a complete game together,” he said.

          The Senecas (17-3,14-2) play at New Riegel (15-4,12-4) on Thursday night.

          The Blue Jackets are coming off a (41-40) win over Kansas Lakota in division action.

          Calvert won (56-37) in the first meeting, Otterbacher looks for a tough matchup.  “I don’t know that I would call it easily.  We played well enough and beat them by 15 or 17 or so.  They're very well coached, (Dave) Losey does a great job with them over there.  He gets the best out of every one of those kids.  Very skilled, they're very fundamental, so it'll be another knock down drag out fight with them,” said Otterbacher.

          They play the winner of Arcadia and North Baltimore in the division VII tournament next week.

          Otterbacher thought likes the draw.  “It was almost status quo kind of thing.  We got the two seed, we put our place on the line and everybody's scattered away from a couple different teams,” he told Swankonsports.com on Tuesday night, “The team Arcadia we thought we were going to play put themselves toward us, which is fine.  It's all part about putting yourself in the best situation to be successful and I think we have a decent draw.”

Published 2/12/25

© Swankonsports.com

Your First Source for All Things Sports

“Out of Bounds” every Friday night 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Calvert to Face Improved Lakota

          Tiffin Calvert, in second place, two games back, in the River Division of the Sandusky Bay Conference, travels to Lakota to face the Raiders in a division game on Tuesday night.

          They handled Sandusky St. Mary’s (59-36) in a division game on Friday.

          Coach Jon Otterbacher says they were able to dominate the paint.  “I thought we did a pretty good job of pounding the ball inside early on and finding the open post.  They actually combined for 40 points, which obviously led the team.  So, it's hard to stop our inside game when they're both scoring and taking care of the ball down there.  (St. Mary’s is) very improved.  They got a lot of nice guards, but we were just able to have a little bit more size than they did and pound the ball inside on them,” said Otterbacher.

          The Senecas (15-3,12-2) have relied a lot on their inside scoring this year, but Otterbacher says their guard play has improved a lot.  “The more game experience you get, the better you're going to be.  We were pretty inexperienced coming in losing our top guards from last year and even the last couple of years,” he told Swankonsports.com on Monday night, “Starting a sophomore point guard and a junior guard, who was on the JV team last year.  I think they've gotten more comfortable and really thrived in the situations where teams take away the post and they're going to be open on the perimeter and they've done a great job.”

          Lakota (10-8,7-7) beat Hopewell-Loudon (45-36) in a division game last Friday.

          Calvert won the first meeting (77-52) on January 4.

          Otterbacher says the Raiders have a lot of size and that can give teams problems.  “They're so big, strong and physical and they're an up and coming group that's been playing extremely well with I think they start three sophomores and two juniors.  So, they've got a lot of size and athleticism inside.  They've got a couple of nice guards.  They're going to throw everything they can at us to take us off,” he said.

Published 2/04/25

© Swankonsports.com

Your First Source for All Things Sports

“Out of Bounds” every Friday night 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Calvert More Dynamic

          Tiffin Calvert, in second place in the River Division of the Sandusky Bay Conference, plays host to Sandusky St. Mary’s in a division game on Friday night.

          On Tuesday night, they stuffed Hopewell-Loudon (59-38) in River Division play.

          Coach Jon Otterbacher says a good start was key.  “We came away that was a tough road game.  They always play us tough.  They have so many good athletes it's hard to tell what they're going to do to you.  I thought we played well and got out to the early lead and sustained that and we're able to come away with a 20 point victory,” said Otterbacher.

          Calvert has won 10 of its last 11 games and Otterbacher says they have shown a lot of improvement over the first two months of the season.  “I think we're getting more dynamic.  The more games we play, the more experience we have.  Our guards are very young and working them in and getting them more game reps is definitely helping out a lot,” he told Swankonsports.com on Thursday night, “It's a lot easier when you're throwing it into 6’5” post who knows how to finish.  So, with our shooting that's coming along great we're going to be hard to defend.

          The Senecas (14-3,11-2) entertain Sandusky St. Mary’s (5-9,5-7) on Friday night.  The Panthers has won their last two division games, including a (53-29) blasting of Fremont St. Joe on Tuesday night.

          Calvert won the first game (45-39) December 21.

          Otterbacher says they are both disciplined and athletic.  “They're just like Hopewell, they're very athletic, very well coached, run a lot of nice sets.  They played us tough the first time.  So, we're going to have to be ready to battle for 32 minutes,” he said.

Published 1/31/25

© Swankonsports.com

Follow our scoreboard Friday night

For constant updates beginning with the tip

At www.swankonsportshosting247.com

Calvert Has to Get Back to Winning

          Tiffin Calvert, now two games back in the Sandusky Bay Conference River Division, plays at Gibsonburg on Thursday night in division play.

          They host Fremont St. Joe on Saturday.

          They fell two back when division leader Old Fort beat them (66-53) on Friday night.

          Coach Jon Otterbacher says they weren’t consistent enough.  “I don't think we played extremely well for the duration of the game.  We had them in the first quarter, had a small little lead, and then we had a two minute stretch of miscues where they hit a couple threes.  We had a couple turnovers and a close game and your down five.  Did that another time in the third and once in the fourth and close games go from two to four to 10 real quick,” said Otterbacher.

          Calvert (11-3,8-2) is at Gibsonburg (9-4,6-3) on Thursday night.  The Golden Bears rocked Danbury (76-49) on Friday.  The Senecas beat Gibsonburg (65-34) on December 10.

          Otterbacher says they have a nice overall team.  “They are playing extremely well.  They should have beat Old Fort a couple weeks ago.  They're up double digits in the second half and Old Fort just made a couple extra plays down the stretch to beat them,” he told Swankonsports.com on Wednesday night, “They're playing at home and they're always tough at home.  They have got three really good guards and a nice post presence inside that might try to neutralize Gavin Wagner a little bit.  So, it'll be another tough “SBC” battle.”

          With eight games left to play in the division, the race isn’t over.  Otterbacher says they have to take things one game at a time.  “We always talk about the one game that's in front of us.  We know that we still have eight to 10 games left in the regular season, but the one that we're worried about is the one we're playing Thursday night.  So, we don't look ahead at any of the other schedule or anything like that.  We have got to take care of business on Thursday night,” he said.

Published 1/23/25

© Swankonsports.com

Your First Source for All Things Sports

“Out of Bounds” every Friday night 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Calvert With an Opportunity

          Tiffin Calvert, a game back in the River Division of the Sandusky Bay Conference, plays at division leader Old Fort on Friday night.

          They trail the Stockaders by a game.

          They buried Danbury-Lakeside (70-25) in a non-league game on Tuesday night.

          Coach Jon Otterbacher says they accomplished a goal.  “We wanted to make sure we continue to stay balanced and continue to get key contributions from five, six, seven guys.  I thought we did a pretty good job of that on Tuesday,” he said.

          Calvert (10-2,8-1) is at Old Fort (10-1,9-0) on Friday.  The Stockaders destroyed a pretty good New Riegel team (73-39) in division play on Tuesday.

          Otterbacher says they just have a of skill on both ends of the court.  “They're just so athletic and so well coached.  Everything they do they do with a purpose whether it's their zone defense, that is just confusing to most teams or their offense, where just all five guys can handle the ball and can attack basket and can finish,” said Otterbacher.

          Old Fort got past Calvert (67-65) on December 30, scoring with less than a second to play.

          Otterbacher says they need to get off to a better start and be more fundamental in their play.  “We didn’t do a very good job first two and half quarters almost three full quarters of taking care of the ball and being in the right positions defensively and we got down pretty big,” he told Swankonsports.com on Wednesday night, “Luckily, we had Grady (Otterbacher) come in and decide he wanted to hit nine threes that game to pull us back in.  We had an opportunity to send it to overtime and they just had the ball at the end of the game and scored.”

Published 1/16/25

© Swankonsports.com

Your First Source for All Things Sports

“Out of Bounds” every Friday night 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Calvert Must Play Sound Defense

          Tiffin Calvert will be at home for New Riegel on Friday evening for a contest between second place teams in the River Division of the Sandusky Bay Conference.

          Calvert dominated Woodmore (58-29) in a division game on Tuesday.

          Coach Jon Otterbacher says they went to their strengths.  “I thought we came out and we're determined to get the ball inside.  We knew that they were a little undersized, nobody's starting over 6’1”, so we wanted to pound the ball inside.  The way they play defense that took the us out of the game last year over there, so we wanted to make sure that we were getting open looks inside and kicking it out for open threes and just continue to play team basketball.  I thought we did a good job, especially early on,” he said.

          Calvert (7-2,6-1) is at home for New Riegel (8-1,6-1) on Friday.  The Blue Jackets also won Tuesday as they smoked Kansas Lakota (68-40) in a division game.

          Otterbacher says they have a lot of skill.  “They're very disciplined, very fundamental, very skilled, they're high IQ and they know how to play every position one through five,” he told Swankonsports.com on Thursday night, “They have shooters, they have two nice posts.  They really do have the total package.  They might be a little undersized inside in the post, but they have great moves, great footwork and they know how to finish.”

          To win on Friday, Otterbacher says they can’t have a bunch of turnovers and they have to be really good on defense.  “We have to take care of the ball like we usually do, we have been lately, but we have got to make sure we're finishing and keeping their big kids out of the middle and take those easy looks inside away from them.  Then just make sure that we can contest Shane Jones because he's a dynamic athlete that knows how to play any position inside or out and he's extremely fast attacking the basket.  So, those are a couple keys that we're looking forward to (Friday),” said Otterbacher.

Published 1/10/25

© Swankonsports.com

Follow our scoreboard Friday night

For constant updates beginning with the tip

At www.swankonsportshosting247.com

Calvert Looks to Bounce Back

          After a tough loss on Monday night, Tiffin Calvert looks to bounce back as they host Norwalk St. Paul in a non-conference game on Thursday and play at home against Lakota in an “SBC” River Division game on Saturday.

          They lost (67-65) to archrival Old Fort in a division game on Monday night when Tyson Frisch scored with less than a second to play.

          Coch Jon Otterbacher says they gave themselves a chance.  “I don't think we did a great job of performing at a high level at the beginning.  I think we left Old Fort open for too many easy shots and getting to the basket too often.  We were able to continue to battle and made some threes down the stretch to have an opportunity to come out as a winner,” he told Swankonsports.com on Tuesday night, “They had the last possession.  The last possession usually means the game winning shot came out and they performed down the stretch.  We were just happy that we can continue to grow and get better.  They had a nice shot at the end and we weren’t able to get back in it.”

          Norwalk St. Paul (5-3) comes calling on Thursday night.  The Flyers suffered a tough loss Monday too.  Mapleton beat them (73-69) in overtime in Firelands Conference action.

          Otterbacher says the Flyers have both size and shooters.  “They return four or five starters from last year.  They're a very good team, very skilled, and very athletic.  They have got a 6’7” kid that can play on the perimeter.  He can shoot, he can put the ball on the floor and get to the basket and they have a couple nice shooters around him.  So, that's going to be a different dynamic than what we saw Monday night, but if we play well and do the things that we should do well and play defense well I think we'll be alright,” he said.

          Calvert (4-2,4-1) hosts Lakota (5-3,3-2) on Saturday night.  The Raiders lost (61-48) to Sandusky St. Mary’s on Monday night in a division game.

          Otterbacher says they are young, but they have talent.  “They've got some nice young pieces around on that team.  They are pretty young still.  Actually, a bunch of sophomores and juniors.  They've got size, they’ve got length and they have got shooters.  So, this is probably the best look for a Lakota team that I've seen in a long time.  They're young and as the season grows they are going to continue to get better.  The more experience you have the better off you're going to be in the tournament,” said Otterbacher.

Published 1/01/25

© Swankonsports.com

Your First Source for All Things Sports

“Out of Bounds” every Friday night 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Calvert Has to be Physical

          Tiffin Calvert hosts Hopewell-Loudon in a key early season contest in the River Division of the Sandusky Bay Conference on Thursday night.

          They play at Sandusky St. Mary’s on Saturday night.

          The Senecas (2-1,2-0) hammered Fremont St. Joe (68-34) in a division game on Friday night.

          Coach Jon Otterbacher says they were able run the floor and get some easies.  “I thought we did a good job in the first half especially getting out and going and making sure that we're running in our fast break lanes and get some easy baskets,” he said.

          Hopewell-Loudon also (2-1,2-0) won their division game (50-41) over Gibsonburg last week.  They did lose (42-28) to Northern 10 power Mohawk on Monday.

          Otterbacher says a lot of guys that were on the River Division championship football team are basketball players.  “Those guys are very athletic.  A lot of football players that know how to be physical and wear and tear on you and they're just all around good athletes going around out there,” he told Swankonsports.com on Tuesday night, “They are led by Braylon Martinez, who's a three year starter, a senior, so he's been around the block quite a bit.  They have just a lot of nice athletes around him.”

          Being physical is going to be a big part of the game Thursday, but Otterbacher says they have to stay out of foul trouble.  “We talk all the time about being physical and playing through the contact and finishing through the contact.  Then on defense trying to move our feet and play defense with our legs instead of our hands.  For the most part we've done that to start the year, so we will have to continue to do that to be successful Thursday,” said Otterbacher.

Published 12/18/24

© Swankonsports.com

Your First Source for All Things Sports

“Out of Bounds” every Friday night 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Calvert Will be Focused

          Tiffin Calvert will play at Fremont St. Joe in the River Division of the Sandusky Bay Conference on Friday night.

          The Senecas have split their two games so far in losing (72-50) to Margaretta in their opener and then smoking Gibsonburg (65-34) in their first River Division game on Tuesday.

          Coach Jon Otterbacher thought they did a lot of good things against Margaretta.  “I think it's going pretty well so far.  We like to challenge ourselves in the non league games, so we always play Margaretta and they are a tough team with a lot of pieces coming back from last year's regional run,” he told Swankonsports.com on Wednesday night, “We knew what we were getting out of them and what to expect from them.  I thought for the most part handled their game plan pretty well.  We just couldn't make the good enough plays down the stretch and it's a basketball game of runs and they made one longer run than ours.”

          On Tuesday night, he says they got the tempo going fast, which is good for them.  “Tuesday night we hosted Gibsonburg, who has a nice team coming back as well.  They have size, they have guards, they have athleticism.  I think we limited them offensively, which got us out and running and we were able to push the tempo a little bit and work the ball around and get it inside.  Gavin Wagner had a monster game with 28 points and 19 rebounds,” said Otterbacher.

          Fremont St. Joe (0-3,0-1) was beaten like a soundly by Old Fort (93-26) in River Division action on Tuesday.  The Crimson Streaks have not scored more than 32 points in a game this year.

          However, Otterbacher knows better than to take a win for granted.  “It's a huge rivalry game regardless of what their record is or how they've been playing.  It’s a good old Catholic rivalry that goes back many, many years.  They're going to be amped and ready to go.  They've got a lot of new faces.  Coach (Jabryis) Heidelberg runs a lot of nice stuff and will have them ready to go,” he said.

Published 12/12/24

© Swankonsports.com

Your First Source for All Things Sports

“Out of Bounds” every Friday night 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Calvert Pounds St. Mary’s

          Tiffin Calvert exorcised some demons on Thursday evening when they smoked Sandusky St. Mary’s (11-1) in a division IV sectional final.

          Last week, the Panthers beat Calvert (4-2) knocking them out of sole possession of first place in the River Division of the Sandusky Conference.

          Coach Matt Coleman says this time they were ready to play.  “It was fun. They showed a little bit of grit.  They had a chance to play a team that we didn't come ready to play last Thursday at Heidelberg.  They showed some grit (Thursday),” he told Swankonsports.com after the win on Thursday night, “It was a 2-1 game going into the fifth.  We were able to be patient there in the fifth inning and then came up with some big hits and open it up with nine runs there in the fifth and sixth, so it was fun,”

          Coleman says they had better focus this time.  “There was plenty of motivation, should have been in that game, still in the league race at the top, but that’s high school baseball.  Credit to them they battled (Thursday).  They put some balls in play and had pressure all night on Blake (Coleman).  Last week, we weren't really that focused I didn't think.  The fun part about baseball is any team can win on any given day.  It was fun (Thursday) to just win and advance,” said Coleman.

          Calvert will play Norwalk St. Paul, a (2-1) winner over Old Fort Thursday, a district semifinal next week.

          Coleman says at this point you are just looking for wins.  “Talked to coach (Matt) Palm, the University of Findlay coach, and a family friend, and had the pleasure of coaching Nick last year.  He said there's never a bad win.  So, we were happy to continue on.  Win by one or win by 10 at this point in the season you're just looking to win and advance,” he said.

Published 5/17/24

© Swankonsports.com

“Out of Bounds” every Friday night 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Your First Source for Everything Sports

Calvert Makes it Happen; Back in First

          Tiffin Calvert finds itself back alone in first place in the River Division of the Sandusky Bay Conference after a dramatic (6-5) walk off win over Woodmore on Monday evening.

          Combined with a Lakota (6-5) upset of New Riegel and a Hopewell-Loudon (8-1) win over Old Fort, the Senecas (18-2,14-1), #2 in the Swankonsports.com baseball coaches poll in the small school division, has a one game lead on both New Riegel and Hopewell.  They are at New Riegel on Wednesday.

          Coach Matt Coleman says they got things started right in the bottom of the seventh.  “It was a fun night for sure.  There in the seventh inning we had the top of our lineup up coming through for the fourth time against a good pitcher that had been in the whole game.  Blake (Coleman) was able to find his way on board and then Harry Schultz, on senior day, found a way to get a hit to right field.  The next two guys hit hard balls, but just didn't get on, our three, four hitters,” he said.

          Then with two out, Coleman says they got a huge hit from Jacob Kidwell.  “Then our five hole hitter Jake Kidwell, who ended up getting the win in relief, plugged the gap to right center fence and it was kind of a crazy end of the game. Harry comes around scores from first base and Jacob advances to third on the play.  They tried to throw him out at third base and it goes into left field.  Their leftfielder was there to back it up, but he overthrew at home,” he told Swankonsports.com after the game, “It's kind of a game tying double but, turned into a little league home run to win the game.  We're thankful we showed a little resiliency.”

          Coleman says they have a lot of work left to do.  Beginning with New Riegel, who beat them (2-1) back on April 25.  “We still have three league games.  We have New Riegel, St. Mary's and Lakota.  New Riegel is the next task at hand.  They're a very good team and very good pitcher in Shane Jones.  They put the ball in play against us the last time.  They were able to scratch across a couple runs and Shane Jones is a formidable pitcher on the mound and they have a few others.  So, it's going to be a fun night on Wednesday out in New Riegel, we'll see what happens,” said Coleman.

Published 5/07/24

© Swankonsports.com

“Out of Bounds” every Friday night 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Your First Source for Everything Sports

Calvert Downs Hopewell

          Calvert beat a solid Hopewell-Loudon team (7-2) on Monday evening in play in the River Division of the Sandusky Bay Conference.

          They continue to trail New Riegel by a game in the conference standings.  The Blue Jackets beat Danbury-Lakeside (16-0) on Monday.

          Calvert coach Matt Coleman says they took advantage of some opportunities.  “It was a hard fought battle.  Cohen Sendelbach was on the mound for Hopewell and he’s an All- Ohio competitor and he was showing it (Monday) night.  We were able to put the ball in play and force some miscues and we're pretty opportunistic with our base running and hitting, so it was fun,” said Coleman.

          Coleman says they got some very defense and pitching too.  “We utilized some small ball (Monday).  They had five errors, I think.  We were fortunate enough to turn three double plays behind A.J. Shoemaker, sophomore on the mound, threw well in his own right.  So, it was a nice little coming out moment for him,” he said.

          Calvert (15-2,10-1), #2 in the Swankonsports.com baseball coaches poll in the small school division, plays Old Fort in a division game on Tuesday.

          Coleman says to win the title it’s going to take a lot of really good play.  “It's going to be a battle.  There are five, six teams at the top that are really, in my opinion, playing well.  We come back (Tuesday) against an Old Fort team, we have Lakota yet this week and then we get to go play Edison.  When you talk about our league race you play everybody twice.  So, I know Hopewell and New Riegel, they still have yet to play.  We get another shot at New Riegel as well.  (Tuesday) all focus goes to Old Fort.  They're a good enough team to beat anyone on any given day,” he told Swankonsports.com after the win, “We're one of those unique leagues where we we're going to play 18 league games.  So, I think we have 11 or 12 in the 11-1 maybe, 10-1.  So, yeah it's a little different than a couple of the other leagues with smaller numbers that maybe only have five, six, seven teams in it.  To have 10 and to play everybody twice it'll be interesting, but yeah you have got to be ready to play every day and one game at a time.”

Published 4/30/24

© Swankonsports.com

“Out of Bounds” every Friday night 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Your First Source for Everything Sports

Calvert Wants to Put the Ball Inside

          Tiffin Calvert faces Old Fort in a division IV district semifinal on Tuesday night at Liberty-Benton High School.

          Calvert has beaten the Stockaders two times in the last five years in tournament play.

          Coach Jon Otterbacher expects another good game.  “We played several times over the last couple years and they've all been great battles from the tip to the final horn,” he said.

          This season, Old Fort won both games in the River Division of the Sandusky Bay Conference, (56-39) January 6 at Calvert and (51-43) on February 16 at Old Fort.

          Otterbacher says the Stockaders are athletic and score points in bunches.  “They're extremely good at being good athletes, very dynamic scores, very good teammates with each other, they feed well to each other, good spacing, you name it, they can do it all,” he told Swankonsports.com, “The only thing they really don't have is a true big man inside.  So, our goal will be to try to take our post presence and control of the game that way.”

          Otterbacher says they want to throw the ball inside, but they can’t force things too much.  “We have got to work on making sure that our bigs handle their pressure and their traps when they get the ball down low and be able to pass out of it and take care of the ball when we are passing out of those situations,” said Otterbacher.

          Otterbacher adds that the game is likely to come down to the end between these guys like normally does.  “We need to do a better job of teaching the kids and put them in the right spots in the right positions in order to be successful throughout the whole game, all 32 minutes.  If we continue to work on those little things to get better, I think we'll be alright at the end,” he said.

Published 3/05/24

© Swankonsports.com

Don’t miss a special “Out of Bounds”

This Saturday night 10 PM to 11 PM

Your First Source for All Things Sports

Calvert Plays Gibsonburg Again

          Tiffin Calvert plays Gibsonburg, just like they did last week, this time in a division IV sectional final at Calvert on Friday night.

          Calvert (17-5) beat Gibsonburg (42-35) in a game in the River Division of the Sandusky Bay Conference on Friday night.

          Coach Jon Otterbacher says it was really kind of a vanilla game.  “Us going into the game last Friday, we were going to be as basic as we could offensively and defensively.  We didn't show them anything, but guess what, they didn't show us anything either.  Literally it was just five out pass and cut or we would have one guy post up and literally about it from both teams,” he told Swankonsports.com on Thursday night, “We knew going to get into coming into this Friday.  They had a big win (Wednesday) night against North Baltimore.  So, they'll be coming in hot and they had some good shooters (Wednesday) night, so like usual have to take away those three point shots.”

          Gibsonburg (14-9) smoked North Baltimore (69-34) in a semifinal on Wednesday night.

          Otterbacher says they are really an up and coming team.  “Our league has some good parity.  The last couple of years we've had to the tier system.  They're starting to get into that next level.  They graduate some seniors, but they got a lot of nice young players, guards that can shoot, guys that can get to the basket.  So, they're really close to being ready to take that next step and be at the top of the league,” he said.

          Calvert’s gym is tough for a lot of opponents.  Otterbacher likes being home, but wishes the tournament was structured differently.  “We love our small court.  Nobody likes coming and playing with the width of our court, it just messes with people's minds and stuff.  Honestly, I love the old school tradition of neutral sectional sites where you get four teams coming in and all fans are staying to watch both games.  I enjoy the home game for the way that the district is doing it, but I'm an old school man that like the traditional basketball tournaments and everything is on the road,” said Otterbacher.

Published 3/01/24

© Swankonsports.com

Don’t miss a special “Out of Bounds”

This Saturday night 10 PM to 11 PM

Your First Source for All Things Sports

Calvert to Meet Gibsonburg

          Tiffin Calvert plays its final regular season game on the road at Gibsonburg in play in the River Division of the Sandusky Bay Conference on Friday night.

          They share second place in the division with Old Fort.  Hopewell-Loudon won the league outright this year.

          The Stockaders beat them last Friday (51-43) to move into that tie.

          Coach Jon Otterbacher says they didn’t make the plays in the end and Old Fort did.  “I thought we had a pretty good game plan going to try to limit their opportunities and take away as many things as we could,” he told Swankonsports.com on Thursday night, “I thought we were right there for the most part and had some shots and some passes not go our way.  We were with it down to the end and just couldn't find the right groove right at the end and they capitalized on some mistakes we had.”

          Calvert (16-5,14-3) plays at Gibsonburg (13-8,10-7) on Friday night.  The Golden Bears beat Danbury-Lakeside (78-45) last Friday.

          Otterbacher says they have the kind of players to challenge them.  “They're very skilled, very dynamic. they have a lot of pieces and a lot of moving parts with some good perimeter play with their point guard and (Reece) Walby and some great athletes and well with (Aiden) Morant and (Camden) Mooney and then they've got the size inside as well with three big horses that know how to play, how to score and how to finish,” said Otterbacher.

Published 2/23/24

© Swankonsports.com

Don’t miss a special “Out of Bounds”

This Saturday night 10 PM to 11 PM

Your First Source for All Things Sports

Calvert Must Handle Old Fort Pressure

          Tiffin Calvert, a game back in the River Division of the Sandusky Bay Conference, plays at rival Old Fort on Friday night in a division game.

          Calvert tails Hopewell-Loudon by a game.

          They beat Danbury Lakeside (66-26) in a division game on Friday night.

          Coach Jon Otterbacher says they played some pretty good defense.  “We knew coming in that they like to push the ball and they have a couple of nice athletes on the perimeter that like to put the ball up.  I thought we did a pretty good job of limiting their opportunities and their transition baskets as well,” he said.

          Calvert (16-4,14-2), #5 in the Swankonsports.com boys’ basketball coaches poll in the small school division, is at Old Fort (15-5,13-3) on Friday night.  After losing division games to Hopewell-Loudon (38-36) and New Riegel (61-49), the Stockaders whipped Genoa (50-31) in non-conference play on Tuesday night.

          Otterbacher says Old Fort is really good.  “This team by far is one of the best teams that will play all year.  One through five they’re electric with the ball.  Carter DuBois has been a little under the weather lately and he was four for four from three in the first half (Tuesday) night.  I was able to go over and watch that game and they looked extremely strong against a very good Genoa team,” said Otterbacher.

          Old Fort won the first meeting between the two (56-39) on January 6.

          Otterbacher thinks they can return the favor if they reduce their turnovers on Friday night.  “The normal staples that we try to instill into the kids, which is taking care of the ball.  I think we had two turnovers in the third quarter when we battling back and they hit threes on consecutive possessions from it,” he told Swankonspots.com on Tuesday night, “If we take care of the ball and finish around the rim I think we'll be able to compete with them and it might be a little different outcome than before.”

Published 2/14/2024

© Swankonsports.com

“Out of Bounds” every Friday night 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Your First Source for Everything Sports

Calvert Has to Make Shots

          Tiffin Calvert, a game behind Hopewell-Loudon in the River Division of the Sandusky Bay Conference, plays host to New Riegel in a division game on Tuesday night.

          Last Friday, the Senecas (14-4,12-2) put together a very good second half and beat Woodmore (61-39) in a division game.

          Coach Jon Otterbacher says they made some outside shots in the second half.  “We came out in the second half and made them spread out their zone little bit and hit some outside shots and we're able to extend the lead.  The first half was a really tough one.  We weren’t able to solve their zone very well, so we needed to do better in that after halftime and came out and made some shots,” said Otterbacher.

          New Riegel (11-4,9-4), in fourth place in the River Division, beat Lakota (78-49) in a division game on Friday night.

          Otterbacher says they do a lot of good things.  “They do everything right.  They are very fundamental, a lot of skill, they have hardnosed kids that are going to outwork you for 32 minutes.  They’ve got some nice shooters, good post players, post presence inside, so they've got really about everything you could probably ask for in a small local team,” he said.

          Calvert beat New Riegel (58-48) on December 22.

          Otterbacher says they must handle the ball well and again they are going to have to make some outside shots.  “We're going to have to take care of the ball again.  I don't think we had very many turnovers in the first game.  They're probably trying to speed us up a little bit and make us make some rushed decisions,” he told Swankonsports.com on Monday evening, “What everybody's been doing lately is packing it inside, so our inside presence doesn't control the game, so we're going to have to make sure we make some outside shots to spread out the zone little bit.”

Published 2/06/2024

© Swankonsports.com

“Out of Bounds” every Friday night 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Your First Source for Everything Sports

Calvert Has to Keep Winning

          Tiffin Calvert, a game back in the River Division of the Sandusky Bay Conference, plays at Woodmore in a division game on Friday night.

          They kept themselves in contention with wins over Sandusky St. Mary’s (50-45) and Kansas Lakota (70-32) last week.

          Coach Jon Otterbacher says they did what they had to do.  “It was a really long busy week.  We played three games, Wednesday at St. Paul, a very good, dynamic team, Thursday home against St. Mary's and Harris kid coming back off of injuries for the majority of the season makes that team completely different and then we raced out in front Saturday night to an up and coming Lakota team and took them out of the game early,” he told Swankonsports.com on Wednesday night, “It was a busy week and a long week, but we did what we needed to do and got two league wins and continue to position itself where we need to be.”

          Calvert (13-4,11-2) plays at Woodmore (4-12,3-10) on Friday night.  The Wildcats picked up a win (78-71) over North Baltimore in a non-conference game on Tuesday night.

          Otterbacher says they are improving.  “They are pretty athletic, pretty dynamic type of players.  They have two upperclassmen athletes, that if they're on any other team in the league their first team all league players.  With their team continuing to grow and build they're catching a lot of people's eyes,” said Otterbacher.

          Calvert won the first game between the two (72-35) on December 19.

          Otterbacher says they are still in position to share in that league title.  “We're in a position that we need to be.  We know that we let the Hopewell one slip away a couple weeks ago, but we still have to go take care of business.  It is still our league title that we're searching for and if we play the way we should, we'll be right there where we need to be,” he said.

Published 2/01/2024

© Swankonsports.com

“Out of Bounds” every Friday night 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Your First Source for Everything Sports

Calvert Needs to Bounce Back

          Tiffin Calvert now trails Hopewell-Loudon and Old Fort by a game in the River Division of the Sandusky Bay Conference and they have division games with Sandusky St. Mary’s on Thursday and Lakota on Saturday.

          They fell a game off the pace when Hopewell-Loudon beat them (45-41) on Friday night in a big league game.

          Coach Jon Otterbacher says they didn’t make the plays down the stretch that they needed to make.  “It was a very well played game from tip to finish.  Two extremely skilled teams that know each other much too well… too well.  We had the lead down the stretch and didn't make the plays we needed to and we didn't finish very well.  It ended up they made a couple extra baskets that we didn't,” said Otterbacher.

          The Senecas scored only seven points in the fourth quarter.

          Calvert (10-4,9-2) beat St. Mary’s (66-36) and Lakota (53-25) the first time they played them, but Otterbacher feels they will be tougher games the second time around.  “St. Mary's is going to be a little bit different dynamic than we're the first time.  They have got the Harris kid back from concussion and he's playing extremely well leading them at points the last couple games,” he told Swankonsports.com on Monday night, “He's a very good athlete and they really missed him.  Then even Lakota coming in on Saturday, they are continuing to improve and the younger kids are getting experience and they're developing the way they should.”

          Calvert has three games this week because they play Norwalk St. Paul (8-3) in a non-conference game on Wednesday night.

          Otterbacher says that will be a different kind of challenge for them.  “They have a different type of team that we're used to.  They have a nice 6’6” technically he’s a post, but he's more of a perimeter threat, he's a shooter.  He shoots a lot of threes.  I went to the game Saturday night against Huron and he was 5-9 from three.  He's a very nice player and they have got athletes all around the court.  So, it'll be a different dynamic then we're used to,” said Otterbacher.

Published 1/23/2024

© Swankonsports.com

“Out of Bounds” every Friday night 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Your First Source for Everything Sports

Calvert Must Guard Perimeter

          It’s a big game in the River Division of the Sandusky Bay Conference on Friday night when Tiffin Calvert is at home for Hopewell-Loudon.

          Those two teams share the division lead with Old Fort.

          The Senecas (10-3,9-1) punished Fremont St. Joe (64-33) last Friday in a division game.  They added a (63-55) win over division II Clyde on Saturday night.

          That’s eight wins in their last nine games and coach Jon Otterbacher says they are playing very well.  “We continue to build and grow and get better and worked hard Friday night and had to come back Saturday against a very dynamic Clyde team, who likes to put the ball up and score a lot of points and we did our best to try to limit those guys,” he said.

          Hopewell-Loudon (10-1,9-1), #3 in the Swankonsports.com boys’ basketball coaches poll in the small school division, has lost only once this year and that was to Calvert (38-24) on December 8.

          Otterbacher says the Chieftains have talent, a lot of it, and experience, a lot of that too.  “They return all five starters from last year's district runner up team.  They do everything well,” he told Swankonsports.com on Monday night, “They have two big guys, one has a lot of skill and one more of a bruiser.  Then they have got three dynamic guards that can shoot and get to the basket.  They play well together as a team and defend extremely well as well.”

          Hopewell has scored at least 52 points in their other 10 games and Otterbacher says holding them down like that again is going to be next to impossible.

          He says they play great perimeter defense.  “It's definitely going to be a totally different type of game.  I think they were 0-18 from behind the arc and that will probably never happen again.  So, we have to make sure that we limit those opportunities and then just get every rebound we can,” she said.

Published 1/16/2024

© Swankonsports.com

“Out of Bounds” every Friday night 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Your First Source for Everything Sports

Calvert to Travel to St. Joe

          Tiffin Calvert, one of three leaders in the River Division of the Sandusky Bay Conference, will play at longtime rival Fremont St. Joe on Friday night in a division game.

          They beat Gibsonburg (59-52) on Tuesday night in the River Division.

          Coach Jon Otterbacher says it was a good start for the Senecas.  “I thought we came out pretty strong.  We were getting good looks and had a nice comfortable second quarter lead, got up 15 I believe and we decided that we wanted to allow Gibsonburg to hit nine threes in the game and that allowed them to get back in it,” he told Swankonsports.com on Wednesday night, “I think that's a very different dynamic team than they were in the last couple of years.  They have got a very nice point guard, young kid, freshman and they have got some nice size and some very good athletes.  They're an up and coming team for sure.”

          Calvert has been a pretty good defensive team this year.  Otterbacher says perimeter defense has not been a concern.  “Not for the most part, just a slow rotation here and there and then all of a sudden they had a kid hit four threes in the second quarter alone.  So, once they start getting going it's hard to get you to get off those shots,” he said.

          Calvert (8-3,8-1) is at Fremont St. Joe on Friday night.

          The Senecas beat St. Joe (65-37) at Calvert on December 5, however, Otterbacher says the Crimson Streaks are different on their home floor.  “It depends on which team's going to show up for St. Joe.  On the road, they don't play very well, but when they're at home on that court in that small gym they are a totally different team.  It's night and day compared to their road warriors.  They are good shooters, good energy, good teammates, they play extremely well,” said Otterbacher.

Published 1/11/2024

© Swankonsports.com

“Out of Bounds” every Friday night 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Your First Source for Everything Sports

Calvert Back at it

          After nearly two weeks without a game, Sandusky Bay Conference River Division leader Tiffin Calvert returns to action on Thursday night at Danbury-Lakeside.  They host rival Old Fort in another division game on Saturday.

          Coach Jon Otterbacher says this long hiatus has him a bit concerned.  “Yes, it does a lot.  A tough hard nosed league battle against New Riegel right before Christmas and we've been off for two weeks,” he told Swankonsports.com on Wednesday night, “You never know what we've done in the last two weeks is going to benefit the guys or if they're going to come out rusty from it.”

          When it comes to Danbury (1-7,0-6) on Thursday, Otterbacher says there won’t be any surprises.  “It's a true Keith Diebler program and system.  They're going to shoot a lot of threes and they're going to try to put as much pressure on you and try to outscore you,” he said.

          Calvert (6-2,6-0) is at home for Old Fort (6-2,5-1), #3 in the Swankonsports.com boys’ basketball coaches poll in the small school division, on Saturday night.

          The two schools shared the division title last season with Hopewell-Loudon.

          Otterbacher says Old Fort is good all over.  “They've got three to four starters back from last year's team that was a co-champion in the league with us.  A lot of nice extremely skilled and talented athletes that we're going to have to do our best to keep them on the perimeter and limit their jump shooting ability as well,” said Otterbacher.

Published 1/04/2024

© Swankonsports.com

“Out of Bounds” every Friday night 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Your First Source for Everything Sports

Calvert Plays Woodmore

          Tiffin Calvert, in a share of first place in the River Division of the Sandusky Bay Conference, will be at home for Woodmore in a division game on Tuesday night.

          Last week, Calvert (4-2,4-0), #5 in the first Swankonsports.com boys’ basketball poll in the small school division, remained unbeaten in the division with wins over Sandusky St. Mary’s (66-36) on Thursday and Kansas Lakota (53-25) on Saturday.

          Coach Jon Otterbacher says their focus was on defense.  “We tried to focus on our defensive end and make sure that we're taking away all the options that St. Mary’s and Lakota wanted to run in our boys responded to that especially after we had that tough loss against Margaretta,” he said.

          Margaretta had beaten them (60-55) in a non-league game the week before.

          He adds the player’s confidence ballons when they start making shots.  “They love seeing the ball go through the hoop and just the way they continue to work and build their all around game offensively and defensively,” he told Swankonsports.com on Monday night, “Just like playing together as a team and watching the ball go through like I said they just enjoy it that much more when it does.”

          Woodmore (0-4,0-4) lost (68-51) to Sandusky St. Mary’s last Saturday.

          Otterbacher says despite their record, the Wildcats have a couple of very athletic kids.  “A new addition to the league.  They are a very good, athletic team.  Looking at the record I'm surprised that they haven't won a game yet.  They have got two really good, dynamic players that can get to the rim and are very good shooters.  I think they're both all conference players and we're going to have to do our best to limit their opportunities,” said Otterbacher.

Published 12/19/23

© Swankonsports.com

“Out of Bounds” every Friday night 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Your First Source for Everything Sports

Calvert With Two River Division Tests

          Tiffin Calvert, one of the leaders in the River Division of the Sandusky Bay Conference, plays two away games in the division this week, at Sandusky St. Mary’s on Thursday and at Kansas Lakota on Saturday.

          Last Friday, they smothered a very good Hopewell-Loudon team (38-24) in a River Division game.

          Coach Jon Otterbacher says they did an outstanding job forcing the Chieftains to take shots they didn’t want to.  “Going into the weekend we didn't know how we would perform.  Hopewell-Loudon has everybody back, all five starters, and they have nice size, a lot of skill, a lot of guards, a lot of athletic ability,” he told SwankonSports.com on Monday night, “Going in there we were determined to play good solid defense and make them be disciplined and take shots that they're not accustomed to doing.  I thought our defensive scheme was great that night.”

          They lost (60-55) to Margaretta on Saturday night brake a long home winning streak.

          Calvert (2-2,2-0) plays at St. Mary’s (1-2,1-1) on Thursday night.  The Panthers smoked Fremont St. Joe (66-48) last Friday.

          Otterbacher says the Panthers have very good guard play.  “This is a completely different team than they had last year.  A lot of guard play, good shooters, I think they hit 13 threes against Fremont St. Joe.  They've got a nice little guard crew of three or four guards they just rotate in and out and they have got a couple big kids that don't really score inside, but they're going to be able to protect the basket and keep you from getting easy shots,” he said.

          When it comes to Lakota (1-2,1-1), Otterbacher says he expects to see a lot of zone from the Raiders.  “We honestly haven't looked at them yet.  I know that their numbers are low, like ours, and they were planning on relying on some freshmen and I know one of them is out right now.  So, they will have some athleticism, but realistically I believe they'll play zone like they did last couple years against us.  So, we’ll have to have our zone offense ready and make sure hitting the right spots to find easy shots,” said Otterbacher.

Published 12/12/23

© Swankonsports.com

“Out of Bounds” every Friday night 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Your First Source for Everything Sports

Calvert Travels to O-G

          Some people might call Tiffin Calvert crazy, but maybe they told Buster Douglas the same things.

          The Senecas hope to take down Ottawa-Glandorf and Colin White in their own palace as they play the Titans at O-G on Friday night.

          Coach Jon Otterbacher they just have to outwork them and remain patient.  “We've been planning and preparing for this for a while knowing the fact that we're playing Ottawa-Glandorf, one of the best teams in the state regardless of divisions.  We've been under the impression and understanding skill wise that they might be a little bit more athletic and skilled than us, but we're going to have to try to outwork them and just be more patient than them and take what we can,” said Otterbacher.

          No matter what happens Friday it’s unlikely they anyone is going to be knocked out.

          Otterbacher knows they have to play with confidence because if they don’t the game is over before it starts.  “We actually talked about it after practice (Thursday) night in our team meeting, our huddle, and reminded them that this is one of those games that you guys are going to remember forever.  We talked to them about the last the last time we had a game like this was when we picked up Western Reserve two years ago.  The atmosphere of that game was unbelievable.  We're hoping to replicate it again (Friday) night,” he said.

          Colin White is a division I college basketball player.  He’s a 6’7”, I’m going to play anywhere because I can kind of guy.  Otterbacher says they have to give the Titans a number of different looks.  “He's such a dynamic player, such a gifted athlete, that he is going to draw so much attention, especially in our game and throughout the season.  We're going to try to do some different things and throw some different wrinkles at him, but we know that he's still going to end up getting some of his if not all of his,” he told Swankonsports.com on Thursday night, “It's really a two headed monster too.  They have another nice guard/post who can shoot the ball probably actually better than Colin White so it's going to be hard to stop both of them.”

Published 11/30/23

© Swankonsports.com

Our scoreboard updated every five minutes

On Friday night at www.swankonsportshosting247.com

Calvert Should be Good

          Tiffin Calvert, who shared the title in the River Division of the Sandusky Bay Conference last season, will be big and experienced this year and that is usually a good thing.

          Coach Jon Otterbacher says they have a lot of experience on the roster.  “We're going to return four starters and six letter winners, so we're going to have plenty of depth that's played a lot of games and a lot of minutes last year,” he said.

          Otterbacher says they have shown the improvement he wanted to see during the preseason this month.  “Our first scrimmage we were a little rough.  The other two teams had a couple scrimmages previously and then we played really well this weekend,” he told Swankonsports.com on Monday night, “It's just getting back on the court and getting the familiarity back with each other and we just continue to build and get better and work hard together.”

          Calvert opens the season in a very tough place as they are at Ottawa-Glandorf, last season’s division III state runner up with Ohio State recruit Colin White.  Their first River Division game is December 5 at home against Fremont St. Joe.

          Otterbacher says he believes they are going to strong on the defensive end.  “I would say teamwork, defense and rebounding.  We're going to be pretty big for especially for small school with two 6’3” kids and two 6’5” kids.  So, we'll have plenty of length in order to slow the other team down and hopefully any missed shot we get either offensively or defensively,” said Otterbacher.

Published 11/21/23

© Swankonsports.com

“Out of Bounds” every Friday night 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Your First Source for Everything Sports

Calvert Meets Berlin Hiland in Semis

          Tiffin Calvert is making a return visit to the state final four as Thursday they face Berlin Hiland in the division IV state semifinals at Canal Park in Akron.

          Calvert (29-2) is the outright champion of the River Division of the Sandusky Bay Conference and sectional, district and regional champions for the second straight year.

          They beat Warren JFK (4-2) in a regional final last Friday.

          Coach Matt Coleman says they very happy to be in Akron, but that was something they earmarked as a goal before the season started.  “We're excited to be playing.  We're enthused, we obviously we were here last year and had a lot of expectations throughout the year, so we're ready to go.  We know we're facing a formidable opponent in Berlin Hiland, but our guys, I trust they'll leave it on the field and are prepared to come out and compete,” he said.

          Calvert lost (8-1) to Lincolnview in last year’s state semis and Coleman says they remember that feeling and don’t want to repeat it.  “I would say it left a little taste in our mouth, obviously not the taste we wanted, but at the end of the day we left it on the field last year.  We're just like I said ready to compete and I think we're not going to be overwhelmed, we're not going to be satisfied, we have some things to prove.  We had goals when the season was set just trust in the process, not getting caught up in results, but at the end of the day we have some things we want to accomplish,” said Coleman.

          Hiland (28-1) blanked White Oak (8-0) in their regional final.

          Coleman says the Hawks are a tremendous team, but he believes in his kids and what they can do.  “They're a disciplined team, obviously well coached.  They have the coach of the year and the player of the year in Nolan Yoder.  He's done it both at shortstop and pitching on the mound.  They also have another pitcher who brings it close to 90.  There are actually four Yoders on the team in the starting lineup and a couple Coblentzs,” he told Swankonsports.com on Wednesday, “So, they just play the game the right way.  They're tough at bats one through nine.  I got to watch them a little bit on film and I’m impressed with what I'm seeing, but I like what we have too.  So, it should make for an exciting game.”

Published 6/08/23

© Swankonsports.com

Your First Source For All Things Sports

“Out of Bounds” every Friday From 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Calvert Takes on Gibsonburg in Tourney Opener

          Tiffin Calvert, the tri-champion of the River Division of the Sandusky Bay Conference, plays Gibsonburg, also of the River Division, on Wednesday night in a division IV sectional semifinal at Fostoria High School.

          The Senecas shared the title with Old Fort and Hopewell-Loudon.

          Calvert got their piece by beating Danbury-Lakeside (55-28) last Friday.

          Coach Jon Otterbacher says they did a very good job on defense and on the boards.  “I thought we did a great job defensively limiting their opportunities in transition and even in the half court we limited them to typically one shot and most of their shots were contested, so we're able to get out and play good physical defense,” he told Swankonsports.com on Tuesday evening.

          Calvert (18-4) beat Gibsonburg (3-19) twice during the regular season, with wins at home (49-34) on December 6 and on the road (46-24) on January 17.

          However, Otterbacher says they are going to see a different defensive strategy from the Golden Bears this time.  “They've got some nice young athletes, some length with 6’3”, 6’4”, 6’5” kids and they're going to play some good solid defense.  They have switched to a different type of zone, a 3-2 zone, and they've been causing some teams some problems and having success with it,” said Otterbacher.

          Otterbacher says they don’t want to play around here.  He says they want to erase all doubt early in the game.  “We talk about that a lot in practice and at the beginning of games about coming out strong and being prepared for anything that a team's going to throw at you.  If you give teams that are lower on the poles any confidence and that confidence continues to grow and it turns into a grind fight that you're going to have to deal with,” he said.

Published 2/22/23

© Swankonsports.com

There will be a special “Out of Bounds”

Saturday from 10 to 11 PM

First Source for All Things Sports

Calvert Has to Keep Winning

          Tiffin Calvert is now back into a share of first place in the River Division of the Sandusky Bay Conference and they play at New Riegel on Friday night in a division game.

          In fact, their last three games are on the road as they visit Fremont St. Joe and Danbury Lakeside next week, also in division games.

          Coach Jon Otterbacher says they have to keep their nose to the grindstone.  “We know that any night, any team is able to knock anybody off in the league.  We have got New Riegel Friday night, who's very capable and very athletic and skilled and they're going to be able to push us to the test, just like last time,” said Otterbacher.

          In their first meeting with New Riegel, Calvert won (46-33) on January 7.

          However, Otterbacher says that game was must more competitive, especially early in the game.  “They actually got up to a double digit lead in the first quarter and we were to get rid of some of the little miscues and tighten our defense up and we're able to come back and win,” he said.

          Otterbacher says Friday night they have to be smart in transition and be solid on defense.  “We need to just continue to play good defense and get out and run when we have the opportunities too,” he told Swankonsports.com on Thursday night, “If we take away the things they like to do, which is their inside game with Reese Goshe and take away Matthew Flores on the perimeter, I think we'll be able to compete and have a chance to win that one.”

Published 2/10/23

© Swankonsports.com

Score updates every 5 minutes on Friday and Saturday night

On our scoreboard at

https://www.swankonsportshosting247.com

Calvert Trying to Clean Things up

          Tiffin Calvert, now a game behind Hopewell-Loudon in the standings of the River Division of the Sandusky Bay Conference, plays at home against Norwalk St. Paul on Wednesday in non-conference play and then at Kansas Lakota in a division game on Friday.

          Hopewell-Loudon beat them (50-40) last Friday and coach Jon Otterbacher says they just didn’t execute very well.  “I don't think we did a very good job of executing offensively or defensively.  I think we were out of sync a little bit,” he told Swankonsports.com on Tuesday evening, “We worked on some things to improve on those and limit our miscues and limit the opportunities and saw some clips where we know we can do better and we'll get better for next time.”

          Otterbacher says they have start peaking here in February and he says it’s about fine tuning things.  “Right now, we've got everything we want to run for the most part.  We're just trying to fine tune it and tweak things a little bit here and there, but we have got to try and get better at the little things every practice,” he said.

          Calvert hosts Norwalk St. Paul (7-8) of the Firelands Conference on Wednesday night.

          Otterbacher says the Flyers have length and they have guys that can shoot it too.  “They're very athletic.  I know they've lost a couple in a row but, they have some really nice shooters and some length and size.  So, it's going to be a different type of team than we've seen in a while.  They're very fundamental and very skilled it's going to be one of the better games we'll have all year,” said Otterbacher.

          Calvert (13-4,10-2) plays at Lakota (2-14,2-10) on Friday night.  The Raiders have struggled quite a bit lately.  They have scored less than 20 points in game in three of their last four games.

          Otterbacher says they can’t take a win for granted.  “Coach (Adam) Gnepper does a good job over there with those guys and he's got them working hard and continuing to try to improve.  I haven't watched any film on them.  I'll watch some of that later this week, but they're nice kids and they've got some nice shooters, so if they can get those shooters on spots they are going to be a tough team to handle,” said Otterbacher.

Published 2/01/23

© Swankonsports.com

“Out of Bounds” after Friday night games 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” each week 10 AM to 1 PM

We are Your First Source for Everything Sports

Calvert in Battle for First Place

          Tiffin Calvert plays at Hopewell-Loudon, they share the lead in the River Division of the Sandusky Bay Conference heading into the showdown on Thursday night.

          Calvert coach Jon Otterbacher says the Chieftains have everything you would want in a basketball team.  “They've got a mix of everything.  They have good shooters, they have nice size, they have athleticism and they're deep.  They can do any type of game, any style of game that they need to do to be successful,” he said.

          Calvert won the first meeting (53-48) on December 15.

          Otterbacher knows to expect some different strategy this time.  “It's a huge chess match between both teams.  (The players) are friends with each other, so they know all their moves,” he told Swankonsports.com on Monday night, “Coach (Roger) Jury and I go way back, so we know each other sets and it's just going to be a hard fought battle that we're going to see who adjusts better to the style of game that is being played.”

          Calvert (12-3,9-1) is at Hopewell-Loudon (11-3,9-1) on Thursday night.  The Chieftains beat Gibsonburg (56-23) in a division game played on Friday night.  They have won seven of eight since losing to Calvert.

          To win this one, Otterbacher says they have to play solid transition defense.  “The first thing is limit their opportunities in transition.  They like to get up and down the court a little bit more than we do and they like to shoot the three a little bit more than us, so we have got to make sure that we get back and contain their perimeter play,” said Otterbacher.

Published 1/24/23

© Swankonsports.com

“Out of Bounds” after Friday night games 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” each week 10 AM to 1 PM

We are Your First Source for Everything Sports

Calvert Faces Similar Teams in Danbury and Old Fort

          Tiffin Calvert, a co-leader in the River Division of the Sandusky Bay Conference, plays at home against Danbury-Lakeside on Tuesday and Old Fort on Friday in division games.

          They share first place with the Stockaders and Hopewell-Loudon.

          The Senecas, who had to remake themselves after making it to the regional final last season, have done just that and have won eight of their last nine.

          Coach Jon Otterbacher says they play with intensity and they understand their roles.  “Our kids play hard and they're continuing to improve.  We were pretty inexperienced coming into the year, so we're still trying to find our niche in where we put our roles in for the team.  They just continue to gel and get better and try to outwork other people,” said Otterbacher.

          Otterbacher says they guys that have embraced their roles this season.  “We definitely have our defensive standouts, we definitely have our guys that need to score and rebound.  I think they all are starting to grasp the spots that they fill and what we need them to do,” he said.

          Tiffin Calvert (8-3,5-1) plays at home against Danbury-Lakeside (6-5,4-3) on Tuesday night.  The Lakers have won three in row, including a (72-53) win over Sandusky St. Mary’s last Thursday in a River Division game.

          Otterbacher says the Lakers want to run almost at all costs.  “Their very dynamic.  They've got two 6’5” kids that can really score around the perimeter and inside.  You know how (coach Keith) Diebler likes to play that fast up tempo basketball.  They are going to force that issue the whole game,” he told Swankonsports.com on Monday night, “They are going to give up easy shots on one end just so they can try to outscore you at the other end.  The two big kids, whether on the perimeter or inside, can shoot it and score it at any time.”

          Old Fort (8-2,6-1) will come to Calvert for the second meeting this year between the rivals.  The Stockaders won the first matchup (57-38) on December 2.

          Otterbacher says they need to take advantage of easy opportunities in the fast break and make Old Fort defend the for extended periods in the half court.  “We have to take advantage of the opportunities of pushing the ball and scoring and finding some easy baskets.  I think we need to once we push the ball and we don't have anything pull back out and make them play some extended possessions of defense because they're set very similar to Danbury where they're going to be up and down and they like the pace to be high and force us to play quick ill advice shots, so we have to limit those mistakes,” said Otterbacher.

Published 1/10/23

© Swankonsports.com

“Out of Bounds” after Friday night games 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” each week 10 AM to 1 PM

We are Your First Source for Everything Sports

Calvert Plays Antwerp for Regional Title

          Tiffin Calvert is one step away from the state tournament.  They play Antwerp in a regional final in division IV on Friday night at the Stroh Center and Bowling Green State University.

          It has been a tremendous season for the Senecas and coach Jon Otterbacher says they have put in all of the hard work for a chance to play in games like Friday night.  “This is we put all of our time and effort in the year to focus on to get to the end of the run.  The regional final is where we want to get, so we can get to the final four.  Of course, it’s the best things that everybody is shooting for right now,” he said.

          Calvert (26-0) beat Ottoville (59-45) on Tuesday night in the first semifinal. Antwerp smothered Marion Local (41-23) in the second semi, allowing only two points the fourth quarter.

          Otterbacher says the Archers (24-2) have size and shooting.  “They are very well coached, very athletic, they have a nice big man inside, who can shoot the three and pound you inside.  You have two other scorers, both lefties, that can take you off the dribble and on the three point line,” he told Swankonsports.com on Thursday, “They have a three headed monster that we have to be able to slow down and fully contain and keep them off the boards as well since they go 6’7”, 6’3”.”

          Jagger Landers, a 6’7” senior, was a force on both ends of the floor on Tuesday night.  Otterbacher they have try and limit his touches.  “I don’t know if you can truly keep the ball out of his hands.  It’s more changing things up on him as much as we can and give hm different looks.  When he touches the ball good things are going to happen.  If you saw the game Tuesday night, he is an excellent passer as well.  He is just an all around great player,” said Otterbacher.

          Sophomore Landon Brewer was a Archers leading scorer on Tuesday night with 14 points. 

          Calvert can score the ball, but they have done it with defense this year.

          Otterbacher says that has to be the case again on Friday night.  “That is our main goal for the most part is to be able to defend and make other teams uncomfortable and take things they are fluid in away.  I think we will try and do the best we can in taking those things away from them and limit their opportunities.  Usually, we can compete and stay in games that way,” he said.

Published 3/11/22

© Swankonsports.com

On Friday and Saturday night log onto our scoreboard

At www.swankonsportshosting247.com

For constant score updates

Unbeaten Calvert Knocks off Ottoville

          Tiffin Calvert took the lead by shutting out Ottoville over the last 5:25 of the first quarter, never trailed again, and went to beat the Big Green (59-45) in regional semifinal in division IV on Tuesday night at the Stroh Center at Bowling Green State University.

          The unbeaten Senecas (26-0) return Friday night to play Antwerp for a regional title and state tournament berth.  The Archers (24-2) beat Marion Local (41-23) in the second semi Tuesday night.

          Two years ago, Calvert lost a two point game in a regional semi at BG (44-42) to Rockford Parkway.

          Coach Jon Otterbacher says they again played pretty good defense and that led to a better feeling after the final buzzer.  “We were here two years ago, and it is a different kind of feeling walking off the floor this time.  We are excited to see what the next opponent is going to bring us.  I thought Ottoville did a great job of using their quickness and athleticism.  We have seen one or two quick guards, but we haven’t been able to see the depth that they have.  The focus and energy that they bring with the ball every time down the court.  We had to be on our “A” game on defense the whole time, at times I don’t know if we were there, but we did enough to keep the lead and not let them gat back in it,” he told Swankonsports.com after the game, “Hats off to them.  They played a great game.  The have been on a hot streak.  They probably should have lost their first tournament game.  Once you do that you are on barrowed time.  They started hitting shots and looked pretty good the last couple of weeks and they looked extremely good (Tuesday).”

          Calvert senior point guard Garrett Spaun, a first team all district selection and four year varsity letterman, says got off to a slow start, but they never lost the belief that they were going to win.  “That first quarter we got off to a sluggish start.  I think they had more intensity than us and that is not acceptable standard for Calvert Seneca basketball, but we rallied together.  We relied on each other and we all owned up to it.  We were all very accountable towards that.  We just came together, believed in each other, and came out on top,” said Spaun.

          Ottoville (17-10) sees its season end in the regional semis for the second time in three years, but coach Keith Utendorf says he is very proud of his players and what they have done this year.  “These seniors have had their own degree of success.  The last five years our program has been filled.  We have won 90 some games over the last five years.  With golf and soccer, we have been to regionals or state in all three of our main sports in fall and winter now.  They have had their own degree of success and I am really proud of them because that success breads success.  We are in a really good spot and a really good place with really good kids,” said Utendorf.

          Ottoville scored the first four points of the game, but Calvert tied and then tool the lead for good (7-4) on Blake Ronski’s old fashion three point play with 3:13 left in the first quarter and never trailed again.

          However, Ottoville wouldn’t go away.  Calvert built a (19-5) second quarter lead after a Nolan Beeker goal with 4:17 to play in the quarter, but the Big Green cut to four (20-16) with :39 left in half on a Kellen Schlabaum basket.  Again, in the third quarter Calvert got up nine (35-36) after a Spaun goal with 2:27 left in the quarter, but Ottoville go down to six (35-29) after a free throw from William Miller.  It was again an eight point margin at (44-36) after a Miller goal with 5:14 left, but the Senecas would outscore Ottoville (15-9) down the stretch and put it away.

          Otterbacher says they responded to every challenge.  “We go through games situations like that.  We practice being down late in a game or being up late in a game.  We know how to handle those situations.  We are comfortable in any situation that we are put in.  We know how to work the clock if we need to or attack downhill at the basket if we need to,” he said.

          Ronski paced the Senecas with 23 points on the night.  Spaun added 17 and Beecher had 13 for the winners. Calvert shot the pretty well too, making 49 percent of its field goals (22-45) and 72 percent of its free throws (13-18) on the night.

          Otterbacher says his team is unselfish and they don’t care who gets the credit for wins.  “We talk all of the time about how much these guys, our team, like each other.  They spend hours on end outside of school, outside of sports, doing things together.  It shows they have been playing basketball together for six, eight years.  They know where everybody is supposed to be and what everybody is supposed to be able to do.  Over the last five or six weeks we have had five different people lead us in scoring.  That works out when we have other guys that can step up.  Garrett started out a little slow he was a little lose with the ball and Blake stepped up.  He scored 10 points in our two district games and he comes in and scores 23 (Tuesday).  It didn’t matter that he scored 10 points, we got the two wins.  They don’t care if we go 1-0 and march on,” said Otterbacher.

          Miller led Ottoville with 22 points.

Published 3/08/22

© Swankonsports.com

Your First Source For All Things Sports

“Out of Bounds” every Friday From 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Calvert Meets Red Hot Ottoville

          Tiffin Calvert plays Ottoville on Tuesday night in division IV regional semifinal at the Stroh Center at Bowling Green State University.

          Antwerp (24-1) meets Marion Local (22-4) in second semifinal on Tuesday night.  The winners return Friday at 7 PM to determine who qualifies for the state tournament.

          Ottoville (17-9) beat Columbus Grove (64-45) in a district final played last Friday at Elida High School.

          Calvert coach Jon Otterbacher says this is team that has been playing very well.  “Their record isn’t anything that is going to wow you.  The competition they play is pretty impressive.  It is probably one of the strongest strength of schedules that we play all year, so their losses are really good losses,” he told Swankonsports.com on Monday night, “They are playing extremely well.  They are all a bunch of guards and they are all very dynamic that can shoot and attack the basket.  We have to have our best defensive “A” game to have a chance to stop them.”

          Otterbacher says they run a lot of their offense from the perimeter, but they can still get to the basket.  “They are four guards and one post, but their post doesn’t actually post up, so they are five out.  They run sets out of their five out.  A lot of flair screens, a lot of double downs and if you over play one thing they will slip for a layup and if over help on the drive they get wide open threes.  They have guys that hitting threes at am incredible rate right now,” said Otterbacher.

          The Calvert coach says they have played points guards like they will see Tuesday, but really not a team like this.  “When we played Tusky Central Catholic their point guard was really dynamic and had the ball in his hands a lot like their point guard will.  He averages about 20 points a game, so he really controls the flow of their team.  I don’t know if we have seen five guards that can handle it and shoot it like them,” he said.

          Otterbacher says it will be difficult defensive assignment because all of the Ottoville guards can make plays.  “The rest of them can handle it too and shoot, so it is going to play everybody straight up and make sure we don’t give them any easy opportunities and take away the driving lanes,” said Ottterbacher.

          On defense, Otterbacher says the Big Green is very aggressive and will be all over the floor.  “They are very scrappy, very high energy, they like to play the passing lanes.  They did an amazing job of fronting the post.  When the post gets it, it almost like a collapse defense where everybody is just on the ball trying to steal the ball away,” he said.

          At home, Calvert plays in a very small gym, and the Stroh Center is an arena.  Otterbacher says that shouldn’t bother them.  “We were there a couple of years ago, so some the kids have got that experience will be able to handle that.  We actually practiced at Heidelberg (Sunday).  We told them that there are going to be multiple three point lines and the last one is definitely our of your range, so make sure you scoot up to where ours in going to be.  Just the fact that everything is going to be so open and so much space it is gong to be different visually and physiologically for them,” said Otterbacher.

Published 3/08/22

© Swankonsports.com

Your First Source For All Things Sports

“Out of Bounds” every Friday From 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Third go Around for Calvert and Old Fort

          Unbeaten Tiffin Calvert plays Old Fort for the third time this season, this time in the division IV district final on Friday night at Liberty-Benton High School.

          Calvert (24-0) advanced by downing Carey (55-36) on Tuesday in a semifinal.

          Coach Jon Otterbacher says they were able to keep Carey from getting to the rim.  “They had been playing extremely well lately.  They lost a couple of games early and then came back and beat Mohawk and Upper Sandusky later in the season.  Those were two quality wins.  They took Bluffton to a last second shot.  We knew the capability of how good they can be.  We wanted to limit their strengths, which were being athletic and getting to the basket.  We wanted to limit that as much as we could and I thought we did a pretty good job of that,” said Otterbacher.

          Old Fort (20-4) beat Gibsonburg (54-38) on Tuesday night as Collin Nutter had 18 points.

          Calvert won both of the regular season games, winning (50-47) way back in December 3 and then (65-46) on January 18.

          Otterbacher says they know what Old Fort does, including some need additions to their play list.  “We got lucky the first time, out all-league, all-district point guard hit a buzzer beater and beat them by three and then went up to their place later on in the season in the middle of January and played a tough, competitive game and ended up pulling away down the stretch hitting free throws,” he told Swankonsports.com on Wednesday night, “We are going to know everything they do and they know everything we do.  I did see a couple of wrinkles they threw in against Gibsonburg.  Some offensive sets to get Collin Nutter some scores.  Other than that they are doing the same stuff they have the last couple of years.”

          Nutter is the leading scorer in the River Division this year and Otterbacher says they can’t allow him to get the ball deep.  “Yeah, it’s our goal to push them off the block as much as we can.  We know we are undersized against them, but we are going to do our best to limit his easy touches and opportunities around the rim,” said Otterbacher.

          Calvert, of course, is led by point Garrett Spaun and Otterbacher says they can give the Stockaders some problems too.  “We have some dynamic guards and our guard play is usually what leads us.  It opens up our post inside when we get our guards going.  If we can get some shots to fall early on, I think we will be okay,” he said,

Published 3/03/22

© Swankonsports.com

Your First Source For All Things Sports

There will be a special Saturday night edition of

“Out of Bounds” this week 10 PM to 11 PM

To cover tournament basketball

Calvert Has to Handle Pressure

          It’s a rematch of last year’s district final as Tiffin Calvert faces Carey, this time in a division IV district semifinal at Liberty-Benton High School on Friday night.

          Carey won last year, so the Senecas will be out for some revenge this week.

          The winner will meet either Old Fort or Gibsonburg in Friday night’s district final.

          Calver coach Jon Otterbacher says this is an outstanding district.  “This is the deepest group of teams that we have had in the last couple of years that I have been the Northwest District, so it’s going to be tough for sure,” said Otterbacher.

          Calvert (23-0) takes on Carey (16-8) in a semifinal on Tuesday.  Calvert beat North Baltimore (66-47) and Carey rallied to beat Hopewell-Loudon (60-54) to win sectional titles last Friday.

          Otterbacher says the Blue Devils play in your face defense.  “They are very athletic, very skilled, and just their effort and intensity on defense makes you uncomfortable and pushes you away from the basket so much you are going to have to work for everything you get,” he said.

          Carey won a state football title in December, but Otterbacher feels they are ready for the Blue Devils physical play.  “We work on a lot one on one drills and put a lot of pressure on so as the year progresses we will be able to handle those situations.  Everybody that handles the ball should be able to control their emotions and control the pressure to be able to withstand it.” he said.

          Otterbacher says they are going need to handle Carey’s pressure without a bunch of turnovers and be able to compete in the paint.  “We’ve talked a little bit about handing their pressure and being able to run sets and run the fast break as well as we can, getting out on their shooters,” he told Swankonsports.com on Sunday evening, “Then making sure their big guys inside whether it is Vallejo and Kemerley if he is back or not keep them away from the basket because they are both very physical and very skilled.  They will score over the top of us if we don’t play defense early.”

Published 2/28/22

© Swankonsports.com

Your First Source For All Things Sports

There will be a special Saturday night edition of

“Out of Bounds” this week 10 PM to 11 PM

To cover tournament basketball

Calvert Counting on Defense

          Tiffin Calvert, the outright champion of the River Division of the Sandusky Bay Conference, meets North Baltimore on Friday night in a division IV sectional final at Fostoria High School.

          Last Saturday, in a battle of unbeatens, they downed Western Reserve (50-41) and coach Jon Otterbcher says that gave them an additional boost in confidence heading into the postseason.  “It was definitely a bonus to be able to get that game in and play a great program like Chris Sheldon and Western Reserve,” he told Swankonsports.com on Wednesday night, “The intensity and the defensive pressure that they put on us is definitely something we can build off for the future and the tournament run.”

          Calvert (22-0), #2 in the final Swankonsports.com boys’ basketball coaches poll in the small school division, takes on North Baltimore (6-15) on Friday night.  The Fighting Tigers beat Fremont St. Joe (79-57) on Tuesday in a semifinal game.

          Otterbacher says North Baltimore showed some perimeter shooting to say the least.  “This is the first time that I have seen then live.  We went over there to Fostoria (Tuesday) night and they preceded top hit 11 of 15 threes in the first half, so it decently caught our attention,” he said.

          Otterbacher says they are going to need to get close outs.  “That is what we worked on (Wednesday) and (Thursday) too.  It wasn’t just one kid hitting them it was the starting five and they have some kids coming off the bench that hit a couple,” said Otterbacher.

          Defense has been the cornerstone for the Senecas this year and Otterbacher says they are counting on that Friday night.  “We take pride on the defensive end.  I think that quickness to stay in front and contest those shots, so hopefully we will be able to contain their easy, wide open threes,” he said.

Published 2/24/22

© Swankonsports.com

Your First Source For All Things Sports

There will be a special Saturday night edition of

“Out of Bounds” this week 10 PM to 11 PM

To cover tournament basketball

Calvert Excited to Play Western

          Tiffin Calvert is the outright champion of the River Division of the Sandusky Bay Conference this year and they will meet Western Reserve, the champ of the Firelands Conference, in a non-league game on Saturday evening.

          It’s varsity only with a tip at 5 PM outside of Wakeman.

          Calvert secured an outright title last week with a (61-44) win over New Riegel.

          Coach Jon Otterbacker likes the ring to it.  “Coming into the season we wanted to be at the top if not the top team in the league and we have shown that day in and day out.  Friday night is going to be a tough battle against a very improved, very skilled, and a hard working Danbury team,” he said.

          Danbury-Lakeside (10-11,6-9) will visit on Friday for a division game.

          The Lakers have four of their last five, including (77-47) over Fremont St. Joe in a division game on Tuesday night.

          Otterbacher says they can score the ball.  "They are very athletic.  They know how to put the ball in the hole.  They have some nice scorers.  They have some length inside.  They are definitely a tough out,” he said.

          Calvert (20-0), #3 in the Swankonsports.com boys’ basketball coaches poll in the small school division, locks horns with Western Reserve (19-0), #2 in the poll, on Saturday.

          Otterbacher says the Roughriders play great defense.  “We are definitely looking forward to that matchup.  (Coach) Chris (Sheldon) and I go back 20, 25 years.  The team is very well coached.  They are extremely hard working,” he told Swankonsports.com on Tuesday night, “We had a semi practice together early on in the season.  Loved the experience against them.  It might be the best defensive team we have played all year.”

          Otterbacher says they are going to have to be fundamental in order to score.  “We have to be sound and fundamental with the ball and make good cuts and make good screens and try and get each other open.  We have to get as many ball reversals as we can.  That allows us to get openings and have some open shots and take it to the hole,” said Otterbacher.

Published 2/16/22

© Swankonsports.com

Your First Source For All Things Sports

There will be a special Saturday night edition of

“Out of Bounds” this week 10 PM to 11 PM

To cover tournament basketball

Calvert Looks for Outright Title

          It has been a little bit of a wait due to the weather, but Tiffin Calvert gets a chance to claim an outright title in the River Division of the Sandusky Bay Conference with a win at home Friday night against rival New Riegel.

          They host Lakota in another division game on Saturday.

          On a good note the weather seems to be headed toward spring with above average temperatures and no snow in the 10 day forecast.

          Coach Jon Otterbacher says they are eager to grab that big prize.  He says it is some thing they have wanted for a longtime.  “We have been working on this for four, five years.  The kids have been putting a lot of time in the gym.  We haven’t played in 10 days.  So, they have been pretty anxious to get back on the court and see what they can do,” said Otterbacher.

          Calvert (18-0,13-0), #3 in the Swankonsports.com boys’ basketball coaches poll in the small school division, entertains New Riegel (12-6,9-5) on Friday night.  The Blue Jackets have won their last three, including wins Sunday (39-31) over Hopewell-Loudon and (55-44) on Tuesday over Lakota in Rive Division games.

          Otterbacher says they will try and take away what the Senecas prefer to do.  “They are very athletic, fundamental, well coached.  They are going to try and out smart us, out think us, and take away the good things that we do and try to exploit some of our lapses on defense,” he said.

          In the first meeting on January 11, Calvert won (58-30) convincingly.

          Otterbacher says New Riegel was going through bad spot then and they are better now.  “They have been playing really well lately.  They had a nice win Sunday at Hopewell-Loudon, who is one of the top teams in league.  They have been playing well,” he told Swankonsprts.com on Thursday night, “They have a nice group of seniors.  The communities are very found of each other, positively and negatively at times, if you know what I mean.  It is definitely a rivalry.”

Published 2/11/22

© Swankonsports.com

On Friday and Saturday night log onto our scoreboard

At www.swankonsportshosting247.com

For constant score updates

Calvert Hungry for Outright Title

          Tiffin Calvert has the opportunity to win an outright title in the Sandusky Bay Conference River Division on Friday night when they face Lakota, that is if the weather doesn’t cancel the game.

          The Senecas are unbeaten on the season.

          They beat Sandusky St. Mary’s (51-32) on Tuesday night to earn no less than a share.

          Coach Jon Otterbacher says they were able to get a lot of kids into the game.  “I thought we did a pretty good job Tuesday night of playing some of the younger kids and getting them varsity experience early on in the game.  The starters did a great job of having a lot of leadership and getting them in the right spots and executing offensively and defensively,” said Otterbacher.

          Calvert (18-0,13-0), #3 in the Swankonsports.com boys’ basketball coaches poll in the small school division, plays at home against Lakota (2-14,2-10) on Friday night.

          It was (57-34) Senecas on January 6 in the first meeting.

          Otterbacher says the Raiders have some players.  “They played us tough the first time.  It as a pretty even game throughout the first half.  I think we put it out a little bit in the third quarter, but they have had some nice competitive games in the last couple of weeks,” he told Swankonsports.com on Thursday night, “They played Hopewell tough.  They have two nice players in J Martz and Cam Burley, who can both light it up pretty well, so we will have to play our best ball.”

          Calvert shared the title with Old Fort last year. 

          Otterbacher says they aren’t in a sharing mood this time.  “We talked to the boys Tuesday night at St. Mary’s reminding them that we had just clinched a share of the title and nobody even cared.  They don’t want the share, they want it outright themselves.  I think they are motivated and ready to go for it,” he said.

Published 2/04/22

© Swankonsports.com

On Friday and Saturday night log onto our scoreboard

At www.swankonsportshosting247.com

For constant score updates

Calvert Has to Stay Focused

          Tiffin Calvert has opened a three game lead in the Sandusky Bay Conference River Division standings as they play two more conference games this week at Fremont St. Joe on Thursday and at home with Hopewell-Loudon on Saturday.

          Coach Jon Otterbacher says they must keep focused on what they need to do for each game.  “You are dealing with high school kids, so you are always thinking about that and worrying how they are going to handle situations or come into games over confident and not want to put the time and work into it.  We focus on that as much as we can to strive and teach them that every game is a new game even though we might have won the previous game this will be a different group of kids that we are playing and they are going to be improved, everybody improves throughout the year,” he told Swankonsports.com on Tuesday night, “They are going to do things differently to counter what we have been doing.  We try and keep their focus as much as we can, but we know we are dealing with high school kids and you never know when they might want to take a day off.”

          Calvert (15-0,10-0), #3 in the Swankonsports.com boys’ basketball coaches poll in the small school division, plays at Fremont St. Joe (4-9,1-8) on Thursday night.

          The Seneca won the first meeting (53-16) on December 16, but Otterbacher says the Crimson Streaks are getting getter.  “They are going to keep improving.  They are trying to mix in some younger kids.  Some nice shooters that are sophomores and some good athletes.  They are going to make it the best game they can.  We look for them to try and play some zone and mixing some things up defensively whether it is a 1-3-1 or 2-3 and try to make us work as much as they can,” he said.

          Hopewell-Loudon (9-4,6-3) is one of the second place teams in the division along with Old Fort.  In the first game, Calvert won it (52-40) on December 18.

          Otterbacher says the Chieftains are going to look to control the tempo.  “They like to grind it out and run their motion sets, so they get a good shot.  If they don’t get the look that they like they will pull it back out and run another set.  They just continue to work and grind it until they get what they want.  We like to play a little bit more up tempo than they do.  Their job is to slow that tempo down so they can seize opportunities and create mismatches in their zones,” he said.

Published 1/26/22

© Swankonsports.com

Your First Source For All Things Sports

“Out of Bounds” every Friday From 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Calvert Has to Contain Old Fort Big Guys

          Sandusky Bay Conference River Division leader Tiffin Calvert, unbeaten on the season, plays arch rival Old Fort, in a huge game in the division on Friday night.

          Calvert added two more wins to their total last week by downing New Riegel (58-30) last Tuesday and Danbury-Lakeside (67-36) on Friday in division games.

          Coach Jon Otterbacher says they just continue to try and get better.  “We continue to push ourselves and strive to get better every game and practice and do the best we can to be successful on the basketball court during games,” he said.

          Calvert (13-0,8-0), #3 in the Swankonsports.com boys’ basketball coaches poll in the small school division, plays at Old Fort (8-2,5-2) on Tuesday night.  The Stockaders also won two River Division games last week in beating Kansas Lakota (72-36) on Tuesday and New Riegel (57-41) on Friday.

          Otterbacher says the Stockaders are getting some kids back.  “They are getting healthier.  They are getting better as a team.  Colon Nutter just scored is 1,000^th point, so he is a pretty dynamic player.  They are getting their athletic guards back, so it is going to be another tough battle,” said Otterbacher.

          Otterbacher says these are two teams with different strengths.  “They have the size that we are lacking and I think our guards are a little more dynamic than theirs.  Those two things kind of offset each other,” he told Swankonsports.com on Monday afternoon, “We are going to use our strengths to be successful and they are going to try and use theirs.”

          Calvert won the first meeting (50-47) on December 3 when Garrett Spaun canned a three pointer at the horn. 

          A win by Calvert pretty much eliminates Old Fort from the division race.

          Otterbacher says to do it, they must contain the Old Fort height.  “We have to limit Nutter around the block and off the boards and keep Miles Miller away from the basket as well,” he said.

Published 1/18/22

© Swankonsports.com

Your First Source For All Things Sports

“Out of Bounds” every Friday From 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Unbeaten Calvert Plays New Riegel

          Tiffin Calvert continues to be all alone in first place in the River Division of the Sandusky Bay Conference heading into a road game at New Riegel on Tuesday night.

          They beat Sandusky St. Mary’s (55-23) on Tuesday and Lakota (57-34) on Thursday in division games last week.  They downed Norwalk St. Paul (59-41) in a non-conference game on Saturday.

          Coach Jon Otterbacher says it has been a great start to season for them.  “I think we have done a pretty good job of maintaining our season goals and individual goals of trying to compete at a high level and try and carry those over into the second half of year,” said Otterbacher.

          Otterbacher says they are a better team now than they were at the start of the season.  “There are things we have definitely gotten better at doing,” he told Swankonsports.com Monday, “We are play better as a team, but there are some aspects that I think we need to improve on such as rebounding and boxing out.  Those types of little things we can always get better.”

          Calvert (11-0,6-0), #3 in the Swankonsports.com boys’ basketball coaches poll in the small school division, plays at New Riegel (6-2,4-2) on Tuesday night.  The Blue Jackets lost to Hopewell-Loudon (42-40) in double overtime on Thursday, but rallied to beat Lakota (47-42) on Saturday in division games.

          Known as a pretty consistent small school power, Otterbacher says the Blue Jackets bring a lot to the table.  “They are going be very competitive and very physical and fundamental as can be.  They are a couple nice players in Brandon Gillig and Logan Schalk with them playing varsity basketball for three years.  So, it is going to be another tough battle for us,” said Otterbacher.

          Otterbacher says they enjoy playing against physical teams.  “We love it.  We enjoy the physicality of those types of games and continue to try and find ways to beat that physicality whether it be with our quickness or outsmarting them when they are trying to be too rough with us,” he said.

Published 1/11/22

© Swankonsports.com

Log on for Tuesday night finals

to our scoreboard at

www.swankonsportshosting247.com

Calvert Takes River Division Lead to Lakota

          Tiffin Calvert, all alone in first place in River Division of the Sandusky Bay Conference, is at Lakota for a division game on Thursday night.

          The Senecas (9-0,5-0), #3 in the Swankonsports.com boys’ basketball coaches poll in the large school division, thumped Sandusky St. Mary’s (55-23) in a division game on Tuesday night.

          Coach Jon Otterbacher says they were in good form on defense.  “I thought we did a good job of playing hard and understanding our defensive scheme and philosophies, which led to a lot of fast break transition and we were able to get out and go.  We limited them mainly to one shot at a time.  When they weren’t shooting well, we were able to be successful,” said Otterbacher.

          Lakota (0-6,0-4) has struggled out the gate.  They lost (70-29) to Van Buren in a non-league game last Tuesday.

          Otterbacher says they are efficient in running their set plays.  “They are very athletic.  They have a new coach in Adam Gnepper.  We go all of the way back to our Heidelberg days.  They have good sets they have been running and a nice shooter in Cam Burley, a three year varsity letter winner,” he told Swankonsports.com on Wednesday, “James Matz has been around since he was a freshman.  They have some nice pieces there.  They are starting to put some stuff together, so we have to be on the top of our game.”

          This is a tempo game.  Otterbacher says Lakota will try to slow them down.  “I think they will have too.  They run a lot of sets and they like to try and execute and work the ball around as much as they can.  Their two guys are going to get the majority of their shots, so we have to key off of those two,” he said.

Published 1/06/22

© Swankonsports.com

Your First Source For All Things Sports

“Out of Bounds” every Friday From 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Calvert Counting on Defense

          Tiffin Calvert, co-leaders in the River Division of the Sandusky Bay Conference, play at home against Sandusky St. Mary’s in a division game on Tuesday night and Clyde in a crossover game on Wednesday night.

          They shut down Fremont St. Joe (53-16) on Thursday and beat Hopewell-Loudon (52-40) on Saturday in division games.

          Coach Jon Otterbacher says the Senecas like to play defense and are good at it.  “We like to get after it on defense and holding opponents to as few quality shots as we can and that always makes a team happy,” he said.

          Plus, he says they have been turning defense into easy scores on offense.  “They play hard and with they way they play defense they turn it into transition offense.”

          Tiffin Calvert (6-0,4-0), #2 in the Swankonsports.com boys’ basketball coaches poll in the small school division, plays host to Sandusky St. Mary’s on Tuesday night.  St. Mary’s (2-3,2-2) lost to Old Fort (47-41) on Thursday and beat St. Joe (61-35) on Saturday.

          Otterbacher says the Panthers are young, but they are talented and athletic.  “They are very young and inexperienced.  They graduated a lot of seniors, but very athletic.  They are pretty well coached, they run their sets and they execute as well as they can.  They change up their defenses to keep you honest,” said Otterbacher.

          Clyde (2-3) is out of the big school Lake Division and Otterbacher says they are going to make it difficult to run offense.  “They are intense, well coached, very knowledgeable.  They are going to know all of our sets and how to defend them.  They are going get after it and get up in our grills and make sure that nothing comes easy,” he said.

Published 12/21/21

© Swankonsports.com

“Out of Bounds” this week will air

On Wednesday night 10 to midnight

Your First Source for All Things Sports

Calvert Continues to Impress

          Tiffin Calvert continues to share first place in the River Division of the Sandusky Bay Conference and they face two more division contests this week at home against Fremont St. Joe on Thursday and at Hopewell-Loudon on Saturday.

          Last week, they beat Gibsonburg (49-43) in a division game on Friday and Margaretta (59-45) cross over game on Saturday.

          Coach Jon Otterbacher says they played well.  “It was a pretty good weekend for us.  Two high impact, high intensity games where both opponents brought their “A” game.  We definitely had to work our tails off to get wins in eboth games,” he said.

          The Margaretta game was tight at the half, but Senecas blew it open in the second two periods.

          Otterbacher says that was due to better execution on both ends.  “I think we did a little bit better job when we broke the press of just not trying to get layups and taking bad shops.  We were able to run a little bit of an offense.  Our defense got a little better and we were able to get in more passing lanes and force more turnovers on their end as well,” said Otterbacher.

          Calvert (4-0,2-0), #1 in the Swankonsports.com boys’ basketball coaches poll in the small school division, plays at St. Joe (1-3,0-2) on Thursday night.  The Crimson Streaks were roughed up (65-28) by Old Fort last Friday.

          Otterbacher says they will try to trap them.  “They are pretty athletic, pretty scrappy.  They will halfcourt trap you the whole game and try and create as many turnovers as they can and get out and get easy layups,” he said.

          Hopewell-Loudon (1-0,1-0) started their season with a (68-59) win over Danbury Lakeside in a conference game last Friday.

          Otterbacher says they are athletic and have a good group of players that can do a lot of things.  “They are going to be athletic.  They are going to mix some experience with youth.  Thy are going to have some sophomores playing that have developed.  They have some length in those sophomores,” he told Swankonsports.com on Monday night, “They have a good senior group led by Ried Jury, who has been playing varsity since he was a freshman.  So, they have some athletes and they are going to be able to run up and down the floor with the best of them.”

Published 12/14/21

© Swankonsports.com

Your First Source For All Things Sports

“Out of Bounds” every Friday From 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Calvert Plays Improved Gibsonburg

          Tiffin Calvert, one of the better small school basketball teams in North Central Ohio again this season, has a date at Gibsonburg in a Sandusky Bay Conference River Division game on Friday night.

          They play talented Margaretta in a cross over game with the Bay Division on Saturday night.

          Last Friday, the Senecas (2-0,1-0) won a thriller (50-47) over Old Fort in a River Division game.

          Point guard Garrett Spaun canned a 32 foot three pointer that hit the back of rim and fell through.

          Coach Jon Otterbacher calls it a tremendous win for his guys.  “It was a very good win.  It was a great battle all night like they have been the last couple of years.  We got a lucky couple of bounces in a nice steal late in the game.  Our point guard Garret Spaun came through with a clutch shot,” said Otterbacher.

          Calvert and Old Fort shared the division title last season.

          Gibsonburg (2-0,1-0) beat Danbury Lakeside (71-53) on Friday night.

          Otterbacher says they are a team that is getting better and can spread the floor.  “They are improving every game.  They have a nice big kid.  Aidan McGough, 6’7”, has a nice tough around the rim and can shoot it from deep and a nice point guar who controls everything and has a nice stroke too,” he told Swankonsports.com on Tuesday, “So, they definitely have a two headed monster we have to be concerned about.”

          With their personnel, Otterbacher says the Gibsonburg can be hard to guard.  “It brings us away from the basket and gets us out of our comfort zone, so we have to learn how to adapt and figure out how to shut that length down,” he said.

Published 12/08/21

© Swankonsports.com

Your First Source For All Things Sports

“Out of Bounds” every Friday From 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Execution the Key for Calvert

          It looks like Tiffin Calvert and Old Fort are the best teams in the River Division of the Sandusky Bay Conference again this year and they square off on Friday night at Calvert.

          The Senecas drilled Riverdale (67-37) last week, but coach Jon Otterbacher says they need to kind of forget about that and move on.  “We try to keep them level headed and understand what the ultimate goal is at the end of the year is trying to compete for a league title and try and get as far as we can in the tournament.  They know last Friday was just one game and we need to move on quickly and start preparing for Old Fort,” said Otterbacher.

          Old Fort was equally impressive on week one in drilling Wynford (71-38) in their first game.

          Otterbacher says they have big guys that can play.  “They have Colin Nutter inside still, who is 6’7”, a nice big kid who has some range, can hit the three and bang inside and cleans up all of the miscues that they rest of his team has,” he told Swankonsports.com on Thursday night, “They have another big inside in Miles Miller that is strong and physical and uses his body well and just like Nutter can hit a perimeter shot as well.  The nice role players on the perimeter that can knock down shots as well.”

          Otterbacher says there are some things they must do if they are going to beat Old Fort on their home floor.  “Obviously, we have to take care of the ball and put ourselves in good position to run the floor like we need to, execute whether they are in a man or a zone, and limit their inside game and their opportunities for second chance putbacks,” he said.

Published 12/03/21

© Swankonsports.com

On Friday and Saturday night log onto our scoreboard

At www.swankonsportshosting247.com

For constant score updates

Your First Source for All Things Sports

Calvert Working on Perimeter Shooting

          Tiffin Calvert is coming off a couple of very good basketball seasons and they hope to add another one this year.

          They open the season next Friday on the road at Riverdale in non-conference play.  Sandusky Bay Conference River Division arch rival Old Fort comes calling on December 3 in their first division game.

          Coach Jon Otterbacher believes they are going to have a lot of kids that can play this year.  “We are pretty deep.  We have six, seven seniors that have played a lot of basketball.  Returning several letter winners,” he told Swankonsports.com on Monday afternoon, “We are trying to figure out how to mix in our younger kids as we build our program form the bottom, up or top, down.  We just hope everybody we put on the court is going to be as competitive as we can.”

          Otterbacher say they are trying to get their younger kids used to the level they must play at the varsity level.  “We had a scrimmage Saturday down in Minster.  We spilt the 12 kids we took down evenly, so half of our starters were with back ups and the other half were with the other backups.  We had a nice even mix,” he said.

          Otterbacher thinks they will be able to score in transition this season, but he says in their half court offense they have to make open shots when they get them.  “We have to be more consistent scoring from the perimeter.  I think we are going to be quick enough and athletic enough to get some easy transition baskets, but we have to be able to knock down open jump shots when the other teams leave us open,” said Otterbacher.

Published 11/16/21

© Swankonsports.com

Your First Source For All Things Sports

“Out of Bounds” every Friday From 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Calvert Needs to be Aggressive Versus Mohawk

          Tiffin Calvert takes on Mohawk on Tuesday night in a division IV district semifinal at Liberty-Benton High School.

          Old Fort plays Carey in the other semi, so both are games with the “SBC” River against the Northern 10 Athletic Conference.  The winners play for the district title Friday night.

          Calvert (19-4), who shared the River Division title with Old Fort, beat Hardin-Northern (72-35) for a sectional title on Friday night.

          Coach Jon Otterbacher says they executed the game plan that was given to them.  “They boys played good.  They followed are game plan to a tee.  We took away the three point shot.  From watching them on film and the one time we got to scout this year on Wednesday live we thought they could shoot the three pretty well.  It was nice to see that everybody contributed defensively, which enabled us to get out an run,” he said.

          Nick Seifert had 21 points, while Blake Ronski had 14 and Garrett Spaun added 11 in the in over Hardin-Northern.

          Mohawk (18-6) has already beaten two teams out of the River Division in the sectional in New Riegel (48-42) in overtime and Fremont St. Joe (64-51) in the final.

          Otterbacher says they play a very aggressive defense in both the full and half courts.  “They like to press and they are going to press for the majority of the game.  They get a lot of turnovers with that, it’s a diamond press and they bring four guys up on us.  They almost overmatch you and expect you to make mistakes,” he told Swankonsports.com on Sunday evening, “Then when they go back on defense it is a struggle with a 2-3 zone that they run.  It is gambling and very aggressive, so we have to be smart with the ball and take care of it and make the easy shots when they give it to us.”

          Otterbacher says against that zone they can’t keep settling for only jump shots, they have to attack the rim.  “We have had guys that have been willing to step up all year.  Anybody 1-5 on the court can hit the 15 foot jumper.  A lot of times versus the zone hey want you to shoot threes and we have to instill in our players to get to the basket instead of settling,” said Otterbacher.

Published 3/01/21

© Swankonsports.com

Get all of the tournament scores right here

At www.swankonsportshosting247.com

Calvert With Big Weekend

          Tiffin Calvert, one of the tri-leaders in the River Division of the Sandusky Bay Conference, faces a couple of important games this week as they play at Fremont St. Joe on Thursday and host Hopewell-Loudon on Saturday in division games.

          The Senecas share the lead with Old Fort and Sandusky St. Mary’s, who play each other on Thursday night.

          Calvert coach John Otterbacher says in this league every game is a must.  “Every game matters in our league with it being pretty heavy top down.  We have six teams within two losses of each other,” he told Swankonsports.com on Wednesday night, “Right now, we have Old Fort and St. Mary’s leading the pack.  We have two big ones with Fremont St. Joe and Hopewell right on our tails.”
          Calvert (11-3,7-2) hits the road for Fremont St. Joe (9-5,6-4) on Thursday night.  They beat the Crimson Streaks (51-48) on January 4, close like many of the league games have been.

          Otterbacher says St. Joe has experience and talent.  “They know how to play basketball.  They are well coached.  They are disciplined, senior laden.  They have four or five good seniors that know how to score and play good defense.  They played us tough last time,” he said.

          Hopewell-Loudon (9-5,6-3) will be at Calvert on Saturday night.  When the game was in Bascom on December 30 the Senecas won (52-40), but that was the last time the Chieftains lost a division game, beating both Old Fort and Sandusky St. Mary’s during that three game streak.

          Otterbacher says they are good all over the floor.  “They have nice length with Jaminson inside. Very dynamic guards with (Caleb) Simonis and (Reid) Jury.  They have a couple bruisers inside with (Daniel) Lammerse and finally got Hayden Welly back.  He is a nice addition to their team,” said Otterbacher.

          There are seven division games left on the Calvert schedule and Otterbacher says the stretch drive will be fun.  “This is what the boys and been practicing for since early November.  They know what’s at stake.  They know we need to take care of business and to go one game at a time and see what we can do Thursday night,” he said.

Published 1/28/21

© Swankonsports.com

Click the listen line to hear our live shows

“Out of Bounds” 10 to midnight on Friday

“Sports Saturday” 10 AM to 1 PM on Saturday  

Calvert Needs to be Better on Both Ends

          Tiffin Calvert leads Old Fort by a game in the standings of the River Division of the Sandusky Bay Conference and they travel to Old Fort on Tuesday night.

          The first time they met the Stockaders won by one.

          Calvert (10-1,6-1) won three games last week in beating New Riegel (60-37) on Tuesday, Danbury (91-46) on Friday in division games and adding a (68-37) win over Riverdale in non-conference play on Saturday.

          Coach John Otterbacher says they shared the ball and took the ball hard to the rim.  “Yeah, I thought we played pretty well.  Playing a lot of unselfish basketball.  Needed to be able to attack the basket and we did a pretty good job of that all three games,” he said.

          Old Fort (10-2,6-2) also beat New Riegel last Friday (72-37) in a division game as Zach DeWeese scored 15 to lead a balanced scoring effort.

          Otterbacher says the Stockaders are a big and physical team that presents a lot of problems.  “They have physical size and strength.  Zach DeWeese is a four year starter, 6’2”, averaging 16.5.  Colin Nutter, 6’6’, 6’7”, junior, averaging 16.5 as well.  Nutter gets 10 rebounds a game.  Then you throw in a couple 6’2” strong, stocky, physical, boys that know how to play basketball.  They make their shots and rebound pretty well,” said Otterbacher.

          Calvert’s Nick Seifert is second in the division in scoring (16.8 ppg) this season.  He had 21 in their win over Danbury.

          Old Fort won the first game (65-64) on December 8.

          Otterbacher says they have to be much better this time both with offensive decision making and being able to guard shooters too.  “Actually we did not play very well at all.  We were lucky enough to be in the game.  We need better decisions with the ball, better rotations on defense.  I don’t think we got out and ran very well,” he told Swankonsports.com on Monday, “So, that will be one of our keys (Tuesday) to get out on the fast break.  We need to contest their shooters.  I believe they hit like six or seven threes in the first half on us.  We need to be able job of guarding the perimeter.”

Published 1/19/20

© Swankonsports.com

Keep up on the scores Tuesday night

On our scoreboard at www.swankonsportshosting247.com

Calvert Renews Rivalry With Old Fort

          In a key early season battle in the River Division of the Sandusky Bay Conference on Tuesday night Tiffin Calvert plays at home against Old Fort.

          Old Fort has won the last two River Division titles, but Calvert has beaten them both years in the division IV tournament.

          Calvert (2-0,1-0) played for the first time all year on Friday when they beat Danbury Lakeside (95-64) in a River Division game. 

          Coach Jon Otterbacher says it was a good start to the season.  “It was good to get the legs going, the juices flowing.  We executed decently in their press, broke their press pretty well.  We were good in transition and made our layups,” he said.

          They then beat Clyde of the Lake Division (63-47) on Saturday night in a crossover game.

          Old Fort (2-0,1-0) beat New Riegel (68-37) on Friday night.

          Otterbacher says the Stockaders do a lot of things well.  “They are very well coached, they are very athletic, they are deep.  Zach DeWeese, a four year starter, is very good with the ball, very good defensively.  Then you have Colin Nutter, 6’6” junior, who can step out and hit the three, can get up and down floor well, he can take it coast to coast anytime he wants to,” he told Swankonsports.com on Monday night, “It’s hard to stop those two and then their role players are all capable scorers and defenders as well.  They are going to be a tough match for anybody.”

          DeWeese had 26 points and Nutter added 11 in the win over New Riegel.

          Otterbacher says when they play big games like this against Old Fort there is a lot of energy in the gym.  “It’s going to be a lot of fun.  Coach (Eric) Hoover and I are good buddies and we go back a long way.  Losing to them in the regular season hurt and then beating them in the tournament is always the icing on our season.  I know they love bringing home that league title that has been eluding us,” said Otterbacher.

Published 12/08/20

© Swankonsports.com

Keep up on the scores Tuesday night

On our scoreboard at www.swankonsportshosting247.com

www.swankonsportshosting247.com

Calvert Ready for the Challenge

          Tiffin Calvert and Margraretta, both unbeaten in river division, play to decide the championship of one of two divisions of the Sandusky Bay Conference on Friday night at Margaretta.

          Calvert coach Todd Fox feels like they have gotten better step by step during the season, even in a loss last week (28-16) to Seneca East in non-conference play last Saturday.  “We have progressed like we want.  Obviously we struggled a little bit last week.  This week we have learned a little about ourselves and developed a little bit.  We are getting to were we need to be here on week 10 and hopefully on to week 11,” he said.

          This is Calvert’s first year in the “SBC” after an odyssey in the “TRAC” after the breakup of the Midland Athletic League.  Fox says his kids are pumped up about having a chance to play for the river division title on Friday.  “Our young men are pretty excited to play for a conference championship.  We have been in a different league.  So, for them it’s just kind of refocus and have something they know they are going to part of right now and rehashing a little bit of Calvert history with the “SBC.” They are excited,” he said.

         Calvert (6-3,3-0) is at Margaretta (5-4,3-0) on Friday night.  The Polar Bears beat Sandusky St. Mary’s (34-12) in a river division game last week.

          Fox says they are clearly a team that is a lot better than they were in August when the season started.  “Coaches want to improve and I feel like our team has improved all year, but Margaretta from game one to game 10, and kudos to coach Andrew (Zuk,) because they have improved so much across the board.  We are kind of bummed because we have to face them week 10.  They are a whole new team now.  They believe in their system and believe in themselves,” he told Swankonsports.com on Tuesday, “Their offensive running attack with (Logan) Graffin is pretty phenomenal.  He leads our league in rushing and we have some good backs.  He is fast and if he gets to the open we are in trouble.  They have a couple of good receivers and they are a run first team, so if you focus too much on him they throw to a receiver.  Offensively they are very sound.  We hare going to have to be prepared for them, I think we are okay, but it is going to be a battle.”

          A win secures a playoff berth in division seven for the Senecas as well.  Fox says this is the kind of football game that you want to be playing on the final week of the regular season.  “We played a really tough team in Seneca East last week and now we are going into a league championship type game.  We have talked about as a team that is how you get ready.  That’s how the great teams in Ohio get ready they are battling each week.  We want to be able to face a tough team and be able to get ready,” he said,

Published 10/26/16

© Swankonsports.com

Follow us on Twitter at @swankonsports

Like Swankonsports.com on Facebook

Click on listen line for 24/7 audio

Tiffin Calvert Senecas news can also be heard on the SwankonSports 24/7 Listen Line