Pre-sale tickets for the game can be purchased at the Hatton Memorial Gymnasium ticket office through Thursday, March 8, from 3:30 - 6:30 pm. 

A fan bus trip to the District finals will be provided at a cost of $5 per person and sold only in the CHS Athletic Office. A minimum of 30 passengers is required to make the bus available. Signup and payment must be received by Thursday, March 8 at 5 pm. The bus will return after the conclusion of the Cavaliers game and will not stay for the second game that night.

Of course if you can't make it to the Convo, catch the game broadcast on 1490-AM WBEX and on iheartradio, search WBEX.

Last Friday, with 12 points in a losing effort against UNC-Wilmington, the college basketball career for Chillicothe’s Anthony Humpty Hitchens came to a close.

Chillicothe basketball’s all-time leading scorer averaged 14.9ppg in his second season playing for the James Madison Dukes, a point behind team leader A.J. Davis.

Hitchens began his college career at the University of Akron, playing two seasons before transferring. In the summer of 2010, following the sudden death of his father Craig Hitchens, Humpty was granted a transfer by the NCAA to James Madison. When he transferred from the University of Akron, 13 credits didn’t carry over meaning he still has some class time to finish up. Graduation is scheduled for December. Hitchens is taking 18 credits this semester at JMU and has some summer classes planned.

After having a somewhat successful start with the Dukes in the Colonial Athletic Association his junior year, this past season left much to be desired. It was a 12-20 season, marred by multiple Dukes injuries. But Hitchens pushed on saying, “This is one of the most frustrating seasons I’ve been a part of… I don’t regret it at all, I actually liked that experience.”

Among the injuries suffered by the Dukes’ key performers, a shoulder injury, chipped bones, a heart condition, even coach Bradley tore an Achilles tendon. Hitchens himself was nursing a shoulder injury the last few games.

He’s been hanging around the Cavaliers this week during their preparation for Friday’s District Semi-Final game with Circleville. “I just go in there a play hard… just like it’s a college practice.” He has shared with the Cavs things that have helped him make it through a college basketball career and reminding them to give extra attention to detail.

“Just runnin’ the floor a little bit harder or when a man cuts through the lane you gotta bump him… me being little, I’m gonna touch you, I’m gonna talk to you, I’m gonna pull your shorts (all to let the opponent know you’re there)”. Hitchens adds in his eyes, he wasn’t really ready for ball on the college level , so he’s tried to share his survival tactics to help younger players get ready for such a transition.

With the Cavs on the tournament trail, four year old memories of Chillicothe’s DII state title run are still fresh in the former point guard’s mind, especially when he explains what it took to quiet the naysayers who didn’t give the Cavs a chance against Poland Seminary or Toledo Libbey in the Final Four.

“It’s just a will, a pride, a doggin’ yourself to just want it… It’s just something inside yourself, just to want it that bad. You gotta show up at big time moments. Toledo beat us by 16 the year before, we were down 16 in the (championship) game. But we never gave up. Stuart (Beverly) got that steal, it just turned the whole game around. We just kept fighting and kept fighting and came up with the win.”

Someone Hitchens carries with him every day is the memory of his father, Craig. The elder Hitchens was a former Cavalier player and assistant coach before his passing in April of 2010. When Humpty made his  move to James Madison, he took his dad with him.

 “I write on my shoes ‘Rest In Peace Pops’, ‘I was taught be strong, stay humble’… when they play the ‘Star Spangled Banner’ I talk to him. Even though my dad’s not here, I think about him every day, he’s taught me so much.”   
 

Now there are hopes of landing a spot on a roster to play professionally, if not stateside, then overseas. Hitchens has been interested in the leagues that attract American talent. While the college game may be behind him, the horizon may be filled with a pro date around the corner.

CLICK HERE TO READ HITCHENS’ BIO

CLICK HERE TO HEAR PART ONE OF THE INTERVIEW

NOTE: The second half of the interview with Hitchens will air around 6:45am Wednesday on The Gary Kellough Show.

CHILLICOTHE 47, SHERIDAN 32
The Chillicothe Cavaliers never trailed in a 47-32 district semifinal win over the Sheridan Generals Wednesday at the OU Convocation Center.

The Cavs led at every stop, 12-6 after one quarter, 22-14 at half, 34-23 after three quarters and the final margin of 15 points. Sheridan did manage to close the deficit to five points late in the second quarter, before a Zach Johnson bucket helped propel CHS back to a lead that totaled 8 at the break.

Cleveland State-bound MaLik London led Chillicothe with a triple-double of 14 points, 12 rebounds, 10 blocks and 4 steals. Adam Bixler added 13 points and Zach Johnson 10.

The Generals were led by Jacob Horsley's 13 points.

CHS shot 20/47 from the field for 42%- including 3/13 from the three-point-arc. They added 4/4 at the foul line, hauled-down 27 rebounds and committed 12 turnovers.

Sheridan was 14/40 for 35% from the
floor- but were 0/6 from the arc. The Generals were 4/8 at the charity stripe,
grabbed 26 rebounds and turned the ball-over 15 times.

Chillicothe advances to the Division 2 District Championship March 9th against
Circleville, a 51-45 winner over Athens (see below).

CLICK HERE to hear the game
podcast

CIRCLEVILLE 51, ATHENS 45
The opening minutes of the Circleville Tigers first district appearance since 2002 didn't look too promising- falling behind 9-0 against Athens. But, the Tigers quickly rebounded to go on their own 9-0 run to tie the game. Athens led 14-9 after one quarter and darted back to a 20-12 lead, only to see Circleville close with a 11-2 run and took their first lead of the game with a halftime buzzer-beater by Carson Haddox for a 23-22
advantage at the break.

Circleville was up 37-29 after three quarters and took leads of 39-29 and 43-33 in the final period, only to see Athens make one last run to close the deficit to 45-42, but never got any closer.

Denzel Amey sparked the Tigers with 19 points, followed by Nathan Moats with 13 and John Hamman with 7.

Nick Stanley was top-gun for the Bulldogs with 15 points and Joe Burrough at 10.

Circleville sizzled from the field at 18-28 for 64%- including 4/7 from the arc. The Tigers were also 11/18 at the foul line, grabbed 25 boards and committed 16 turnovers.

Athens was checked on 28% shooting from the floor at 13/46- including a cold 3/21 from the arc. The Bulldogs were kept in the game thanks to 14/15 at the foul line, grabbed 21 rebounds and committed only 5 turnovers.

Circleville improves to (14-8) and plays Chillicothe in a battle of U.S. Route 23 for the D-2 District Championship on March 9th. Athens closes their season at (12-10).

CLICK HERE to hear the game podcast

The Cavaliers broke open a close game to close the season on SEOAL foe Jackson Saturday night 49-38.

Chillicothe had a 27-24 lead entering the 4^th quarter. The Cavs started the period with a 7-0 run jumping out to a 10 point lead before Jackson’s Colt Chapman hit a free throw to make it 34-25.

The Ironmen managed just three baskets (a pair of 3’s and a deuce) as the Cavaliers controlled the final six minutes.

Prior to that point, it was nip and tuck.

Chillicothe opened with a 12-6 lead through the first period and Jackson tied the game at 14 before Adam Bixler hit a basket before the end of the half at 16-14.

The Ironmen began the game in a man-to-man defense, which didn’t surprise Cavs coach Gary Kellough. “We’ve scouted their last few games and we were prepared. This time of year, ya have to be ready for anything.”

Chillicothe extended its defense in the second half and pressured Chapman (who finished with 16pts). “We intended to take their legs (out of the game) from them”, said Coach K “hoping to wear them down.”

The move forced Jackson into 15 total turnovers. All the while, Zach Johnson and MaLik London paired up to help the Cavs pull away in the 4^th. Johnson finished with 24 points and 7 rebounds to lead all scorers and London added 16 points and 9 rebounds. The tandem had all but 3 of the Chillicothe points in the final period as the Cavs hit 8-of-8 shots from the field.

The Cavs will play Thornville Sheridan Wednesday night at the Ohio University Convocation Center at 6:15pm. Sheridan defeated Marietta 52-48 at Logan Saturday. In the second game Wednesday, Circleville (a 45-33 winner over Unioto Friday) and Athens (a 40-38 winner over Logan Elm) will meet at
8:00pm.

Tickets will go on sale to the public from 3:30pm-7:00pm on Monday and Tuesday at the main ticket office at Hatton Memorial Gymnasium. Tickets cost $6 and the ticket office will accept cash only.

CLICK HERE to hear the game podcast

CHS Athletic Director Garin Veris says pre-sale tickets for the Boys Basketball 2012 Southeast District Sectional game with Jackson are sold out.

Tournament officials announced Thursday Saturday’s Sectional Championship games (Cavs-Jackson, 5pm and Waverly-McClain 8pm) will be played in a split session format. Southeastern’s Larry Jordan Gymnasium will be cleared following the Cavs game and the doors will be opened at 7pm for admission to the second game. Fans will need to purchase separate tickets for the two games.

In a battle of #1 seeds,  Warren (17-2) earned a 50-48 victory over Chillicothe (13-7) Friday  night.

The Cavs had a chance to  tie at the end of regulation, but the pass to MaLik London bounced away from his grasp and was recovered by Warren to secure the win.

Chillicothe had used a  7-0 run to close out the first quarter to take an 18-15 lead, but the Warriors rallied back to regain the lead in the second.

There were ten lead
changes as the two clubs see-sawed their way to a 29-28 halftime score. Aaron
Elliott hit a shot just before the close of the half to put the Cavs
ahead.

The Warriors used
three-point shots by Jeremy Hastie to push ahead in the 3^rd quarter 33-31 and 36-33. Zach Johnson hit a free throw and another basket to knot the game at 36. As Chillicothe did in the first, Warren closed out the third with a
7-0 run to jump out to the largest lead by wither team on the night at 43-36.

In the final period, the Cavs forced Warren turnovers and whittled away at the seven point deficit. A basket by London, Elliott with a three-point play and Zach Johnson had jumpers back-to-back to tie at 45 with 5:59 remaining.

Evan French, who had 40-points in the Warriors’ 65-56 loss at Hatton Gym, hit his only 3-pointer on the night to lift Warren to a 48-45 lead. Tyler Ward nailed a shot on the next possession to extend the Warriors’ lead to five at 50-45 with 3:20 to play.

The Cavs would cut it close with a field goal by Johnson and a free throw by Jones, but were unable to capitalize in the end.

Johnson led all scorers with 15 points with 7 rebounds. London had 11 points, 9boards and 8 blocked shots, Jones added 11 points with 10 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals. Aaron Elliott finished with 9 points and Adam Bixler 2.

Warren was led by Hastie with 14 and Josh Winland with 10.

The Warriors have a makeup game this Tuesday with Fort Frye while the Cavs prepare for the winner of Tuesday’s Jackson/Washington C.H. Sectional Semi-Final at Southeastern High School. The winner plays Chillicothe at 5pm Saturday February 25^th in the Sectional Final.

CLICK HERE for the game podcast.

A few years ago, Ironton came to Chillicothe, trailed by 23 points and found a way to win the game at Hatton Gym.

Tuesday night along the Ohio River at Conley Arena, the Cavs turned their own version of the trick for a 70-64 victory over the Tigers.

Down 45-29 midway through the third quarter, it was looking like a long bus ride back to Chillicothe for Gary Kellough’s Cavaliers.

Then came the pressure defense and a string of buckets to close the gap to 47-41 through three.

The improbable was showing possibility.

The Cavs reeled off three straight baskets and Zach Johnson gave Chillicothe its first lead at 48-47 less than 60 seconds into the final period.

Chillicothe used a 10-2 run to close the third and carried that momentum down the stretch for their 13^th win on the season.

The Fighting Tigers had jumped out to a 14-4 lead in the first period and appeared to have the game in hand, but in two trips down the floor, two Ironton starters went down with leg
injuries. First, guard Dion Brown followed by 6’6” center Trey
Fletcher.

With two Tigers down, guard Zac Carter put the team on his back to the tune of 41 points. Carter sliced and diced his way to the hoop for 18 first half points.

The Cavs had fallen behind 22-9 but cut the lead to eight before the half on a three-pointer by Aaron Elliott.

What effort the Cavs used to close the gap by intermission was wasted by Carter to start the second half. The junior hit the first three shots of the third to extend the Tigers’ lead to 37-23.

The Cavs then switched up defenses, putting pressure on the Tigers. The pressure led to eight turnovers and the necessary points to keep the Cavs’ hopes alive.

Aaron Elliott lit the Tigers for 25 points and tied the game at 55 with 4:17 remaining. A Marcus Dunn basket gave the Cavs a 57-56 lead, which they wouldn’t relinquish.Zach Johnson finished with 19 points and MaLik London had a double-double with 15 points and 12 blocks… he also had 5 blocked shots.

The Cavs are 13-6 heading into a second place showdown at Warren Friday night.

CLICK HERE to hear the game podcast

As parents, we always want the best future for our children. It’s gratifying to see our kids excel or receive reward for their accomplishments.

Saturday was a morning filled with smiles for the family, teammates and friends as they celebrated MaLik London’s signing to play basketball for Cleveland State.

The shot blocking center for the Cavaliers made a new home in Chillicothe when he left everything he knew in North Carolina for a new life in Ohio’s first capital.

A middle school aged London recalled his first sight of Chillicothe “I remember seeing this whole field and asked ‘Where’s the rest of the town?’… and my dad explained a lot to me, he kept me understanding what was going to happen, and it came true."

That message was a new home which would not only groom his basketball skills, but also be a positive experience academically reinforced with good role models.

MaLik’s father Michael expressed thanks first to his mother for allowing him to move the Chillicothe. Then he shared his gratitude for the people he surrounded his young son with from educators to surrogate “basketball moms” and Coach Gary Kellough’s coaching staff, all of who London credited for making MaLik’s dream of playing college ball a reality.

So, what’s a kid with roots embedded in Tobacco Road, surrounded by the Duke-North Carolina-Wake Forest triangle, doing going to Cleveland State? London says while getting a call from Tar Heels coach Roy Williams was enticing, he felt Cleveland was the place for him. “When I was younger, my mom said we’d try for North Carolina, but sometimes you gotta wake up and realize… I felt more comfortable with Cleveland State.”

London says he wants to major in engineering at CSU.

But first, he plans on engineering a post season tournament run for his Cavaliers.

The Cavs (12-6) play at Ironton Tuesday.

CLICK HERE to hear Dan Ramey's interview with London

On a night belonging to seniors, one junior led the way.

Zach Johnson poured in 28 points in leading the Cavaliers to a 57-38 win over Gallia Academy Friday night, the final home game of the season.

Johnson scored all of Chillicothe’s points in the first period for a 13-3 lead. Then Aaron Elliott got into the act with a 14 point second quarter, knocking down three consecutive 3-pointers. The two combined for 33 points as the Cavs steam rolled their way to the intermission, holding the Blue Devils to just 9-points in the half.

Chillicothe’s largest lead of the night was 49-17.

MaLik London finished with just 3 points, but had seven rebounds and six blocked shots. London was playing in front of 20 family members from his native North Carolina who drove in for his national letter of intent signing with Cleveland State Saturday. London’s points came on a single hand throw down accompanied by a free throw to finish off an old fashioned three-point play.

Six Cavaliers were playing their final game at Hatton Memorial Gymnasium, London, Elliott, Charlie Demint, Marcus Dunn, Jalen Jones and Nathan West.

The win gave the Cavaliers their 12^th win heading into this Sunday’s Division II Sectional Tournament drawing at Jackson.

In the tournament at Southeastern High School’s Larry Jordan Gym, the Cavs are one of ten teams battling for a return trip to the District at Ohio University. The opposing teams include some familiar faces, Unioto, Waverly, Circleville, Hillsboro, Jackson, McClain, Miami Trace, Washington Court House and newcomer Proctorville Fairland. Chillicothe has failed only twice to get past the Southeastern Sectional since dropping down to Division II (63-52 vs McClain 2006 and 45-43 vs Waverly in 2010).  

Chillicothe (12-6/7-2) closes out the regular season next week with two tough road games, at Ironton Tuesday night and a battle for sole possession of second place in the SEOAL at Warren Friday night.

NOTES: With his final start at home, MaLik London appeared in his 75^th game as a Cavalier, moving him ahead of Anthony Humpty Hitchens (74) for third on the all-time list behind Caleb Knights (91) and Seth Dawes (96)… Portsmouth defeated Logan 78-58 to earn their first SEOAL title and first league title of any kind since 1991.