Fairgrounds will host games

COLUMBUS — Tournament basketball will return to the Taft Coliseum at the Ohio Expo Center and State Fairgrounds next February and March, the Ohio High School Athletic Association announced on Monday.

The historic multipurpose arena on the state fairgrounds campus was one of several hosts of the OHSAA basketball state tournament from 1923 until the state tournament moved to St. John Arena in 1958. The Fairgrounds Coliseum then hosted district and regional tournament contests from 1959 through 2014.

The Fairgrounds Coliseum hosted a pair of state championship games involving Columbiana County teams in 1947. The Columbiana boys captured the Ohio Class B state championship — still the only Columbiana County basketball team to win an OHSAA state title. On the same day, East Liverpool played in the Class A state final.

It was renamed the Taft Coliseum in 2010 in honor of Ohio Governer Bob Taft. It is a 5,000-seat arena that has hosted countless basketball and ice hockey contests, along with hundreds of other events.

Beginning the week of Feb, 17, the OHSAA will place selected girls and boys district and regional tournament games at the Taft Coliseum, which could also host state semifinal games. More information will be released in January.

Grodhaus had a great year at Davenport

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Former Southern Local All-Ohioan Cam Grodhaus had a record-setting football season in his only campaign at Davenport University, an NCAA Division II program.

Grodhaus, a graduate student defensive back and transfer from Lake Erie College, was named to Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) first team.

He set a single-game school record with 25 tackles in a 52-31 win over Northern Michigan on Nov. 9 — the most by any player in all NCAA divisions this season.

He was first in the GLIAC with 94 tackles, 10 more than the next closest defender. He also was third in the conference in interceptions (3) and fourth in passes defended (11).

Grodhaus ranks fifth among NCAA Division II players in career tackles with 319, including 225 at Lake Erie.

Davenport finished the 2024 season with a 7-4 record and a 4-3 mark in the GLIAC, trailing only league champion Ferris State (Mich.) and Grand Valley State (Mich.)

Redfern won Halloween Dash

LISBON — Southern Local graduate Logan Redfern won the Halloween Dash in 17:45 on Oct. 27 in Lisbon.

Beaver Local’s Hannah Ruberto was the top female as she finished in 21:45.

There were 100 finishers.

Ohio State downs Green Bay

COLUMBUS (AP) — Bruce Thornton scored 25 points to lead seven players in double figures, and Devin Royal posted a double-double as Ohio State steamrolled Green Bay 102-69 on Monday night.

Thornton made 7 of 10 shots with five 3-pointers for the Buckeyes (5-1), who improved to 4-0 at home. He made 6 of 7 at the free-throw line and totaled nine assists. Royal pitched in with 10 points and 11 rebounds.

Meechie Johnson scored 15 of his 17 points in the first half to help Ohio State take a 42-32 lead into the locker room.

John Mobley Jr. had 14 points and Sean Stewart added 11 points and eight rebounds for the Buckeyes. Micah Parrish and reserve Evan Mahaffey both scored 10.

Anthony Roy scored 30 points to lead the Phoenix (2-5), who fell to 1-4 on the road. Roy buried 10 of 16 shots, including 8 of 12 from beyond the arc. He has scored at least 30 in three straight games and done it four times this season. Roy, an NAIA All-America choice last season at Langston University, leads the nation with a 28.0 scoring average.

The Buckeyes topped the century mark for a second straight game after posting a 104-60 victory over Campbell their last time out.

Ohio State outrebounded Green Bay 37-23 and scored 30 points off of 18 turnovers by the Phoenix.