ONTARIO, Ohio — The second Richland Source NOL-OCC Challenge may boast an expanded field and a different format, but the basic premise remains intact.
Twelve teams — six each from the Northern Ohio League and Ohio Cardinal Conference — will duke it out Saturday to determine conference supremacy.
Last year’s event featured just four teams — Madison and Lexington of the OCC and Ontario and Norwalk of NOL. Each team played twice during the two-day showcase. At the end of the weekend, the OCC had won all four of its games.
“We’ve played a lot of the (NOL) teams in the regular season in the past, but it’s more exciting when it’s conference vs. conference,” Madison coach Tim Mergel said at the Richland Source NOL-OCC Challenge media day at BW3 in Ontario last week. “It’s for conference bragging rights.”
Madison will be joined by OCC members Mansfield Senior, Lexington, Clear Fork, Ashland and Mount Vernon. Representing the NOL are Ontario, Shelby, Norwalk, Sandusky, Bellevue and Tiffin Columbian.
“It’s a neat format, to have six games all at one site on one day,” Lex coach Scott Hamilton said. “Our guys are looking forward to it.”
Lexington and Ontario waged in instant classic in the final game of last year’s event. The Minutemen won on a buzzer-beating 3-pointer by Jonah Yaussy.
“I remember it was an exciting game,” Hamilton said. “We wouldn’t expect anything less this year.”
Clear Fork and Tiffin Columbian tip things off at 11 a.m. Saturday at the O-Rena.
“We don’t know a lot about them and I’m sure they don’t know a lot about us,” Clear Fork coach Steven Bechtel said. “That is part of what makes this an exciting event for the kids. They will get to play a team they might not otherwise get the chance to play.
“Another exciting aspect is we’re not just playing for ourselves. We’re representing the Ohio Cardinal Conference.”
Sponsorship: The Richland Source NOL-OCC Challenge wouldn’t be possible without tremendous partners. The NOL-OCC Challenge is presented by Mechanics Bank Be the Change scholarship program in partnership with The Holden Agency, Marco Photo Service and BW3. Supporting sponsors include Olive Garden, North Central State College, The Ohio State University at Mansfield, Rinehart Walters Danner Insurance, Prospering Life Events, Text Loyal, The Vault Wine Bar, Best Buy, and Lantz Star Graphics.
