LOUDONVILLE — It was almost as if Tyler Bates could finally exhale Saturday night. The 11th-year Loudonville girls basketball coach stood near mid-court at Massillon Perry High School – a grin on his face that refused to fade – soaking in reality. You got the sense he almost wanted to drag a sleeping bag onto […]
Doug Haidet
Doug Haidet is a 17-year resident of Ashland. He wrote sports in some capacity for the Ashland Times-Gazette from 2006 to 2018. He lives with his wife, Christy, and son, Murphy.
Posted inGirls Basketball
Loudonville erupts for regional crown to reach Final Four
MASSILLON – The Loudonville girls basketball team was going to lose an hour of sleep Saturday due to daylight saving time anyway. Facing New Middletown Springfield in a Division IV regional championship game at Massillon Perry High School, the Redbirds figured they might as well just stay up all night. Behind a masterclass of a […]
Posted inGirls Basketball
One final foe blocking Loudonville’s path to state tourney
LOUDONVILLE – The air is getting rare for the Loudonville girls basketball team. A 46-40 win over Danbury on Thursday night at Massillon Perry High School vaulted the Redbirds into the Elite Eight at 7 p.m. Saturday. They are the first girls basketball team in Ashland County to advance this far in over three decades, […]
Posted inAuto News Desk - Girls Basketball
Loudonville edges Danbury to reach Elite 8 for 1st time in 32 years
MASSILLON – It was an and-1 bucket that nearly blew the roof off the gym at Massillon Perry High School. Facing Lakeside Danbury in a Division IV regional semifinal Thursday, the Loudonville girls basketball team clung to a five-point lead with less than 90 seconds to play. After his team had stalled with the ball […]
Posted inSports
Loudonville 3rd in KMAC wrestling championships
GALION – A member of the KMAC in wrestling since the 2020-21 season, Loudonville put together 156 team points Saturday in the KMAC Championships at Northmor, good enough for third place. Elgin was an easy 294.5-212.5 winner over runner-up Northmor. The Redbirds and coach Ryan Thatcher received their lone individual title at 126 from Tyler […]
Posted inSports
Monroeville cruises to Firelands Conference wrestling crown ahead of Plymouth, Crestview
GREENWICH – The Monroeville wrestling team is getting better and better at winning Firelands Conference Championships. On Saturday, the Eagles stretched their title streak to three straight years, blowing by runner-up Plymouth, 207-121, for the first FC three-peat since Crestview’s run of five in a row from 2007 through 2011. It was much more of […]
Posted inGirls Basketball
6th-ranked Loudonville blasts Raiders, finishes dominant regular season
LOUDONVILLE – The Loudonville girls basketball team celebrated its seniors, shot the lights out, then cut the nets down Saturday afternoon. Now the Redbirds’ season can begin. Not shy all year about stating its No. 1 priority of making a run to the Division IV Final Four, Loudonville bludgeoned visiting Columbia 88-49 at The Cage. […]
Posted inBoys Basketball
Ediger’s shooting pushes Ashland past Madison
ASHLAND – It almost seemed like Paxon Ediger spent much of January slowly building a nice, sensible portfolio of a budding basketball career. Then on Friday night inside Arrow Arena against Madison in his February opener, the Ashland sophomore chose to just hit the lottery instead. Perhaps the biggest key to Ashland’s expanding turnaround, Ediger […]
Posted inBoys Basketball
Hillsdale holds down Mapleton, stretches win streak to 7
JEROMESVILLE – Traditionally, a Hillsdale vs. Mapleton matchup in boys basketball wouldn’t send fans running to the ticket booth. The two Ashland County programs have had their fair share of down seasons, but Tuesday in Steve Dickerson Gymnasium the nonconference foes paired up in one of the most intriguing meetings in the history of the […]
Posted inAshland University
AU women tearing through season as nation’s No. 1 team
ASHLAND – For most teams in Division II women’s basketball, this point in January is the home stretch. For Ashland University – if history keeps repeating – it’s not even the halfway point. Five times since 2012, the Eagles have played in the national championship game. If rankings are any indicator, they’re on pace to […]