Parkway hoops: a season to remember

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent sports editor

ROCKFORD — It was a basketball team and a season that will be talked about for many years to come.

The 2019-2020 Parkway Panthers finished the regular season 15-7 and 7-2 in the powerful Midwest Athleic Conference, trailing only Versailles, a team that finished 23-2 and No. 3 in the final Associated Press Division III poll.

It a team that featured Caleb Kinney, who averaged 18.3 points per game and became Parkway’s all-time leading scorer. The 6-4 senior guard also averaged eight rebounds per game for the Panthers, but he was far from a one man show.

6-4 junior guard Dylan Hughes averaged 14.3 points and a team-leading 9.1 rebounds per game, and 5-10 sophomore guard Caden Slusher contributed 10.8 points per game. 6-1 senior forward Nick Hawk (6.3 ppg), 6-3 senior guard Gavin Stober (2.9 ppg, 3.0 rpg) and 6-2 senior guard Corey Walls (3.2 ppg) also contributed to a squad that was on a roll at tournament time.

As the No. 2 seed at the Wapakoneta district, Parkway opted for a first round bye, then rolled past Upper Scioto Valley 63-39 in the Division IV sectional championship game at Coldwater High School. A 48-43 district semifinal win over Minster ensued, followed by the school’s first ever district championship victory, 41-31 over Marion Local.

The victory over the Flyers sent Parkway to the BGSU regional and on March 10, the Panthers got by Tiffin Calvert 44-42, boosting the team’s record to 19-7 and putting them in the ‘Elite Eight’ against No. 1 Columbus Grove.

It turned out to be the final game of the season.

Two days later, and one day before the regional championship game, the Ohio High School Athletic Association announced that all winter sports tournaments – boys regional basketball, girls state basketball, state wrestling and ice hockey – had been postponed due to the danger of the coronavirus, or COVID-19.

“We had a great practice on Wednesday and had a super film session with the kids,” Parkway head coach Doug Hughes said. “I had just finished the scouting report for Columbus Grove on Thursday morning. At lunch I got word that they were pulling the girls off the court at St. John Arena for the Girls State Basketball Tournament. At that point it hit me that we were probably done. It was an awful feeling.”

“We met with the team on Thursday at 1:20 after hearing that they had postponed all tournaments,” Hughes continued. “It was a very difficult meeting with the team. We had put so much work into this, but we also began to realize that this was much bigger than basketball.”

“We told the players that we had to trust those in charge and that this decision was in the best interest of everyone. Once again we stressed just worry about the things you can control and obviously this isn’t something we could control. We told them as we left that meeting that hopefully we get a chance to play Grove.”

Unfortunately, that chance wouldn’t come.

After two weeks of waiting and hoping for a shot to play the top-ranked Bulldogs for a spot in the Division IV Final Four, the word came from OHSAA that winter sports tournaments were officially canceled because of the rapidly spreading COVID-19 virus.

“We are just devastated that the tournaments cannot be completed, but our priority is the safety of our student-athletes, coaches, communities and officials,” OHSAA Executive Director Jerry Snodgrass said while delivering the grim news.

Just like that, it was over, but it doesn’t take away from a season that began with high hopes.

“Our expectations were very high all year long,” Hughes stated. “We talked about how important it was that we embraced the grind. We talked a lot about the long season that is basketball and how important it was that we kept working hard in practice and grinding.”

“All along I envisioned us winning championships and getting to Columbus and I think many of our guys were just as confident as I was. I think you could see that confidence throughout the tournament. Many times our backs were against the wall and we made plays to win close basketball games We believed in one another and played so well together – this is a very tight group.”

“We always believed this team was special,” the coach added. “The 15 players and coaches believed this was going to be a very special season. I thought we got extremely focused over the last month of the season.”

“Practices were more focused toward the end of the year. Even after losing some close games early we were all still very confident and at no time did anyone in our locker room doubt what we could accomplish.”

While looking back on the season, Hughes noted there were many things he liked about his 2019-2020 Panthers, including their unselfish play on the court and their commitment in and out of season.

“They played the game the right way – they played for each other and they made sacrifices so that the team could accomplish great things,” Hughes said. “They got excited for each other’s success.”

“Secondly, they worked hard to get better not only during the season but from the time last season ended to when it began again in November. These guys put a lot of time in and it was fun to see it pay off.”

“We did a shooting club last summer. Players charted their made shots throughout the summer. We had guys shooting for hours and hours a day. In fact, our top two shooters had over 50,000 makes and we had twelve players make over 10,000 shots The players’ work this past off-season showed how serious they were about being champions. These guys are winners.”

The roster featured seven seniors – Kinney, Halk, Stober, Walls, Kendall Roof, Ryan Hesse and Jason Luth.

“They understand how to win and they always outworked others whether it was in the weight room or on the basketball court,” Hughes said of his senior group. “They also embraced leading and holding each other accountable.”

“This year’s team was a player led team and that leadership came directly from these seven seniors. We had some great practices throughout the year. They made each other better at practice throughout the week. They didn’t take it easy on each other. Everyday they competed.”

“I will always remember this group because they were winners. They completely understood what it takes to win championships. It takes a whole lot of hard work, unselfishness, and confidence in one another to win championships and these guys understood that.”

Hughes also paid tribute to Parkway fans who showed up in full force and enjoyed the record-setting ride.

“Our fan support was unbelievable,” Hughes said. “It is something that none of us will ever forget. The crowd and the student support provided momentum and energy to the team throughout the entire season.”

“We went 8-3 at home this year. We definitely had a home court advantage and it continued into the tournament. Our fans packed Wapakoneta and the crowd continued to grow at the regionals at Bowling Green.”

“Our fans have always supported us, but I think all of us were a little surprised at how the crowds continued to grow with each win. What would it have been like in Columbus? This team firmly believed that we would be there playing for a state title.”