On this day, six years ago... Carl Elliott stuns UD Arena and the Flyers

On this day in 2005, The Dayton Flyers hosted the George Washington Colonels in a critical Atlantic 10 conference showdown. Dayton was ahead by 7 late in the second half, George Washington stormed back to tie the game at 59. The Flyers had the ball with time winding down, Monty Scott dribbled to his left and passed the ball to Marques Bennett on the left wing, the pass was intercepted by George Washington’s Carl Elliott, Elliott got past the mid-court stripe and heaved a 30 footer that hit nothing but the bottom of the net. The George Washington bench exploded off of the court and the Arena was dead silent. You could not hear a pin drop, it was that silent. Elliott scored just five points that game, but his last three were his most memorable. The Colonels would go on to win the Atlantic 10 Championship that season and bow out in the first round in the NCAA tournament. I was at the game with my Mom and Dad and my cousin Eli, who is still shocked about the Elliott three pointer. Eli could not believe how shocked the Arena was whne Elliotts three went through the net.

On this night six years ago... The beginning of good times for Lehman Boys Basketball

On this night six years ago, the Lehman Cavaliers took on the Botkins Trojans in the 2005 Sectional Championship game at Piqua High School, it was Lehman's first trip to the Sectionals since my senior year. Botkins led by 3 after 3 quarters, but thanks to Kyle Corbin and Doug Westerheide, Lehman rallyed back to take the lead by 1 with 2:00 to go. After a timeout, Lehman had possession. Doug Westerheide took the inbound pass, drove down the lane and into Lehman Basketball lore as his three point play gave Lehman a four point lead and the Cavaliers were off the the District Championship game for the first time in 25 years. It was a great night to be a Lehman Alumni, not to mention, Lehman won the sectional championship on the 8 month anniversary of my Grandfather's passing. Lehman would win the sectionals in 2007, 2009 and 2010, however, they would lose in the District Championship all four times.

On this night 10 years ago

On this night, 10 years ago, The Lehman Cavaliers took on the Middletown Fenwick Falcons in the opening round of the 2001 Boys High School tournament. The Cavaliers led by 16 at the half, but Fenwick caught fire in the second half and rallied to win 60-56, ending the High School careers of Brad Hampshire, Bill Mertz, Derrick Orlik and Matt Sargeant. Orlik led the Cavaliers in scoring that night with 33 points. That game would be the first of four games that Lehman would lose double digit leads in tournament play: 2002 they led Oakwood by 14 in the Fourth Quarter and lost on a last second shot, 2004: they led Troy Christian by 17 in the second half and lost by 4 that night and in the district championship game, who could ever forgot about that night, they blew a 14 point 4th quarter lead to Lockland and lost in Overtime by six.

NBA All-Star Game is over-rated.

To be 100% honest with all of you, I think that the NBA All-Star game is "over-rated". The players are just in the game to "show-off", there is no defense, nothing to play for, like in Baseball. I think that the winner in the All-Star game should get Home Court Advantage in the NBA Finals, just like baseball rewards the winning league of the MLB All-Star game homefield advantage in the Fall Classic.

Six years ago today... A Dayton Xavier thriller at UD Arena

On this day in 2005, the last time the 19^th was on a Saturday, the Dayton Flyers hosted the Xavier Musketeers at UD Arena, it was a game televised by ESPN. The Flyers led by 2 at the half and midway through the second half the Flyers found themselves down by five with 4:30 minutes to go. Monty Scott drilled a three from the right wing to bring the Flyers to within two. After a Dayton basket that tied the game with 90 seconds left, Xavier sophomore Justin Doleman scored on the low block and it set the stage for Marques Bennett’s 15 minutes of fame. On Dayton’s next possession, Bennett took a pass at the High Post, drove down the lane and made a driving lay-up. He converted the ensuing free throw to give Dayton the lead. After A Xavier missed shot, Bennett grabbed the rebound and made the two free throws to seal Dayton’s exciting 59-55 victory. Bennett was named the games most outstanding player for his last minute heroics and his name would be etched in with Rodney Horton for his final minute heroics in 1996. I was at the game with My parents, My aunt and uncle John and Sharon Rittenhouse, their two sons, Josh and Zach, who was a Dayton freshmen at the time and he also had his body painted red with a white letter on his chest. It was at the time the loudest Arena I have ever been in. Xavier finished the season at a respectable 17-13 and Dayton finished the season 18-12 and Brian Gregory was named Atlantic 10 coach of the year and he earned it as well.

On this Day 10 years ago...

On this night in 2001, “The best Basketball Coach to never coach at the Varsity level”, coached his final Junior Varsity game at Lehman High School. My Dad was one of the most well respected basketball minds in Shelby County. Lehman hosted New Knoxville that night at the Schlater Gymasium. Dad's team had lost 2 of their last three games going into that night and they would fall short in Dad's final game.  I was the only member of the Ken Schlater family in attendance that night, my entire immediate family was in town that weekend. Angie and Rick were out to eat with Rick’s parents who were in town, Sara and Bryan hung out at their house with Grace, who was only two months old and I don’t remember what Emily and Allison were doing. I am still upset that my Mom was not in attendance that night. I guess that the phrase "Last Game" did not mean a whole lot to her, lol.  I even tried to get Bill and Peter Schlater, who were at the lake at the time, to go that night, but to no avail. I do recall, that Nick Sharkey and Sam Schlater did go to that game, because both were at Indian Lake during that very weekend.  It was the final home game for seniors, Matt Sargeant, Brad Hampshire, Bill Mertz and Derrick Orlik.  In a few weeks, I am going to post a story about My Dad on this page.

My Favorite time of the year is a month away, yeah baby

My favorite time of the year, March Madness is a month away. Conference tournaments, selection sunday, it dont get any better. Plus, it will be time for me to get the golf clubs out and get them shined up for a summer of swinging fun.

Oh, for my friends who read this, March 17, around 6:30-6:45, I am planning on seeing if alot of people want to go to Frickers in Troy and watch basketball that night. Thank you.

On this Date 11 years ago

February 11, 2000 was one of the greatest days of my life. It was parents night at Lehman, my Parents were over in Hawaii at the time, so Sara and Bryan had to play the role of my parents for the basketball game at Lehman. Earlier that day, my sister Emily had sent a basket of goodies to school for my last home game. That night the Lehman Cavaliers hosted the Ben Logan Raiders. As we were coming out for warm ups, I ran into one of the cheerleaders and towards the end of warm ups, my rib cage was a little sore.

There was about 3 1/2 miuntes remaining in the game and I entered the contest. After two missed shots, Tony Cianciolo grabbed a rebound off a Ben Logan missed shot as I headed down the right side of the floor. Tony passed me the ball on the right wing and Ryan Ratermann set the pick to free me up for a wide open three pointer that hit nothing but the bottom of the net. The gym errupted. On our next possession, Tony passed me the ball, I was so excited, I passed the ball right to a Ben Logan defender and I was so upset with myself, I tried to foul him, but to no avail. Moments later, I was taken out of the game to a standing ovation from the Lehman faithful. Lehman won that night, 72-48. After the game, there were Lehman students there to hug me, congratulate me on the moment, the locker room was electric.  My sister, and some of the Lehman parents waited outside the Locker Room to hug and congratulate me on my achievement. I still have the article from the Sidney Daily News that Saturday Morning. 

The very next day, I received ballons from The Ratermann family. We played Russia that night, as we were about to take the floor for warm-ups, My oldest niece, Allison who was days shy of her 5th birthday, came up to me and wrapped her arms around my legs to give me a congratulations hug.

The following week, I would receive cards and alot of articles from the Sidney paper from the achievement. Last year at this time, My name made the paper for the 10 year anniversary of the tri-fecta.

Oh, February 11, 2000, was on a Friday as well.

On this day, 15 and 11 years ago

After Reading the article the Larry Handsgen wrote in the Dayton Daily News about the death of Chris Daniels in 1996 and noting that it was on a Thursday, it brought back a couple memorable moments from 15 years ago today.

On this day in 1996, the Holy Angels Boys, seventh and eighth grade basketball teams played their last game of the season against Houston. The seventh grade won by six and the eight grade team lost by five after blowing an eight point third quarter lead. After the conclusion of the eighth grade game, there was an extra period for the “scrubs” to play. The Houston 3^rd stringers beat our 3^rd stringers 15-3 in the extra period.  I made a free throw with 20 seconds left to close out our scoring. As I was walking off the court that morning, I had the sense that I was putting on a basketball uniform for the last time, however, that would change in October of 1999.  The eighth grade boys season did not end on that day, the following Thursday, we played our fathers and beat them by four. My Mom and Connie Behr, coached the eighth grade boys that night and I was the only one on either team not to score and I am still upset about it to this day. When you’re Luke Schlater, you do not forget about certain things like these.

Later that night at Houston, Lehman played Russia in High School basketball. Lehman led throughout the contest, however, a scary moment took place midway through the 3^rd quarter, Kevin Geise dove on the floor for a loose ball and collided with a Russia player and Geise got knocked out and laid motionless for about five minutes. He had to be carried off the court on a stretcher. Lehman ended up winning the game by 10, but the game seemed to take an eternity to end.

On the day in 2000, the Cincinnati Reds traded for Superstar outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. I remember sitting at Lehman that day and Mr. Hoying, one of our guidance counselors informed us of the Reds making the trade. I remember sitting at Sara and Bryan’s house that night watching sportscenter and the press conference.

You are probably wondering why...

You are probably wondering why I am posting moments from 10, 15 and 20 years ago. Well some memorable moments in the sports world took place 10, 15, and 20 years ago. I knew that Chris Daniels passed away 15 years ago, did not know of the actual date until just a few days ago when I looked on his brothers website. Well, thats all I have for know. Until next time, later.

On this day in 1996, A Sad Day for the University of Dayton and Dayton Flyer Basketball

On this day in 1996, The University of Dayton and the Dayton Flyer Men's Basketball program endured a painful loss. Senior Forward, Chris Daniels, died of Cardiac Arrhythmia in his sleep. At the time of his passing, Chris was in the top five in field goal percentage. I had the opportunity to be at one his last games at UD Arena just a few weeks before. It was a sad day for the University of Dayton and for the Flyer basketball program. I remember when I arrived at Holy Angels School that morning, Jamie Westerheide, informed me of the news. The Atlantic 10 Conference Most Improved Player Award is named in his honor.

Congrats To The Packers

Well, it was an exciting end to a great NFL season. The better team in Super Bowl XLV came out Victorious. For the 3rd time in 4 years, the National Football Conference comes out on top. Aaron Rodgers has accomplished something that Brett Farve did not do ( Desmond Howard) win Super Bowl MVP. The Packers will be a lot better next year ( if there is a football season) I would like to tip my hat to Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin, first class man and the Steelers team on an exciting six year run.

Super Sunday is here

Super Bowl Sunday has arrived. The Pittsburgh Steelers from the AFC North and The Green Bay Packers from the NFC North. Two proud franchise's doing battle in Dallas. Ben Roethlisberger has an opportunity to etch his name with the likes of Terry Bradshaw, Joe Montana, Troy Aikman and Tom Brady; as the only Quarterbacks to win three Super Bowls. Will tonight be a blowout like the Bucs and Raiders from Super Bowl XXXVII, The Ravens and Giants from Super Bowl XXXV or a thriller like the one two years ago between the Steelers and Cardinals. I think that the Steelers, with their big game experience will prevail. Their defense is just too good and playing at a high level right now. I think that Ben Roethlisberger is going to have a big game and win his first Super Bowl MVP and pretty much lock up a spot in Canton one day when his career is over. The AFC North is a great division with some pretty good teams in it and I am proud to be a fan of the Steelers arch-rival, Bengals

What is wrong with rooting for your division opponent in the Super Bowl

Ok people, I am being given tons of crap for rooting for the Steelers in the Super Bowl. There the Bengals division rival, they play in the AFC North, so in Luke Schlater's world, I AM RESPECTING OUR DIVISION RIVAL, I AM RESPECTING THE STEELERS, I DONT CARE WHAT BEN ROETHLISBERGER HAS DONE, HE IS A MIAMI UNIVERSITY GRAD AND PLAYED FOR THE LATE TERRY HOEPPNER. You guys can dislike me if you want, I am rooting for the Steelers and for Big Ben. I maybe a DIE-HARD BENGALS FAN, but Sunday, February 6, 2011, I am rooting for the Pittsburgh Steelers to win the Super Bowl. I am not rooting for the team that dissed Brett Farve four years ago. I think that Steelers are the better team, with the better defense. I think that there offense is playing at a higher level than the Packers right now. Hines Ward, Mike Wallace, Heath Miller, Antwan Randle El  are playing at a better level than Donald Driver, Greg Jennings and Co. I think Rashad Mendenhall is going to have a big game as well. Troy Polamulu is going to tear up the Packers on offense, you can not underestimate the Steelers defense, they are just too good.

I'm Ready for the Super Bowl, Golf Season and March Madness

I don't know about any of you, but I am so ready for the Super Bowl. I'm ready to see the Steelers take down the Packers. I am ready for the snow and the cold to be gone so I can get out to the links and work on the golf swing. I will be playing quite a bit this summer. Last but not least, I am so ready for March Madness, my favorite time of the year as far as being a sports fan. Enough of this cold, can't swing a Golf Club in the snow.