At this time in the summer of 1998

It was at this time in 1998 when the Lehman Boys Varsity Basketball team headed North to the University of Findlay team basketball camp. Lehman was still without a Head Coach, so my Dad; Ken Schlater took the team to Findlay for the weekend.

The Varsity Squad that weekend consisted of: Tommy Middleton, Kyle Goubeaux, Ben Kohlhorst, Bryan Tobe and Eric Hewitt (Seniors), Sam Mikolajewski, Ryan Ratermann, Tony Cianciolo, Tony Staley amd Jake Sinclair ( Juniors) and one sophomore Matt Hare.

We stayed in the dorms that weekend and we were warned if we did not bring any fans, it was gonna be very warm. We were glad we brought fans.

We played six games the first two days and played at 3 different venues: A Lego floor, Liberty Benton High School and Findlay's Basketball arena. We went 4-2 that first day wearing the previous years practice uniforms.

The next day, we played and wore some AAU uniforms. Our biggest test that day was playing some team from Toledo who had two 6'6" guys and we beat them by 10. We played our last game that night and midway through the 4th quarter, Matt Hare sprained his ankle. We went 5-1 that day and showed some major signs of what was to come during the 1998-99 Basketball season.

On Sunday, was tournament day. We wore the practice uniforms from the 1996-97 Basketball season. We made it to the finals of the tournament and went up against the Houston Wildcats on Liberty Bentons floor. With the score tied and time winding down, Tony Cianciolo drove down the lane and got fouled. He made the first free throw and missed the 2nd and Ryan Ratermann made the put back at the horn to secure the 3 point win. We were tournament champs.

I have been saying this all along and I will say it again. The 1998-99 Lehman Boys Basketball team was good enough to win a District Championship and they did not. The Lehman Basketball team went 10-11 in the 1998-99 season.

Just weeks after the Findlay Tournament, Lima Native Jerry Fries was hired as Basketball Coach. My Dad took the helm as the JV Basketball Coach and led the Junior Varsity Squad to the Southwest Rivers Conference Championship.

Five years ago last night

The Boston Celtics capped off a fantastic season winning their 17th Championship, crushing the Lakers in Game 6. Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen help the Celtics bring home the Larry O'Brien trophy for the first time since 1986

Notable Father's Day Sports Moments

1992-93: The Chicago Bulls win their 2nd and 3rd Championships beating Portland and Phoenix in Game 6 Thrillers

1996: The Bulls caping off a record setting season with their 4th NBA Championship

1999: Payne Stewart holding off Phil Mickelson at Pinehurst

2000: Tiger Woods Capturing the first of his 3 US Open Championships at Peeble Beach

2003: David Robinson and Steve Kerr ending their Hall of Fame career's in style. Winning their 2nd and 4th NBA Championships, beating the New Jersey Nets in six games


2004: Ken Griffey Jr hitting his 500th Career Home Run in St. Louis

2005: Robert Horry's heroics Help Spurs take 3-2 Finals lead over Detroit

2008: Tiger Woods birdies The 72nd hole at Torrey Pines to force a 18 hole playoff with Rocco Mediate

2009: Phil Jackson guiding the Lakers to the Championship and his 10th, passing Red Auerbach for most all time for a Head Coach

2011: Rory McIlory Win's the US Open in convincing fashion at Congressional