Remembering the Ohio Big 8 Conference

[Qcity]

How about a little throwback to one of Ohio's all-time great basketball (only) conferences: The Ohio Big 8.

Class AAA

Alliance Aviators
Barberton Magics
East Liverpool Potters
Massillon Tigers
Niles Red Dragons
Salem Quakers
Warren Harding Panthers
Warren Western Reserve Raiders

What an epic league with some of the top teams and athletes in Ohio back in the day.

 

[Bull GreenDog]

What years did this conference exist? Never heard of it

 

[Mr. Slippery]

What years did this conference exist? Never heard of it

'60s and '70s

Brief mention of it here, although the details may not be 100% accurate:

https://www.tribtoday.com/sports/high-school-sports/2017/08/1960s-a-time-of-change-in-area-school-athletics/

It was not a basketball copy of the All-American Conference as the article suggests.

 

[Maxie]

The ORIGINAL members of the BIG 8 Conference—1962-63
1–Alliance
2–Canton McKinley
3–East Liverpool
4–Massillon Washington
5–Niles
6–Salem
7–Steubenville
8–Warren Harding

Massillon Washington left the league after the 1965-66 season. The Tigers rejoined the conference in 1973-74. These schools were members at this time:

1–Alliance
2–Barberton
3–East Liverpool
4–Massillon Washington
5–Niles
6–Salem
7–Warren Harding
8–Warren Western Reserve

The Tigers left the league after the 1976-77 season.

 

[Qcity]

Appreciate that early history from the '60's!

Barberton won the state title in 1976.

 

[Maxie]

Appreciate that early history from the '60's!

Barberton won the state title in 1976.

The Magics could have won the title two years in a row. I attended both of those games. Great basketball.

 

[Qcity]

They had an incredible team and coach. I know.

 

[ysuindy]

Carter Scott and the Bodnar twins. Saw them play at Salem. One of the best teams of that era.

 

[Baller]

That was a great conference. Remember it well! When I played at Barbertoin in early 80s we went independent.

 

[111411]

Does anyone remember Harry Fails, at Alliance? He and Greynolds had some big battles. Both were from the same mold.

 

[Qcity]

Definitely remember Fails ……..went up against him. He was intense all the way around, but if you didn’t hustle on defense, you were out.

 

[pete penny]

Harding had great basketball during that time period.

 

[Struthersfan]

Harding had great basketball during that time period.

Salem wasn't too bad either. Saw a few games down there at Cabas gym.

 

[Scipio]

I was just trying to remember who made up this conference and found this thread. This was the BB conference I grew up watching. Warren Reserve and Barberton were the perennial favorites and my Panthers were pretty good back then.
I had forgotten that EL and Salem were in it, and thought McKinley WAS in it the whole time.
Barberton was so much fun to watch. I can still remember those bad arse uniforms/warm-ups and that cool pre-game warm-up they did.

 

[Maxie]

I was just trying to remember who made up this conference and found this thread. This was the BB conference I grew up watching. Warren Reserve and Barberton were the perennial favorites and my Panthers were pretty good back then.
I had forgotten that EL and Salem were in it, and thought McKinley WAS in it the whole time.
Barberton was so much fun to watch. I can still remember those bad arse uniforms/warm-ups and that cool pre-game warm-up they did.

C. McKinley was in the league only in the 60’s. Some great basketball!

 

[wghfan]

There were some great Barberton/Warren Western Reserve games back then also.

 

[trojandave]

Speaking of great leagues, Portsmouth was a member of the Greater Ohio League from the mid 40's to the mid 70's. The league's steady members were Middletown, Hamilton, Lima, Springfield, and Portsmouth. Chillicothe and Mansfield were members briefly. From 1944 to 1961, the GOL produced 11 big school state championships (Middletown 7, Hamilton 2, Springfield 1, and Portsmouth 1). As good as Portsmouth's program has been historically, the Trojans only won the GOL twice (1955 and 1961). PHS was eliminated in the regionals in the 1950's 4 times by Middletown or Hamilton. In 1956, Portsmouth lost to Middletown (with Jerry Lucas) in the regional semifinal 102-82, a score which for that time was extremely rare and today unheard of in tournament play.

Hamilton left the league in the 1960's, splitting into Hamilton Taft(won the state in 1962) and Hamilton, while Middletown exited several years later. The GOL finally disbanded in the mid 70's with the only remaining members being Springfield South, Lima, and Portsmouth. PHS had a losing record against every GOL opponent, Middletown 17-47, Hamilton 10-21, Lima 12-19, and Springfield(South) 29-36. The Trojans had some very good teams during those GOL years, but the league was probably the toughest in the state at that time. As a result of the rugged competition that the GOL provided, the Trojans did very well against non-league opponents, especially those in Columbus, Dayton, and Cincinnati.