The City Series used to be real good.North
East
South
Rayen
Chaney
Wilson
There was some pretty good basketball played back in the day in this conference. Rayen had some stellar years with some big time players; South was always a force; North had their share of talent as well.
The ironic thing about that was Ted Stepein put a lot of money in the Fieldhouse for that semiprofessional team that lasted a few weeks. After that went sideways so did the 'houseShame they let South Fieldhouse go to waste.... It was a nice facility.
I loved watching those Rayen teams of the late 70's with Joe James, and Greg Jones. I also believe Terry Taylor was on those teams. He ended being a all pro DB for the Seattle Seahawks.
He and Rick Brook, of Sebring went up against each other a few times. Sebring scheduled up in the 80'sCoach Frank Cegledy? Has there ever been anyone like him?
I remember those days. Eric Posey was by any measure a pure shooter by todays' stats averaged a triple-double in scoring, rebounding and if they took assists. I think from his sophomore year to senior he led the city in scoring and was first or tied in rebounds. Back then North would play other teams that had 2-3 bigs, Mason, Jaffee, and Anderson, then later James at Rayen, Howell, Shorter, at South with Ellington, Dyson and Jones at East. They would battle every week in the field house. 6'6' and they had to play him at a forward/center but he was clearly a 3 or wing guard, he had to avg 3-4 blocks a game. I saw him deal with double teams for 3 years and still went for 27 on South and 29 on Rayen. When he came home against YSU he shot the lights out for 20+ and had double-digit boards as a small forward/guard. He played in Spain somewhere I think. The city series had great talent and coaches back then. Anthony Haynes and the guard play in the city was brutal, they brought it every night. Greg Jones, Joe James, and Rayen always had the depth to get further in the state playoffs. One year I think North won the city playing about 8 on their squad all year. Rayen, North, South, and East were powerhouses! Frank Cegledy was a legend at Rayen, a few years before a guy at North George Ritz, East and South as well.
That was 1980. Sebring was a sophomore heavy team. If I remember correctly, it was a close game. Sebring beat Rayen two or three times in the late 80's. I know that 89 was one game, played at Sebring, highlighted by two dunks by All-Ohioian Troy Donaldson.I remember Sebring playing North in the Struthers tourney one year too. Late 70s
I believe that was the 1985 Youngstown Rayen team. I wasn’t there but heard stories about thatI was really young but I seem to remember a Youngstown team winning a state title in St. John Arena and the coach and team came out in tuxedos for a team picture at halftime of the next game...anyone else remember this? I thought it was a Youngstown team...