By Gary Ogle
gogle@wbcowqel.com
Crawford County will be represented by two brothers and one of the county’s all-time scorers at the Ohio North/South All-Star game on April 27.
“It’s very humbling because this is the biggest of any Ohio high school all-star game,” said Colonel Crawford coach and Wynford graduate David Sheldon.
David Sheldon will coach in the Division III/IV game at Ohio Dominican University alongside of his brother Chris, another Wynford graduate, who is the head coach at Western Reserve High School. Playing for the Sheldons will be Colonel Crawford’s second all-time leading scorer, Connor McCreary.
“Obviously it is a tremendous honor to coach in probably the longest-lasting and most prestigious all-star games in the state of Ohio,” said Chris. “To be able to do it with my brother makes it extra special. It’s something to relish in the years to come.”
The coaches and players who take part in the game sponsored by the Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association come from an exclusive group. Players have to be chosen by coaches as their respective district players of the year and coaches have to have taken their teams to at least the district championship game.
Each roster is limited to 10 players. The weekend is capped off with a Sunday afternoon slate featuring both boys and girls in four games. Players from Divisions I and II square off in a North versus South contest as do players in Divisions III and IV.
“It’s neat because my brother and I get to do it together,” David said. “It’s truly an honor. This is the elite of the state of Ohio.”
The Sheldons are not the first in their family to coach in the game. David’s wife, Wynford girls’ coach Amy, coached on the girls’ side in 2004. Their father, Rob, coached in 1988 when he was at Wynford.
“He (Rob) was just really happy for us,” Chris said. “He knows the prestige that comes with coaching in the North/South All-Star game. They make it such a tremendous experience for the coaches and the players.”
Speaking of those players, David said the goal was to get as much court time as possible for all of them to showcase their tremendous talents.
“It’s more letting all the kids play. We’ll practice and try to get them back in basketball shape a little,” David said. “If it’s close though, we’ll definitely go with the ones that are playing well that day.”
The Sheldons have never coached against one another. Chris said their father knew better than to put them on the court together and offered that the last time they played against one another in a little brotherly one-on-one resulted in broken body parts for each.
So if push comes to shove on the bench, literally or figuratively, who will make the decisions?
“I’m sure if it comes down to making a decision I’ll be the one making it because I make most of the right ones,” Chris said.
David was thinking post-game press conference.
“I’m going to blame Chris for anything that goes wrong and take credit for anything that goes right.”
“It’s been like that for 25 years,” Chris said. “Nothing has changed.”
The game does have an added benefit for David.
“It’s a neat way for Connor (McCreary) to end a fabulous career,” David said. “It’s one more weekend I’ll get to spend with him before he goes to college.”
McCreary, who holds the Colonel Crawford school record for most made 3-pointers, has accepted a scholarship to play at Marietta. He led the North Central Conference in scoring as a senior at just under 20 points per game.
Tickets for the all-star afternoon at Ohio Dominican can be purchased at the door on April 27.