Perry Reese Jr.......10 years later

• Hesston

  

  hard to believe its been 10........wish my kids would have known him
  
  
  http://www.holmesbargainhunter.com/article/20110208/SPORTS/702089911/-1/hbh50
• THE4RINGZ

  

  Mr. Reese was a great coach, teacher, and man. He was a man of principles, integrity, and honor. His character was rivaled only by the late John Wooden in coaching circles.
  
  His legacy continues at Hiland he laid the foundations for what has become a first class basketball program
  
  The world could use a few more Perry Reese Jr.'s.
• september63

  

  THE4RINGZ;672734 wrote:Mr. Reese was a great coach, teacher, and man. He was a man of principles, integrity, and honor. His character was rivaled only by the late John Wooden in coaching circles.
  
  His legacy continues at Hiland he laid the foundations for what has become a first class basketball program
  
  The world could use a few more Perry Reese Jr.'s.

  
  Amen.
• september63

  

  www.sportsillustrated.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1021912/8/index.htm
• hiland78

  

  Hesston, we are older now than Perry was when he was laid to rest. How time flies! RIP Coach.
• sports_talk

  I would like to have met and talked hoops with this man. The first time I saw him in Columbus i knew there was something special about him.
• majorspark

  

  Coach Reese was my high school basketball coach. But he was more than that. He made a great impact on my life and the work ethic I have had as an adult. Second only to my Father who is one of the hardest working men I know. My parents divorced when I was 10. My Dad got laid off for a while and eventually found a another job. He had to work afternoons so he did not get to see many games. I was no gifted athlete. But Coach taught me that if I worked hard I could have a great impact. Defense comes from the heart. Coach always said offense sells ticket but defense wins games.
  
  I beleived in that and Coach trusted me to defend some of the top players in the IVC at the time. Boxing out, taking charges, and balls to the wall defense until you had to hold up the fist to be taken out to catch your breath. Man to man full court hard. I can still hear those words today calling out our press. I still remember his trademark practice attire. Sweat pants with the black and red flannel.
  
  I remember one year I was injured. Coach never road the bus. He asked me to ride to the game with him. It was an away game. I was no star player but he cared for all of us. I took him up on it and rode up in the old charcoal gray Grand Am the community bought for him after Coach took us to state in 85-86. He chatted with me the whole way there and he bought me some McDonald's on the way back.
  
  Coach's door was always open. When teenagers screwed up as many do. Including myself. Coach was there to set you straight. If he heard things that he thought would harm you he would confront you with it. I remember sitting in his office in the old high school locker room receiving some wise instruction for some stupid things I had done in the off season. He made it clear to myself and my fellow teammate what the consequences would be.
  
  The last time I remember talking to him was at an away game at Malvern. By this time I was married and had children. He was always happy to talk with his former players and hear and see that they were happy and fruitful in life. That is what he was about. He never experienced the traditional family. We were his family.
  
  We miss you Coach.
• THE4RINGZ

  

  Major, great first hand insight, thank you.
  
  I do have a question for you Hiland faithful. Reese coached the 85-86 championship team, was that his first or second season as coach. I remember when we played Hiland mu senior year (1984) Charlie Huggins was the head coach.
• bases_loaded

  

  How is this story not a movie yet?
• majorspark

  

  THE4RINGZ;674027 wrote:Major, great first hand insight, thank you.
  
  I do have a question for you Hiland faithful. Reese coached the 85-86 championship team, was that his first or second season as coach. I remember when we played Hiland mu senior year (1984) Charlie Huggins was the head coach.

  It was his 2nd year. His 1st year we went to the regional finals and lost to Skyvue in triple overtime. 85-86 we did not win the championship but lost in the semi final to Dayton Jefferson on a last second shot.
• THE4RINGZ

  

  Thanks for the info Major
• Hesston

  

  the man was such a leader................. Denzell would be a great fit to play coach (always thought Danny Devito would be a good Willy Mast ) driving that Semi north from Gnaden to Berlin (if the producers started that far back) bringing old man Huggins and his out of place assistant.
• THE4RINGZ

  

  Could DeVito do a Eastern Holmes County accent?
• tfloangel

  bases_loaded;674030 wrote:How is this story not a movie yet?

  Screenplay's been done for years... last I heard was a couple years ago when the official word was that Disney - who only makes a few lower budget movies per year - opted for a really horrible chick flick instead. (this is coming from a chick who saw it ) I think the hope is that with the success of The Blindside, it will help, but at the time there had been so many basketball movies (Glory Road, Coach Carter) recently they thought it would be overkill.
• Bio-Hazzzzard

  

  I played for Coach as well. His leadership has a strong foundation in the life I live now.
  
  I remember those days Majorspark, your post brought back good memories.
• RedRider1

  

  As an Orrville guy, I remember the 1992 game against Hiland. It was played at New Philly and that place was packed to the rafters. Orrville won, but it was tight the whole way.
  
  Both teams went on to win state later that March.
  
  IMO, Orrville and Hiland should play every year. Two great programs that had their traditions cast by two legendary coaches (Reese & Orrville's Steve Smith) that saw their time on earth end too soon.
  
  Lots of similarities.
• ricola

  

  with CV leaving the IVC, at least in the short term that will allow two extra nonconference games a year. Would like to see a Hiland/Orrville yearly match as well.
• Hesston

  

  Orrville/Hiland would be a very good home/away......Orrville use to be on the schedule every year.......was at that '92 classic in Philly, last game of the regular season, tournament atmosphere, standing room only, came down to last posetion, I remember the Mischler point guard bringing the ball up the court, everyone standing (fans) then I'm not sure what happened but Orrville won.....great game, top 10 all time for sure. and ya both Orrvilee and Hiland went on to win stste championships that year, fun watching and cheering for Orrville in C-bus. Roy Bates was proud.........