Yappi.com writer
MASSILLON-Michael Buffer will not be in attendance at the Canton Civic Center Thursday night.
That's OK because the Perry Panthers or the Massillon Tigers do not need his services for this rumble.
Their rumble is not only for supremacy but a greater bonus: a chance to compete for the district championship and both teams will get their chance to complete the second half of the bracket in what is expected to be a sold-out district semifinal Thursday night at 7:30 p.m. at the Canton Civic Center.
Aside from the first game, which ended with a Massillon 61-60 win at Perry in front of 3,000 fans, this game has another interesting subplot: The Perry seniors on this year's team have never beaten Massillon in their lives. Same as Massillon, the seniors on their team have never lost to Perry in their lives.
That streak of perfection will continue for only one of these two teams after Thursday.
"This is a big game for the communities of Perry and Massillon. Our peers are looking for us to beat them and to do that will be pretty big," Perry senior guard Matt Ehmer said. "We are 0-2 against Massillon (on the varsity level) and I have never beaten them in my life. Before graduation, we all want to beat Massillon."
The Panthers other loss came to the Tigers by a score of 74-56 back in the 2004-05 season. Senior guard Ryan Clokey is aware that this game will be personal after the last two Tigers wins. And the fact that it is a district semifinal adds to the intensity of the game.
"This game is always personal. It's Massillon," he said. "It will be that way because we don't like each other."
Massillon enters this semifinal game riding high on a seven-game winning streak. They have not lost a game since their 83-66 loss to a strong Canton McKinley basketball team.
Junior guard Michael Porrini was a huge reason for the Panthers troubles in the first game. He spearheaded the Massillon attack and finished with 20 points. His 20th point came on a buzzer-beating basket.
During a Massillon practice, when he was informed that the Perry seniors on the team have never beaten Massillon, he took it upon himself to provide some firepower.
Don't expect Massillon boss Matt Creamer to get caught up in the hoopla of this game. When the season started, he knew that Perry was going to be a team that would be in a position to contend for a district title.
Creamer acknowledges that he harbors no ill will toward his 47-year-old rival coach, second-year head coach and 1977 Perry High School graduate Rob Toth. He has the sincerest admiration of what Toth has accomplished in the second season, from the Panthers going 9-13 to where they are right now at 16-6.
"Rob has done a great job since he has been the head coach at Perry. His players do the little things right. They take charges, go after loose balls, and provide opportunities for scores," he said. "He does all the right things."
The Tigers were fortunate to rebound after allowing an early 9-0 run against Green in their sectional contest. They cannot afford to get down against the Panthers, especially with 6'11'', 245 lb. sophomore Kenny Frease holding down the fort inside the paint.
Playing Green is one thing. But Perry is another. Creamer knows what his workhorses are capable of doing.
"Our best game is still out there. It is out there but our players have to go and grab it." he said.
Toth feels that his team has made vast improvements in the two games that he has coached against the Tigers. From being routed in the first contest to the previously played contest, the Panthers were just a point from a likely #2 seed in the district tournament.
He insists that there is no pressure whatsoever for his Panthers. Like Creamer, he has said that it is just another high school basketball game. Revenge is not discussed around the Perry camp and he doesn't bring it up.
"Both teams know what is at stake and Massillon has been in close games in the past," Toth commented. "When you are faced with adversity, you have to step up."
"A win over Massillon would be nice and we can be the first team under Coach Toth to do that," Ehmer said.
Clokey believes that the Panthers strength is finishing out games. Although the Panthers have survived close shaves against Jackson and Lake, he believes the loss to Massillon just toughened up their spirits.
In a rivalry like this, Clokey believes that if this game comes down to a slugfest, it will play in the hands of the Panthers because of their toughness.
"If this game turns into a backyard fight, it will be to our advantage this time around," he said.
Massillon guard Mario Edwards though sees it differently. He showed a flash of disdain for the Panthers and he is aware of the importance of this game and what is at the end of the tunnel for the winning team.
Edwards, like seniors Tristan Murry and Yianni Vellios have not lost to Perry in their lives. And Edwards does not see it happening.
"Cross town rivals do not like each other. This game will be a backyard fight and it will be to our advantage," Edwards said. "We are hungrier than they are and right now, we want it more."
"We were 18-2 in the regular season. To advance to the district championship will mean a lot because it will add to what we have done as seniors."
The winner of this game will draw a date with the Canton McKinley-GlenOak winner for the 2006 district championship, Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. at the Canton Civic Center.
Massillon last appeared in a district title game and took the title away from defending champion Canton McKinley 71-67 in 2003. Perry last played in the title game 15 years ago. Toth and Creamer know the importance of this game.
"This is the game to advance to the next round and we have to go through Massillon, simple as that," Toth said.
"We just want to win this one game and extend our season one more game," a terse Creamer said.
Michael Buffer will not be at the Civic Center but for the Perry Panthers and Massillon Tigers, they don't need his services for their second rumble of the season.
DIVISION I DISTRICT SEMIFINAL AT A GLANCEWHO: Perry Panthers (16-6) vs. Massillon Tigers (19-2).
WHAT: Canton Division I district semifinal.
WHERE: Canton Memorial Civic Center, Canton, OH.
WHEN: Thursday, March 9, 7:30 p.m.
TOURNAMENT RESULTS: #3 seed Perry defeated Jackson 42-41 and Lake 44-41. #2 seed Massillon defeated Green 80-55.
NEXT GAME: Winner to Canton Division I district championship game March 11 at 7:30 p.m. vs. Canton McKinley-GlenOak winner.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Perry had trouble in stopping Massillon junior guard Michael Porrini as he scored 20 points to lead the Tigers to a heart-stopping 61-60 win in their regular season confrontation. The Panthers will have to find a way to get sophomore center Kenny Frease going against a Massillon interior, whose tallest player is 6'3'' 210 lb. junior Andrew Dailey. With the exception of Canton McKinley, Massillon has outstanding guard play from Porrini, Mario Edwards, and Brian Gamble. Look for these three players to try and go at the basket early and often. This might be another game that comes down to the wire and probably the team that has the ball last.