(LEX 18) — A 16-year-old is with non-life-threatening injuries after being struck by a train Wednesday evening authorities responded to the intersection of Carmel Street and Beechwood Drive around 6:30 p.m for reports of a male juvenile being struck by a train An investigation revealed that the juvenile was walking along the train tracks listening to music it "started blowing the whistle continuously," and the juvenile began to exit the tracks but not before the side of the train struck him The juvenile was later flown to Cincinnati Children's Hospital Report a typo Armstrong Williams takes on the news of the week and asks the questions you want answered. Don’t miss our weekly town hall. Maysville to host groundbreaking for community basin project with butterfly garden debutby Alberto Cardoso The groundbreaking ceremony for the White Oak Jones Onslow Community Basin Initiative project will be underway on Friday Featuring the Community History and Monarch Butterfly Garden at the corner of 6th and Main Street in Maysville The event will also celebrate the election of Maysville's first female mayor a historic milestone for the town of Maysville Maysville Elementary School students from Mrs Dean's fourth grade class who have reached 50% of their AR goals for the fourth nine weeks are: (back row Local news is not free - support your local paper!  To access content, please login or purchase a subscription To The Garvin County News Star.  Read Garvin County SPRINGFIELD — Maysville needed some 'Gator Magic' on Friday Gator Nichols' game-winning 3 at the buzzer sent the Panthers back to Dayton with a 75-73 double overtime win against Cincinnati Wyoming in the Division IV state semifinal at Wittenberg University as Maysville will face the winner of Glenville-Gates Mills Hawken in the state final at 4:15 p.m It will be the second straight trip to the state title game for Maysville (26-3) The Panthers lost to Kettering Alter 66-56 in last year's championship and he hit a big shot," Maysville coach Dave Brown said It's a tribute to our guys that we made one more play than them and they work as hard as anyone in the state I believe good things happen to good players More: He's Rock steady: How a Maysville junior hooper has embraced the defensive stopper role Wyoming coach Matt Rooks credited Nichols and the Panthers for making the winning plays "We were trying to drive them off the 3-point line and make them take tough 2s The Cowboys scored late in the fourth to tie it at 61 and nearly won at the buzzer but they missed two attempts in the closing seconds Nichols then missed a potential game winner in the first overtime Wyoming took a 71-67 lead after two free throws by Devin Evans with 2:11 left in second overtime Jordyn Watson answered with a 3 then Kane Roehrig stole a pass and found Nichols on an outlet as his layup put the Panthers up 72-71 Kellen Wiley drove to the hole and scored with about 25 seconds left to put the Cowboys back in front The Panthers made the most of their final possession but Roehrig tipped the ball to Landon Iden who found Nichols for the open game winner "I saw the missed shot and found an open spot," Nichols said and Roehrig did his part to make the play happen "I knew I had to get past that (miss) and step up on the defensive end," Iden said "I wanted to make a play somewhere in the game We needed one more play to keep our season going." Watson said the moment was a blur as fans rushed the court after the game winner "Kane and Shark (Iden) made the hustle plays and found Gator," Watson said I knew it was good and started celebrating More: Licking Muskingum All-Star basketball games set for Sunday at Newark Catholic Roehrig had a big first half making three 3s and scoring 11 of his 14 in the first two quarters to help Maysville tie it at 22 at the break and I thought we shot it well," Brown said Nichols opened the third with a four-point play and Roehrig and Watson also hit from deep to stretch the Panthers' advantage to 35-26 midway through the quarter Evans made two of his five 3s late in the third and Wiley also made one behind the arc to cut the lead to one before Gavin Ferguson beat the third-quarter buzzer with a hoop who had all nine of his points in the second half and Watson grabbed a steal and laid the ball in for a 59-54 lead with 45 secoonds left in regulation and after Ferguson split a pair of free throws Wiley found Reid Bornholdt for the tying hoop with six seconds left to make it 61-all Nichols made 11 of 14 free throws and 4 of 7 behind the arc to go with six rebounds and four assists and Watson added 18 points who made 12 of 21 on 3s and 15 of 21 behind the arc "Coach Brown talks about surrender to the outcome," Watson said "We play hard and have faith in each other We don't care how we get to the final result Wiley had 25 points and Evans added 23 to pace the Cowboys who were 7 of 14 on 3s and 8 of 17 at the line They also had 14 turnovers to seven by Maysville — Like the rest of our cities on the Ohio River Maysville's downtown area did experience flooding from last week's storms residents are still dealing with the aftermath of a tornado that went through their county The Wilmington National Weather Service confirmed an EF0 tornado landed in Dover at 1:52 a.m causing widespread destruction to homes and property Resident Mark Gallenstine described the chaos that unfolded when a tree fell on top of his home we thought it shattered the window,” Gallenstine said what it did was push the window down and all the rain just came in.” WATCH: Maysville residents prepare to clean up after tornado another resident reported witnessing the tornado and described the frightening experience and all I could see was a white image outside,” he said but his windows and siding suffered damage: “thankfully We previously spoke with a family living on T Wenz Road who had been dealing with the impact of the storms The Maysville/Mason County Emergency Management Agency encourages residents to subscribe to the RAVE Alert System to receive alerts. You can do so by texting masoncounty to 78015. If you experience issues, report them to its Facebook page Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInMAYSVILLE KY (WXIX) - Maysville Police and relatives are currently searching for a woman who has been missing for weeks says her mother was last seen walking out of her apartment complex on Meadow Drive on December 21 West said there is a photo from a surveillance camera showing her mother leaving her apartment that day family members last spoke with Cooley through text messages on December 19 went to Cooley’s apartment on New Years’ Eve Cooley’s apartment door was unlocked and her keys and wallet were in her room but Cooley was not there West also says that while she and her siblings were at their mother’s apartment they found all of their family photos in the trash and Cooley’s phones stuffed inside of a glove in a garbage bag Cooley is described as 5-foot-7 with brown hair in dreadlocks and brown eyes Anyone with information is asked to call Maysville Detective Ryan Hull at 606-564-9411 See a spelling or grammar error in our story? Please click here to report it Do you have a photo or video of a breaking news story? Send it to us here with a brief description The Crown Point #1 Fire in Hubert has grown to 50 acres in size and is now 100% contained Jones County- NC — The Town of Maysville is advising community members that live on Highway 58 may have the water shut off from Maple Street heading out of town temporarily There is no estimated time of completion for the water line repairs but we will update this story as we receive more information ZANESVILLE — Maysville has history on its mind with a repeat trip to the OHSAA Division IV state championship game and its opponent is focused on the same goal is making its first trip to the state tournament Both programs are aiming for their first state title The sides face off in the state final at 4:15 p.m The Tarblooders (19-8) knocked off 21-win Streetsboro in the district finals before rallying past Akron Buchtel for a 79-60 victory in the regional semifinals They topped Warrensville Heights 50-40 in the regional final and rolled Gates Mills Hawken 62-42 in a state semifinal Glenville's appearance marks the first time a Senate League team has reached the state tournament since Cleveland East Tech did so in 2014 The Tarblooders are looking for the league's first state championship since East Tech topped Cincinnati Princeton in 1972 Glenville coach Bryon Ottix emphasized the importance of playing as a team to his players Once the Tarblooders followed that message but it came down to our guys being unselfish and buying in They couldn't have their own agendas," he said you could see they weren't playing together or playing hard enough Once they pushed their agendas to the back and started playing for each other I knew they had a chance for something special "It's been great to see how they have come together," he added "Their belief grew and they understood what we've been trying to accomplish leads the Tarblooders with 16 points and 6 rebounds per game are also among the offensive options for the Tarblooders who have won the Senate League three times in four years Facing a team like Cincinnati Wyoming has aided the Panthers in their preparation "We were able to catch up to Wyoming's speed as the game went on It helps to see a team like that before this game," he said They're faster and stronger so we have to play good help defense and crash the boards We've dealt with teams like that before so we feel ready to go." While 3-point shooting aided Maysville in its state semifinal win the Panthers missed opportunities around the hoop The Panthers were 12 of 21 behind the arc and 12 of 31 inside of it Coach Dave Brown knows Glenville will be a similar challenge to Wyoming in the post but making the most of those opportunities is crucial "They're big and more athletic than Wyoming We've focused on finishing around the rim and taking advantage of shot fakes We need to shoot off the square," Brown said "We also need to rebound and limit our turnovers so they can't get into transition We need to make that extra pass and try to get them out of position Ottix praised the Panthers' shooting prowess If the Tarblooders want to have a chance against the Panthers "They can shoot the ball well and space you out They put you in a tough spot when you're figuring out the best way to defend them," he said "When you face a team that can shoot 3s like them We can't get discouraged or start playing differently when they make some shots "We need to lean on our physicality and athleticism on offense We can't take bad shots and let them get into transition," he added we need to close out and stick to our game plan We have to be solid against a team like them to have a chance." DAYTON — Maysville showed the poise of a champion on Friday Facing a seven-point deficit in the fourth quarter the Panthers never wavered in the face of adversity More: Maysville's title chase rewarded those who waited | Blackburn column It started with the junior duo of Gator Nichols and Jordyn Watson as they led the charge in a 74-67 comeback victory against Cleveland Glenville in the Division IV state championship game Nichols finished with 36 points and Watson had 12 of his 19 points in the second half for the Panthers who finished 27-3 and won the program's first title after losing in last year's state final to Kettering Alter and we will live with the outcome," Maysville assistant coach Jared Cox said We were down four with 1:30 left in double overtime against Wyoming Every one of our kids thought we're going to win that game The guys are saying score here and get a stop," he added "That's more than half the battle when the kids have belief they have I'm not sure there is anything stopping them." Blackburn column | Maysville's title chase rewarded those who waited before using a 12-3 run to open the third for a 44-40 lead but the Tarblooders (19-9) battled back to pull within 56-54 entering the fourth Theo Castro opened the fourth with a 3 for Glenville including one for a 65-58 advantage with 5:21 remaining in the game More: OHSAA state title game: Maysville basketball vs Cleveland Glenville Friday live updates Landon Iden answered with a hoop down low to spark the game-ending 16-2 run for the Panthers That moment proved pivotal in the comeback "We've been in that situation before," he said We were going to leave it all on the floor." but missed a pair of layups and turned the ball over on its next possession Gator and Coach (Dave) Brown told me it was my time to step up," Watson recalled It means a lot that these guys believe that much in me." The next possession proved to be the difference His ensuing free throw put the Panthers ahead for good Nichols added another hoop and after a Glenville turnover he made two free throws on an intentional foul Kane Roehrig also hit two free throws to help seal the win They fight for 32 minutes," Maysville coach Dave Brown said Glenville coach Bryon Ottrix felt confident in his plan against Nichols "He was able to get to his spots and hit contested shots After falling short of the title last year Nichols was determined to leave Dayton with that winning feeling "I try to create the best opportunity for us Watching Nichols deliver in the clutch is part of who he is "How good is that guy to score 36 points in a state title game with two He spent a lot of time in the weight room and came in at 6 a.m A little 6-foot guy tore up Dayton Arena in front of 6,000 fans .. is facing multiple felony charges related to drugs The Onslow County Sheriff's Office Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) served a warrant at Whitney's home that resulted in the seizure of nearly six kilograms of illegal narcotics along with Naval Criminal Investigative Service Jacksonville Police Department's Special Operations Division served the warrant at a Peach Lane home in Maysville on Friday Officials say that 4,346 grams of methamphetamine $12,518 and two vehicles were seized as well Whitney was placed under a $1.3 million secured bond and is in the Onslow County Detention Center awaiting his next court date Crime Stoppers offers cash reward of up to $5,000 for information that is deemed of value or assistance to law enforcement Please call Crime Stoppers at 910-938-3273 or Information can also be anonymously texted via Text-A-Tip by typing TIP4CSJAX and your message to 274637 (CRIMES) Callers to Crime Stoppers may remain anonymous and never have to reveal their identity ATHENS — Maysville was on a mission on Sunday The Panthers wasted little time taking control scoring the first 14 points on their way to a 66-54 victory over Caledonia River Valley in the Division IV regional final at Ohio University's Convocation Center Jordyn Watson had 12 and Kade Rock tallied eight for the winners Maysville (25-3) advanced to the Final Four for the second straight season and faces Cincinnati Wyoming "We saw them over the summer and knew how they played "We knew they wanted to leak out so we crashed the offensive glass and got second-chance points More: Maysville basketball races to regional final, ends New Lexington's dream postseason Familiarity with River Valley and a team playing with confidence was more than enough as the Panthers scored on their first five possessions Iden hit a pair of 3s and had eight points during that 14-0 run which also included baskets from Rock and Watson Chase Ebert's bucket at the 2:50 mark of the first quarter put the Vikings on the board They trailed 16-6 after one and cut the deficit to 16-10 when Chase Smith made two free throws about two minutes into the second as Rock had four points and Nichols capped it with three free throws for a 25-13 advantage The Panthers' lead was 30-17 at the half and reached 21 in the third quarter River Valley got as close as nine in the fourth but we wanted to get off to a good start like we did against New Lex," Maysville coach Dave Brown said but I tell our guys to play with no regrets I thought our guys controlled their efforts and attitudes We're blessed to reach another Final Four." Playing as oneMaysville is driven by Nichols Iden dished out a team-high five assists and Roehrig grabbed nine rebounds to aid the Panthers "We've been playing together since second grade "Landon is developing into another shooter "He has a good skillset and his game has evolved Growing up together has allowed Maysville to build strong chemistry We've grown up together and played with each other every weekend for years," he said "We know teams are going to focus on Gator and Jordyn and it opens up chances for the rest of us Maysville did not close out the game as strong as Brown wanted his team will have a chance to regain that focus heading into Friday's contest Maysville made 22 of 47 field goals and 7 of 16 3s while River Valley finished 21-of-51 shooting "We were up 20 and let up a little bit so we have to give our best effort for 32 minutes," he said Our kids have gotten outside of themselves They keep fighting and never quit believing and they're willing to do whatever it takes to do it." it was simply another day in the tournament life for Gator Nichols Jordyn Watson and Maysville boys basketball Maysville's latest rally from a fourth-quarter deficit earned the first state championship in program history with a 74-67 win against Cleveland Glenville in a Division IV final on Friday at University of Dayton Arena It was a return trip to the scene of last year's finals loss in Division II to Kettering Alter a Dayton-area parochial power playing 15 minutes from their own homes a homegrown team without a senior — or a transfer — finished the job with more fourth-quarter heroics Relive a thriller: The gods keep smiling on Gator Nichols and Maysville boys basketball | Blackburn column Done deal: Maysville basketball uses fourth-quarter surge to secure program's first state title Eyeing a title: Brotherhood, community carry Maysville back to the state finals More than 6,100 watched another Panther hair raiser as Nichols and Watson combined for 55 points on 6-of-10 shooting on 3s and were cool as Paul Newman with the ball in their hands late in the game when the Tarblooders pressed furiously These Panthers officially etched themselves among the all-time greats in the longstanding history of the Muskingum Valley League Not even John Glenn's elite teams of the mid 2010s can relate to the elation that Panthers coach Dave Brown and his players felt when time officially ran out on Friday They're the only MVL teams since River View did so in 1975 to win it all "I think they're up there with anybody (in the MVL) from any era," Maysville athletic director Pat Miller said who coached the Maysville girls on a dynasty run much like this one in the 2010s was among many in the locker room afterward who kept a firm grip on the championship trophy A state experience was the only part of success that eluded his teams which always seemed to run into the West Holmes roadblock While it certainly didn't make him forget those regional heartbreaks in the 2010s this win sure did put a smile on his face — and many others from Panther squads that fell short Dave and (assistant coach) Jared (Cox) put all kinds of time in." this title wasn't just for the current players and coaches It was for the local businesses and individuals that helped provide meals and cover transportation costs for students many of whom took multiple days off work and exhausted extra money to ensure they didn't miss a minute of these tournament runs it was for guys like Hayden Jarrett and Alex Bobb Their hearts broke harder than anyone's when the last two seasons ended shy of a championship It was Bobb who challenged for Division II Player of the Year honors in a record-setting season that Nichols took a step farther in 2024-25 They were the All-Ohio players who impacted Nichols and Watson the most as first-year players And it is the work ethic those previous classes taught Now Nichols and Watson are passing that on to sophomores like Gavin Ferguson who will no doubt do the same when it's their turn "We tell our guys all the time," Cox explained classmate Connor Larimer and 2024 grad Wesley Armstead were at UD with seemingly every other resident from Newton Township offering support on Friday Jarrett and Larimer were key figures on the 2022-23 team that won a district title and provided the groundwork for what the current crop was able to accomplish Neither Jarrett nor Larimer were surprised at Friday's outcome They've seen the development in workouts the past two years from the growth and confidence of newcomers like Ferguson and Landon Iden to the improved all-around play of versatile big man Kane Roehrig and stopper Kade Rock The play of the latter was arguably the most important element of the current operation "We didn't expect those kids to blossom like they did," Larimer admitted and he was like a grasshopper waiting in the tall grass All of these kids blossomed when the time came right." Jarrett said he's just happy to have had a part in it "When your culture is built on selflessness and being good people before anything else big runs are bound to happen," said Jarrett "They also play with such confidence and swagger which they have earned when no one is watching." Nary a player off the current roster graduates which will create an even bigger target for opponents to chase NEW CONCORD — Maysville is known for its offensive firepower a renewed defensive intensity in the second half proved to be the difference on Friday The top-seeded Panthers shut down third seed Indian Valley in the third quarter to earn a third straight trip to Ohio University's Convocation Center with a 56-44 victory in the Division IV district final at Muskingum University Maysville (23-3) will face Muskingum Valley League foe New Lexington in a regional semifinal at 8 p.m More: After heart-breaking losses in the past two district finals, New Lex emerges victorious A simple message about defense at halftime was what Maysville needed who scored a game-high 23 points with four assists We needed a better effort with our season on the line," he said We wouldn't have made it this far without them." Challenging his PanthersMuskingum is a special place in the heart of Maysville coach Dave Brown He played two seasons for the Muskies and met his wife Winning on that floor was something he won't forget and a stern discussion at halftime helped it happen His Panthers outscored the Braves 18-2 in the third turning a 29-21 halftime deficit into a 39-31 lead entering the fourth "I told the guys they needed to guard their yard They played great defense in the third," Brown said More: Sheridan's Heller, New Lex's Stephens highlight area's Southeast District basketball honors Maysville trailed 6-0 to open the game before answering with a 13-2 run and taking a 13-11 lead after one quarter and after watching Maysville cut the lead down to 20-18 Cam Enama hit a triple to start a 9-3 run to close the half It didn't take long for the Panthers to set the tone in the third They held Indian Valley scoreless on its first five possessions and scored nine straight The teams exchanged hoops before Landon Iden scored the final seven points of the quarter putting Maysville up 39-31 going to the fourth Part of that run came with Nichols on the bench with four fouls as he sat for the final 1:45 of the third Iden knew others had to deliver in the second half "We stuck together and focused on stringing some stops together," said Iden Nichols applauded his teammates for not missing a beat in his absence Indian Valley had hoops on its first two possessions of the fourth with a Ryker Williams putback getting the Braves within 39-35 Gator found Kane Roehrig in the corner for a 3 and Watson followed with a steal and a triple to stretch the cushion to 45-35 The Maysville lead never dipped below seven from there Brown said the team will celebrate this win but work remains as Maysville will see New Lex for a third time this season after winning the first two meetings "We will watch film this weekend and get back to work It's great to see their hard work payoff with another trip to The Convo." as the team went 1-of-14 from the field in the third and Williams was held to eight after averaging nearly 14 during the season Only four Braves scored in the second half Coach Ty Miller noted his team failed to find the space it enjoyed in the first half "We were able to switch and find the mismatches but they weren't there in the second half," Miller said "They were more aggressive and did a better job getting in our passing lanes The seniors have "raised the bar," remarked Miller as Wells and Landon McPeek highlighted that group "They came up through the ranks and won 15 games as sophomores 17 last year and 21 this year," Miller said "No one expected us to get this far with our season starting late NEWTON TOWNSHIP — Maysville had a memorable run to last year's Division II state championship game The experience has aided this year's junior-laden squad which is back in the Final Four with aspirations of another title shot as the two square off in a Division IV state semifinal at 5:30 p.m More: Maysville starts fast to reach another Final Four More: 'Two guys going at it like gladiators': How Coltyn Reedy's rally won a state championship. The other semifinal is Cleveland Glenville and Gates Mills Hawken but that's a tribute to how hard this team works I feel like we're getting better every day," Maysville coach Dave Brown said It did in the regional final against River Valley Even though Maysville won't play this semifinal at the University of Dayton like last year it won't be intimidated by the atmosphere or opponent "We've been on this stage and know what to expect," he said We've played a lot of Division I guys in AAU What to expect from WyomingThe Panthers (25-3) face the 25-2 Cowboys who won the program's first regional title last weekend They're also making their first Final Four appearance since 1942 Wyoming is led by a pair of talented junior guards in Kellen Wiley and Darren Gray Wiley is averaging nearly 17 points per game with 5 assists and 4.4 rebounds More: 'We're all blessed to be here.' Wyoming beats Alter for first regional championship. Maysville will also have to contend with a solid post player in 6-foot-7 junior Carlyle Billingsley His presence could challenge a shorter Panthers' side They held Kettering Alter to 34 percent shooting (15-of-44) He has like 12 Division I schools looking at him and runs the show," Brown said "They can play with tempo or slow it down on offense The Panthers had dominant efforts in both regional wins It started with balanced efforts on offense as four players reached double figures against New Lexington and River Valley Juniors Gator Nichols and Jordyn Watson are the main scoring options but Roehrig and junior Landon Iden are threats on the perimeter Junior Kade Rock can hurt you in the paint on both ends of the floor and Kade has become a mammoth defender," Brown said "It speaks to this team that Gator had 15 and Jordyn 12 (against River Valley) and we hope that depth can help us again." The Panthers are "best friends" away from the court That chemistry comes from years of playing together Roehrig knows how vital those elements in games of this magnitude and we trust each other in any situation," Roehrig said We're playing with confidence right now and know we have a chance against anyone." NEWTON TOWNSHIP — Dave Brown has built his Maysville program around four core values — toughness Those elements have turned the Panthers into one of the district's top programs and have them on the verge of history Maysville returns to the University of Dayton to square off with Cleveland Glenville for the OHSAA Division IV state championship at 4:15 p.m Both teams are going for their program's first state title "We put a lot of focus around those values," Brown said "We do some book study to help with the mental side we can see the players carrying those beyond the four lines on the court Their teachers have noticed a shift in them to be better students and people It's great to see their growth in not just about being better players It's part of why we're back in this spot." The Panthers also exemplify the blue-collared community of South Zanesville Their work ethic and dedication reflects the people around them including the bleachers in the state semifinal at Wittenberg University "The community is our 6th man," Brown said "We have fans willing to spend their last dimes to come watch and support us and it spills over to our team and how hard they work Cincinnati Wyoming coach Matt Rooks took notice of the crowd in Friday's contest noting the fans' energy carried over the Panthers Maysville juniors Kade Rock and Kohen Lewellen believe that surge helps them throughout every game "If we start knocking down shots and go on a run we can blow the roof off any place," Rock said and having our fans there makes it more special." "Knowing the community has rallied around us again means a lot Many people have helped us along the way," Lewellen added "We filled our side (at Wittenberg) and that gives us energy on the bench and we can't wait to have them with us on Friday." Maysville has built a brotherhood based on years of friendship Most of the players have played together since elementary school Their camaraderie has shined throughout this tournament run including before Nichols' game-winning 3 against Wyoming "I told G during our last timeout he was going to hit that shot It shows the confidence we have in each other," Lewellen said "We've been playing together since we were 4 or 5 (years old) We know each other well and hang out away from basketball so that helps It's special we get a chance to redeem ourselves." The trust throughout the team has Maysville back in this spot Rock believes that aspect is why the Panthers have been successful in the past two seasons It helps knowing we're there for each other in any situation." The players have worked for this opportunity and that team-first mentality has them on the verge of history "They're unselfish and they don't care who does what "When the guy next to you is fighting for the same things it's easier for everyone to buy in and believe in what we're doing." NEWTON TOWNSHIP — Tri-Valley doesn't have many fond memories at Maysville But a motivated senior group provided the Scotties' faithful with one on Tuesday Nohah Nichols and Max Lyall combined for 39 points and Hahn's go-ahead bucket with 50 seconds left lifted Tri-Valley to a 65-64 victory against its Muskingum Valley League rival The Scotties (17-4 14-1) clinched a share of the Big School Division title and can claim it outright with a win over Coshocton on Friday "We knew we couldn't lose this game if we wanted to win the MVL outright," Hahn said We competed and did what we needed to do to get a share of the MVL More: Cambridge boys advance to OVAC 4A title game | Tuesday roundup More: An injury could have derailed Cash Owen's season. Instead, the setback has aided the Sheridan junior's growth Down to the wireThe Scotties led for most of the first half and took a 35-30 lead into the break but Gator Nichols came to life in the third for Maysville (17-3 Nichols scored 15 of his game-high 29 in the quarter His 3 at the horn tied the game at 50 entering the fourth and his hoop early in the final stanza gave the Panthers their first lead since the first quarter at 52-51 Max Lyall scored five straight to put the Scotties back in front but Maysville clawed back and went up 61-60 on two free throws by Nichols with 1:06 left in the game Hahn answered with his hoop to put Tri-Valley ahead for good Maysville missed shots on its next two possessions while Ryan Lamonica made two free throws and Nohah Nichols made the eventual game-winning free throw with 13.4 seconds left Gator Nichols capped the scoring with a 3 with 1 second left but Tri-Valley tapped the inbound pass down the floor to secure the win Nichols added 12 with five assists and Lamonica posted a double-double of 11 points and 13 rebounds for the winners Tri-Valley coach Todd McLoughlin praised his group for executing down the stretch "This has been a tough place to play for us and Coach (Dave) Brown always has his team prepared," McLoughlin said I'm proud of how our guys responded and stepped up down the stretch." McLoughlin also noted his team can't relax with a feisty Coshocton team coming to Dresden on Friday "They're a very talented team and also well-coached," he said "We have to win that one to get an outright title Our guys need to be dialed in and ready to go." who got 12 points from Jordyn Watson and 11 by Kane Roehrig it provided experience for a squad without a senior He felt his team played the way he expected but games of this magnitude are often decided late "We talked about our brotherhood and how we had to take care of the controllables like our effort and attitude and our guys had a great attitude," he said "We won't see that athleticism and size again but we faced a regional caliber team and came up one possession short "That's what I told our guys after the game Big-time games are often decided by one possession," he added "It was a great game against a well-coached and tough team SPRINGFIELD — Certainly it couldn't happen again It was a year ago to the day — almost to the minute actually — when Alex Bobb saved Maysville's season with a banked-in 3-pointer against Columbus Hartley at the Athens regional It was a moment when time stood still in the fabled Convocation Center — and etched Bobb into the Muskingum Valley League annals forever Maysville coach Dave Brown called it one of the biggest shots ever made in The Convo You'd struggle to find an opinion to the contrary One can only wonder what he thought after Friday's developments More: Nichols delivers for Maysville in double OT thriller saw Bobb's heroics and raised them in another historic college gym This time Wittenberg University was the scene of the burglary off a quick kick-out pass from Landon Iden sealed a 75-73 comeback win against talented it came in a Division IV state semifinal in the face of a one-point deficit four Panthers touched the ball to lead to Nichols' heroics It all but defined these Panthers' stellar on-court awareness First it was Gavin Ferguson who took an open 3 that led to a crucial tipped rebound off the back side from Kane Roehrig It landed right in the hands of Iden on the opposite block and Iden had the foresight to look for Nichols flashing to an open spot on the left point and I just felt like I knew how much time we had felt like we could get another look," Iden explained It was more proof that the basketball gods are big fans of the hardscrabble folks in Newton Township "All I remember is shooting it and I thought it was in players mobbed Nichols just they did Bobb one year prior who was a one-man wrecking crew in the fourth quarter and overtimes tournament personnel tried their best to diminish the moment by continually announcing for fans to stay off the court and leave the arena as players and coaches celebrated mere seconds after the final horn Apparently the Queen of England and Duchess of York were due to arrive at any moment (Note to Witt: These are state tournament games In the future try getting a feel for the room a little There is an importance to these results in these small communities One might suggest the Panthers are living on the wild side with these big-game comebacks and wild finishes yet there is almost a feeling of normalcy about it Bobb made clutch shooting a regularity last year As a former Panther golf teammate Owen Lutz told me prior to the 2023 Division II state tournament Gator's "clutch genes are like Kobe (Bryant)." That was well before he made his name on the basketball floor There are certain teams in certain places where it just feels different Gator's grit and humble disposition epitomize what makes the Panthers' three-year run one that should stand alone in local history No MVL team has reached consecutive state finals In a year of greatness in the East District — Indian Valley football and River View boys soccer already have state titles — Maysville and Woodsfield Monroe Central will play for their own state crowns in boys basketball next Friday Anyone silly enough to doubt the Panthers' chances at this point does so at their own peril It's a team that does an awful lot of things right — big and little — regardless of circumstance And it sure seems the gods are on their side this time BELMONT — Gator Nichols told Maysville coach Dave Brown he liked the team's second-half hoop before Tuesday's contest scoring 17 of his game-high 28 points in the third quarter and propelling top seed Maysville past fifth seed East Liverpool 73-57 in the Division IV district semifinal at The ECO Center More: Tri-Valley's defense was a hallmark all season. It picked the worst time to struggle. More: Indian Valley leaned on Williams, physicality to get past John Glenn The Potters leaned on their post players early They trailed 17-13 after one quarter before taking a 21-17 lead midway through the second Maysville closed the first half on a 10-4 stretch to take a 27-25 cushion into the locker room Nichols made all four of his 3s during the 28-11 third for the Panthers Jordyn Watson chipped in 18 with four 3s and Kane Roehrig scored 10 for Maysville which advanced to play third seed Indian Valley in the district championship game at 7:30 p.m The Panthers have beaten the Braves in the past two postseasons Maysville coach Dave Brown credited the Potters for leaning on their strength in the first half it aided the Panthers' defense in the second half "We were just 3 of 11 on 3s in the first half and didn't shoot it well They pounded the ball down low and scored in the paint," Brown said We were able to set our press and forced 10 turnovers in the third to help our offense "We knew East Liverpool would come in hungry and we beat them in the district finals two years," he added "I was thrilled we had a lead with how we shot it and our guys didn't have any panic at halftime Blake Adkins had 20 points and D'Shawn Kirby and Cohen Pease had 11 each for the Potters (17-8) NEWTON TOWNSHIP — Maysville High School will induct six new members into its Hall of Fame during its home boys basketball game on Friday The 2024-25 class includes four players and two legendary coaches for the Panthers More: Maysville basketball needed a rally on Tuesday. Jordyn Watson and the defense led the way More: Rosecrans to recognize three athletic standouts with Hall of Fame ceremony on Dec. 23 She was a three-time letter winner and two-time All-MVL and All-Eastern District selection in volleyball she earned four letters and two All-MVL and two All-District selections while her teams celebrated three district championships As a four-year letter winner in basketball Sidwell continued her basketball career at Mercyhurst University completing her career as a two-time team captain before graduating in 2020 with a degree in Intelligence and a Master's degree in Criminal Justice Madison RiggleRiggle played volleyball and softball Riggle was a four-time All-MVL and Eastern District selection and a three-time MVL Player of the Year She was selected three times to the All-Ohio team and pitched 541 innings with a career 1.68 ERA She holds school records for strikeouts in a game with 23 (9 innings) Riggle was a three-time All-MVL and Eastern District player She earned MVL Defensive Player of the Year as a junior and MVL Player of the Year as a senior Riggle continued her softball career at Robert Morris playing four seasons while graduating with a degree in Business Management and master’s degree in Human Resource Management He earned four varsity letters in football and two All-MVL selections and was named to the Division IV First-Team Defense as a senior linebacker Eastern District Co-Player of the Year and First Team All-Ohio honors as a senior McKay worked for a career .961 fielding percentage He continued his baseball career at Indiana earning the Hoosier Newcomer of the Year award as a freshman Smith earned four varsity letters in soccer and basketball Smith was a leader for a Big Cat program that won three MVL Titles and two District Championships and had 62 consecutive regular season wins District 12 and Eastern District selection and a two-time Times Recorder Prime Time Player Smith was selected as the 2015 MVL Player of the Year and District 12 Player of the Year and was a two-time All-Ohio selection She scored 1,013 career points and racked up 239 career assists Smith continued her basketball career at Ashland University playing on the 2017 Division II national championship team and the 2018 Division II national runner-up as the program set a division record of 73 straight wins Coach Cope was an unshakable leader on the sidelines for Maysville volleyball for 31 seasons Cope reached 415 wins during a career that produced 27 winning seasons Cope earned District 12 Coach of the Year honors in 1999 and the OHSVCA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014 Cope served as District 12 Trustee and President She shared her talents with countless students over a long Mathematics teaching career where she was honored as the 2011 Muskingum Valley Exemplary Educator and the 2007 OCTM Outstanding Mathematics Teacher for the Southeast District Vaughn served the Maysville community as a coach for football and softball for more than 30 combined seasons He coached girls basketball from 2000-03 and the 2001 District 12 All Star Game before taking the boys basketball position from 2003-07 Vaughn was voted District 12 Coach of the Year and Ohio Division II Co-Coach of the year in 2006 Vaughn earned MVL Coach of the Year and District 12 Coach of the Year Vaughn’s teams won four consecutive district championships (2014-17) while winning 164 games Vaughn was also the co-coach of the golf team from 2006-17 middle school basketball coach from 1986-90 and middle school football coach from 2002-04 Vaughn earned two varsity letters in basketball and served the district as an employee from 2000-17 few teams can keep up with the Maysville boys basketball team New Lexington was the latest victim at Thursday's Division IV regional semifinal and Maysville built a double-digit lead through one quarter on its way to a 74-44 victory at Ohio University's Convocation Center We kept our feet on the pedal," said Nichols We can score with anyone then we shut them down and pulled away." More: Area basketball standouts garner top East District honors More: The East District basketball teams across all divisions and Gavin Ferguson had 10 to lead Maysville (24-3) a 66-65 overtime winner against Chillicothe Unioto Last year helped us with the situation," Nichols noted Bentley Hanson collected 17 points and Isaiah Stephens had 12 for New Lex (15-11) The tournament trail has seen Maysville have sluggish first halves including a 21-point effort in the district final win over Indian Valley Maysville scored seven of the game's first nine points combined for 16 first-quarter points to build a 23-10 advantage We told our guys after the first quarter New Lex is where they were against Meigs We didn't let up," Maysville coach Dave Brown said He shoots it well and has a quick first step Maysville continued its torrid start in the second quarter The lead reached 20 when Nichols scored on a layup to make it 33-13 and Maysville had the final seven points of the first half and we didn't do much to slow them down," New Lex coach Jeremy Duerr said "We gave up some offensive rebounds early then every 50-50 ball bounced their way "you win with defense in March," and his Maysville team put that on display New Lex was held to 6-for-20 shooting in the first half and 16-for-48 for the game It was also outrebounded 17-8 in the first half and 33-23 for the game Stephens didn't score until a free throw with 2:32 left in the second quarter and New Lex was never closer than 13 after the first quarter it was a memorable career for the team's seniors: Stephens "My message was to be proud of what they accomplished and take joy in the good moments Our seniors took us to special places," Duerr said "Isaiah and Bentley helped the program reach heights it has only done two or three times in its history ones people will remember for a long time." Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Learn More Ohio — Gator Nichols led all scorers with 36 points helping Zanesville Maysville overcome a halftime deficit 74-67 over Cleveland Glenville in the OHSAA Division IV boys’ basketball state championship game at UD Arena on Friday Zanesville Maysville (27-3) trailed 37-32 at halftime and 65-58 with 5:21 remaining in the fourth quarter after Tarblooders senior Xavier Vickerstaff hit back-to-back 3-pointers -WATCH THE GAME REPLAY HERE- Jordyn Watson knocked down a 3-pointer with 3:00 left to bring the Panthers within two then Nichols made a game-tying jump shot while being fouled who made the game-winning 3 at the buzzer of double overtime against Wyoming in the final four made the go-ahead free throw with 2:20 to go Cleveland Glenville’s Theodore Castro laid in a basket to narrow the score 68-67 with 1:34 left to play but it would be as close as the Tarblooders would get as Zanesville Maysville went 6-for-6 at the free throw line in the final 45 seconds to seal the win “Our kids are tough as nails,” Zanesville Maysville head coach Dave Brown said “They’re never going to back down to anybody I don’t care if we’re playing the Cleveland Cavaliers or the Ohio State Buckeyes They’re going to fight for 32 minutes or 40 minutes Nichols finished with 11-for-21 shooting and went 4-for-7 from distance Zanesville Maysville returned to UD Arena after losing to Kettering Archbishop Alter in the Division II state championship a year ago the Panthers broke their school record in wins for a third-consecutive year everybody in the locker room,” Nichols said we didn’t want to feel that same type of feeling we felt last year Vickerstaff recorded 21 points on 8-of-17 shooting with 13 rebounds and five triples Castro finished with 18 points and Gary Pritchett scored 10 Cleveland Glenville (19-9) advanced all the way to the state title game in head coach Bryon Ottrix’s first season The Tarblooders won the Senate League championship for a third time in four years and second straight “I felt like down the stretch we had a couple big opportunities to stretch that lead out,” Ottrix said and they made some really big shots and some tough shots and you know it was just going to come down to who made the plays at the end OHIO — A monumental achievement for the Maysville Panthers the Panthers have claimed their first-ever Division 4 boys basketball state championship The victory not only crowns them as champions but also marks a major redemption following their narrow loss by 14 points in last year’s final This victory is a testament to the team’s resilience as they bring the long-awaited title back to Maysville proving that every setback is just a setup for an incredible comeback and the community for this historic achievement It’s a moment that South Town Zanesville will never forget Because Local Matters © 2025 WHIZ – Fox 5 / Marquee Broadcasting OH – School spirit was alive and well at Maysville Elementary To celebrate the boys basketball team’s return to the OHSAA State Championship the Elementary and High Schools hosted pep rallies featuring music from the band and performances by the cheerleaders said it’s been amazing to see all of the support for him and his team “We have a great community,” Brown said “Fortunately we were able to do this last year and the kids were really excited to see our guys so as you can see the hallways are decorated with lots of signs and it’s just an exciting time for our community.” Brown said this wasn’t just a moment to cheer on the home team but an opportunity for the younger kids to see that hard work can pay off He said this gives the young athletes a goal to dream about and achieve with the right amount of dedication and determination “I think it’s important that they see “I think our high school kids work extremely hard and we want to be involved in our youth league sports anything is possible and we want our kids to see that hard work does pay off so hopefully this carries over to future generations.” The Maysville versus Glenville game can be heard by tuning into our radio station Z 92.7 or on our website whiznews.com KY (WXIX) - The body of a Maysville woman who was reported missing for weeks was found Saturday morning along with the Buffalo Trace Search and Rescue near the area of Wald Park in Mason County at 10:56 a.m It is unclear as to what happened to Cooley More videos from FOX19 NOW Cooley’s daughter, Jasha West, says her mother was last seen walking out of her apartment complex on Meadow Drive on December 21 Police are working with the Mason County Coroner’s Office to investigate the cause of death senior strongman Wesley Armstead turned his football prowess into a physical defensive role on a team that played for a state championship Kade Rock has taken his role and ran with it 190 pounds — offers a different challenge for opponents as the Panthers chase another finals berth today in a Division IV state semifinal against Cincinnati Wyoming More: Maysville's 'Gator' has been taking big bites out of opponents. He's still quite hungry. More: A look back: Panthers' state run in '24 was a wild ride More: Maysville is playing with confidence and trust. It's led the Panthers back in the Final Four His long arms create less openings for passing and impedes vision it helps create deflections and transition opportunities "Especially the last eight or nine games," Maysville coach Dave Brown said "I think he has been playing really good defense and given us that six to 10 points He looks really athletic in the last month or two." that he realized the defensive role fit him another role player that relished the defensive role how to be a vocal leader and to really accept the role," Rock said following a 74-35 tournament win against Claymont "And as being a quarterback on the football field I need to be the most vocal person out here." Among his assignments was keeping up with New Lexington's backcourt tandem of Isaiah Stephens and Bentley Hanson during the Division II regional semifinals in Athens arguably the most athletic guard in the Muskingum Valley League The result was New Lex suffering one of its worst offensive performances of the year in a 74-44 loss Much of Hanson's damage was done after the game had been decided "Hanson is so quick and athletic," Brown sad While Maysville's defense relies heavily on sharing the wealth with a four-guard lineup Rock most always takes on the opposition's top player he saw plenty of Indian Valley star Ryker Williams The next task will likely by Cincinnati Wyoming's Kellen Wiley a 6-2 guard averaging 16.6 points and five assists per game with more than 10 Division I scholarship offers is part of Wyoming lineup with multiple starters standing 6-2 or taller Rock's responsibilities will again be key to the Panthers' chances They haven't allowed more than 54 points in a game since a 65-64 loss to Tri-Valley on Feb They held Caledonia River Valley scoreless for much of the first quarter in a dominant first half in the regional finals an active defensive presence in his own right said Rock is the type of player that every successful team needs "You always need someone like that," Watson said Even when he doesn't feel good he will do his part and he will do it really well "My role has definitely changed just feeding off people like him," Watson added "They allow me to fly around and try to get as many steals as I can because they play defense very well." he could go anywhere and score a lot of points," Watson said "But he plays for us and he just enjoys the love with play with and the way we always accept each other." Rock spoke of last season's regional semifinal win against Columbus Hartley when the Panthers hit only seven of their first 24 shots Brown said it has been the difference between the current team jumping into contender status "Our defense is going to be what keeps us in those games when we're not shooting the ball well and not scoring at a high rate." adding that Rock's communication skills as a quarterback in football only aids his basketball duties "He is just worried about whether we are holding the other team under 40 points," Brown said DRESDEN — Aaron Adams has prepared his Morgan squad for moments like Wednesday cut a double-digit halftime deficit to six early in the third quarter answering with their own run and pulling away for a 48-24 win in the OHSAA Division IV district semifinal at Tri-Valley Morgan (13-11) advanced to face top seed Carrollton in a district final at 1 p.m "I put the girls under pressure in practice every day We have the speakers blaring and act like we're down 10," Adams said We worked the basketball and the girls trust each other and I'm proud of how far this team has come and what they've accomplished." The Raiders used a 10-1 second-quarter run to build a 21-8 halftime lead but the Panthers (15-9) pulled within 23-17 on Avery Daniels' hoop two minutes into the third Maya Davis answered with a 3 on the other end and hoops by Gianna Myers and Myleigh Williams stretched the Morgan lead back to 31-20 Maddy Schaad capped the third with a hoop off a Myka Augenstein assist for a 33-22 advantage ran out of steam as the Panthers were outscored 15-2 in the final quarter Myers finished with a team-high 14 points and Williams tallied 13 for Morgan Adams credited his team's conditioning in making the final push to victory "Our girls had to pass a conditioning test coming into the season Positives to build on for MaysvilleThe Panthers battled through plenty of adversity this season His squad reached 15 wins and competed for the MVL Small School title until the closing weeks Maysville played with only six or seven players during the final two weeks of the regular season Crane praised his players for battling and never quitting The only loss to graduation will be Bekah Scott and there are reasons for optimism among the Maysville faithful Miley Fulkerson led the Panthers with 11 points and Daniels added seven "We showed growth and the girls developed their mental toughness and I hope it fuels them in the offseason." — The body of a missing Maysville woman who was last seen in late December was found Saturday Eugenia Harris Cooley was last seen walking near her home in the Great Meadow Homes community on Dec A surveillance camera captured Cooley walking toward Clark Street alongside officials from Buffalo Trace Search and Rescue located Cooley's body near the area of Wald Park in Mason County In January, Cooley's family told WCPO they feared something bad could have happened to her. The 47-year-old had moved to Maysville in 2024 after living for some time in Florence Despite moving more than an hour away from her children who reside in Cincinnati Isome picked her mother up to bring her to Cincinnati for a few days before dropping her back off in Maysville on Dec I told her the same thing and I walked out," Isome said It didn't seem like she was worried about anything She didn't seem like she was sad or depressed I didn't get no alert as to think that something was wrong with her." I love you' and I text her back and I didn't get no response back I felt like something might have been wrong after I didn't get a response," Isome said the siblings said they drove to Maysville on New Year's Eve to check on their mother Her front door was unlocked but Cooley wasn't at home Her keys were hanging on her bedroom doorknob and her wallet was inside a duffel bag The siblings found that odd and called the police to report their mother missing They stayed at her home that night in the hopes that Cooley would return That's when their mother's disappearance took an even stranger turn "We were going through some things and we checked the trash — two trash bags that were in her personal trash (can) — and found purses of hers that were thrown away and all of our childhood pictures — all of our pictures all of our photo albums — everything was in the trash," Jasha Westbrook said "Both of her phones were stuffed inside of a glove and also in the trash and so that kind of rubbed us all the wrong way and we ended up calling the police back over." no known boyfriend and no history of mental health issues or drug use Detective Ryan Hull with Maysville police said it's uncommon for people to go missing in the community Given the circumstances around Cooley's disapperance he said foul play could have been a possibility Police said their investigation into Cooley's death is ongoing and they're working with the Mason County Coroner's Office and the State Medical Examiner's Office COSHOCTON — Maysville's depth has been an asset Five players reached double figures and combined to make 14 3-pointers as the Panthers fended off Coshocton 76-72 in a Muskingum Valley League Small School Division first-place battle The catch-and-shoot mentality has been crucial to Maysville's success who hit five 3s as part of a 17-point effort but he does a good job finding open shooters," Iden said "We look for our spot on the floor and are ready to shoot when he finds us More: 'We get an energy boost because he plays so hard': New Lex cagers are getting a boost off bench Maysville's shooting touch provides breathing roomNeither team found much breathing room until the Panthers (10-1 the Panthers used an 18-6 run to close out the quarter and built a 60-46 advantage entering the fourth and Gavin Ferguson's four-point play capped the surge for the 14-point lead 6-2) never got closer than four in the fourth as Maysville made 10 of 12 free throws in the closing minutes to seal it Nichols finished with 25 points and seven assists to pace the Panthers Watson 11 and Ferguson 10 to round out the scoring Colton Conkle poured in 34 points with nine rebounds and six assists and Alex Taylor tallied 26 points and seven boards to lead Coshocton Versatility makes Maysville a tough team to defend and we shoot as many shots as anyone in the state." The Panthers lead the Small School Division and have swept the season series with Coshocton games with New Lexington and Tri-Valley remain in the second half Iden believes good team chemistry will assist Maysville for the stretch run and we put the work in every day," Iden said and Brown knows his team won't let up even after a big win like this "We got a little passive in the fourth quarter We'll address that and get better," Brown said Our teams seem to get better in the latter months of the season and I feel like this one is hitting their stride at the right time." Your access to this service has been limited If you think you have been blocked in error contact the owner of this site for assistance If you are a WordPress user with administrative privileges on this site please enter your email address in the box below and click "Send" You will then receive an email that helps you regain access Wordfence is a security plugin installed on over 5 million WordPress sites The owner of this site is using Wordfence to manage access to their site You can also read the documentation to learn about Wordfence's blocking tools or visit wordfence.com to learn more about Wordfence Click here to learn more: Documentation 6 May 2025 10:14:17 GMT.Your computer's time: document.write(new Date().toUTCString()); (LEX 18) — 48-year-old Eugenia Cooley's family says that she was the type of person that would help anyone LEX 18 sat down with three of four of Cooley’s children If anyone needed help she was always there to help them." they are looking for help and getting answers about her death Surveillance video shows her walking toward Clark Street in Maysville "I sent her a text telling her that I would choose her to be my mom in every lifetime and I miss you.' and I text her back saying I miss you too So immediately I felt like something could be wrong." Cooley was caught on camera walking near her home in the Great Meadow Homes community Her kids say on New Year's Eve once they didn't hear back from her "Knocked on the door and there was no response She was nowhere in the house,” explains Isome Cooley’s children also say that the found some of her personal items in an outside trash bin including family pictures and her phones Police say Cooley’s body was found this past Saturday in the Wald Park area of Maysville They say that they’re waiting on a report from the State Medical Examiner’s Office as they continue to investigate this case Maysville Police Department Detective Ryan Hull "It doesn’t appear like anybody had been around her It doesn’t appear like she had been carried or drug to that location it seemed like a location that she has been But we are still working with the state medical examiner's office They are still doing their stuff and we can’t make any decisions and really don’t know where to go so we're still kind of expanding in all directions." Cooley’s kids say they don't believe she would've just walked away "I know she had to be in contact with somebody on cell phones or something... Cooley's children are hoping to get closure and answers very soon Find the family's GoFundMe here. NEWTON TOWNSHIP — By the time Claymont knew what happened It wasn't long before the Mustangs were buried beneath the tournament rubble Junior forward Jordyn Watson fired in 11 of his game-high 28 points in a 20-5 run to start the game and host Maysville led by as many as 35 points in the first half of a 74-35 win in a Division IV district game They scored on six of their first seven possessions hit their first three 3-pointers and held Claymont without points for 10 straight possessions More: These MVL standouts sought D-I offers. The transfer portal, recruiting left them frustrated More: Leila Hawk is a history maker for Maysville swimming. She isn’t about to stop now More: New Lex's dynamic duo came back to their old form vs. Westfall. The timing was perfect. A one-win West Holmes team was well within striking distance entering the fourth quarter of their tournament opener before Watson and classmate Gator Nichols unleashed a similar onslaught on the Knights "That's how we've been playing in the fourth quarter," Maysville coach Dave Brown said we need to get four quarters of high level basketball together if you want a chance to win a district title or get into a district championship.' It helps when (Watson) comes out like that and plays like that." Watson entered Friday averaging 16.1 points per game and shooting 51 percent from the floor steals (2.1) and three-point percentage (44.0) While it's Gator Nichols who receives the bulk of the attention for the Panthers (21-3) — for good reason: he averages 26 points per game and shoots 85 percent at the line — Watson has been equally consistent "He has a lot of tournament magic," Brown said "He was battling a lower back injury a couple of week ago and now he's getting healthy He's wearing a pair of 2010 Kevin Durant shoes Kane Roehrig 11 and Landon Iden nine for Maysville which hit 20 of 37 first-half field goals in building a 53-20 lead They finished with 11 offensive rebounds and only five turnovers compared to 19 assists Claymont (6-17) had 20 turnovers and didn't crack 30 points until the running clock had been established late in the third quarter The Panthers' road to the regional gets more treacherous next week The other semifinal features John Glenn and Indian Valley The Panthers defeated the Potters two years ago to reach the Division II regional you're going to play a really good basketball team and you're going to have to play a great game to advance." 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Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience Ohio (WOUB) — The Maysville Panthers and the New Lexington Panthers met at the Convocation Center for their regional semifinal matchup It was a runaway game for the Maysville Panthers These teams knew everything about each other with its first three scores being second-chance points Maysville could get anything it wanted on the inside scoring practically every time they drove to the baseline This was due in large part to Gator Nichols This made sense; they were shooting 60% from the field as a team at the end of the first quarter they couldn’t space the floor on the inside Maysville locked down on defense in the second quarter making a new Lex fight for every inch of separation It also hurt that New Lex Struggled to finish out plays They would tip the ball in efforts of a steal but couldn’t secure it leaving someone on the opposing team wide open for the score Maysville had all the momentum and could stretch the lead forcing the new Lexington to play their brand of basketball Maysville’s had their spacing down and kept their passing crisp This kept New Lexington jumpy and susceptible to leaving someone open Nichols slowed down in scoring but started to add assists Maysville was closing in on the running clock making the clock hit midnight for New Lexington’s Cinderella run and I thought we were really good defensively for 32 minutes and we got a tough opponent coming up in River Valley You know they’re really good physical strong and we played them a couple of times this summer The Maysville Panthers will return to the Convocation Center on Sunday at 2 p.m to face the River Valley Vikings for the regional final FALLS TOWNSHIP — When Gator Nichols sinks his teeth in you scoring on savvy drives or hitting free throws in bunches the 6-0 junior guard just keeps on building on what figures to be a record-setting career before he's done at Maysville High School He was a critical piece of last year's run to the Panthers' Division II state finals serving as a chief secondary scorer with classmate Jordyn Watson when teams focused too much on All-Ohioan Alex Bobb which left some to wonder how the Panthers would replace his 28 points per game and clutch shooting late in games Nichols has answered with Bruce Lee-like emphasis More: Max Lyall's hot streak continued for Tri-Valley. Now the Scotties are in the driver's seat. More: West M girls overwhelmed John Glenn; Philo staved off Maysville | Wednesday roundup More: Kohen Harris' biggest shot had perfect timing for Rosecrans: 'I knew what was at stake.' Nichols averaged 26.8 points and four assists in 17 games entering the week then fired in 27 with seven 3-pointers in Tuesday's win against New Lexington That is almost 12 points up from last season's mark of 15.1 and they are essentially the same numbers Bobb put up last year in setting the school's all-time scoring mark for boys basketball It was a challenge for which Nichols said he was prepared He said that after Bobb graduated that he had to learn to create his own shots and has used many of the same moves He said the two inches of added height has been the biggest key to being more versatile "It's not that big of a deal," Nichols said last year we had Alex and he was a great distributor It was my time to tale care of what I needed to take on." "It was a lot of offseason workouts and a lot of time in the weight room," Nichols said And obviously we have a great AAU team (in the SEO Crush)." Maysville's reputation for outworking opponents with extra shooting in the early morning hours has been a staple of the program in recent years one that has helped carry them against taller teams without the same skill levels the school's all-time leading scorer in boys basketball "We're just always in the gym and that is what the extra factor is," Nichols said When last season ended with a loss to Kettering Alter at UD Arena the first time an MVL team had reached the state finals since 2016 Nichols didn't take long to get back to the grind it wasn't long before he grew two inches and added some strength to his 5-10 frame That parlayed into him asserting himself even more as the lead guard for the Crush which features some of the best players in the MVL He rode that momentum into the high school season The result has been many busy nights for longtime scorekeeper Lexa Freshly The 35-point effort Nichols posted during the 80-56 win last Friday against West Muskingum which sent the Panthers to 15-2 overall and 12-1 in league play was part of a six-game stretch in which he has averaged 30.6 points per game He added 35 more with an 8-of-11 effort on 3s one night later in a 79-56 win at Fairfield Union That torrid stretch also featured a 41-point effort at River View in which he sank a school-record nine 3s He needs only 35 points to reach 1,000 for his career "You can put him up there with the MVL best," Maysville coach Dave Brown said who knows a thing or two about piling up points as one of the best players in the history of Coshocton County says that Nichols' ability to score at all three levels — inside outside and midrange — makes him difficult to defense "He shoots the most free throws in the league," Brown said "He pivots really well and he's got good footwork and if you get behind him he really knows how to get into the defense's body "We talk about shot faking and getting into guys' bodies getting them out of control and getting to the line Case in point: Two big wins against MVL Small School Division foe Coshocton In two games against the Skins he was 25-of-30 at the line including an eye-popping 17-of-20 effort in a 64-61 win in the first meeting coming off a 79-56 at Fairfield Union last Saturday entered Tuesday's game against New Lexington one game ahead of Coshocton in the division It only enhanced the importance of his play in their head-to-head meetings "Dave and I were talking the other day about how we're surprised that no one has tried to flat-out take him away by denying him or face-guarding him something like that," veteran Maysville assistant Jared Cox said "But with our team it's hard to do that because other people can hurt you." Of course that is all predicated on his ability to knock down the outside shot It's that shooting — he enters Friday with 56 3s — that helped him burst on to the scene a year ago especially as the games and the moments grew larger "Early in the season we didn't really have any leaders," Nichols said a lot of us juniors had to take on the role of being mentors to the younger kids." The Panthers will battle John Glenn and Indian Valley for East District supremacy at Sunday's Division IV district tournament drawing where only one team qualifies for the regional at the fabled Ohio Convocation Center Nichols didn't duck from speaking of his team's future aspirations will arguably be the MVL's top players returning next season "These next few years we definitely have a shot," Nichols said — The Maysville Police Department and the loved ones of Eugenia Harris Cooley need help finding the grandmother who has been missing since before the holidays Police said Cooley was last seen walking near her home in the Great Meadow Homes community on Dec Cooley's family told WCPO they fear something bad could have happened to her The 47-year-old moved to Maysville last year after living for some time in Florence I didn't get no alert as to think that something was wrong with her." received a strange text message from Cooley "When we first came in there was a Christmas present on her steps and a case of waters that hadn't been picked up," Cooley's son Jael Westbrook said Her family is at a loss and so are the police Detective Ryan Hull spoke with WCPO on Tuesday about the search for Cooley He said it's uncommon for people to go missing in the community and described this case as unusual Cooley has been missing for more than two weeks "We're going through tons and tons of video right now trying to locate her One of the problems is because of the delay in when she went missing to when it was reported some of our video has been cut," Hull said "In the apartment complex where she lives there actually was a camera that was facing towards her apartment door but that camera wasn't working at the time of course." Hull said he's called local hospitals and the services Cooley used for transportation He learned Cooley got a ride to a doctor's appointment on Dec 18 and that a woman who works at the apartment complex gave her a ride across the Ohio River into Aberdeen the next day — the same day Cooley sent her final text message to her daughters — and told him Cooley seemed distraught Hull said he's not sure who put Cooley's phones in the trash The last time Cooley was ever seen was just a few hours later Hull said foul play could be a possibility "That's why we're putting a lot into this right now," Hull said "We would do it for any missing person but we're pretty sure this isn't a person who just went away with somebody for a romantic weekend or something this seems — especially around Christmas time it happening — usually even if she went away with someone she would have been back by now." Cooley's family said they worry Maysville police aren't taking her disappearance as seriously as they are They organized a private search party for Cooley on Jan "We've been doing our part," Jasha Westbrook said "We're just really concerned and confused." traveling the entire length of the city including along the riverbank and in wooded areas Just because they don't see us doesn't mean that we're not doing anything," Hull said "We consider everyone around here family and even she — she was an outsider who came from Northern Kentucky down here a year ago — we consider her one of ours We are working very diligently to try and find Ms Cooley is described as being 5-foot-7 with brown hair and brown eyes Anyone with information on Cooley's whereabouts is asked to call the Maysville Police Department at 606-564-9411 or submit an anonymous tip through Tip 411 "If anyone has seen her or know where she's at We just want to make sure that she's alive and safe." DRESDEN — Recent losses made Tri-Valley take a step back The Scotties have since responded with three straight wins including an impressive 65-48 victory over rival Maysville on Tuesday The game did not count toward the league standings but it's a game Tri-Valley coach Todd McLoughlin hopes can propel his squad entering the final month of the regular season "After back-to-back losses to Upper Arlington and John Glenn we focused on getting back to the fundamentals," McLoughlin said and we turned the ball over a lot against John Glenn Tri-Valley (10-4) played with purpose throughout Kam Karns and Max Lyall combined for all 11 points in the stanza as the Scotties extended a 13-8 first-quarter advantage to as many as nine Jordyn Watson's 3-point play and a Gator Nichols layup brought the Panthers (10-2) within 24-18 at halftime The teams traded baskets to open the third before Tri-Valley took control with a 17-5 run The surge was highlighted by dunks from Nohah Nichols and Ryan Lamonica and a 3 from Lyall A pair of Lyall 3s later in the third pushed the lead to as many as 21 and Maysville never got closer than 14 in the final quarter "Our kids came out and played with tempo and pace," McLoughlin said "We didn't get sped up and attacked the rim noted the team held a shoot around earlier in the day He credited McLoughlin for making sure the team was prepared coach gets us in here early to get our legs moving," Lyall said "It helped us bring some energy and get up for a big game like this." Lamonica scored 12 with seven rebounds and four assists Gator Nichols led Maysville with 19 points and Watson chipped in 10 in the loss Tri-Valley remains in the Muskingum Valley League Big School Division race with John Glenn including rematches with the Muskies and Panthers McLoughlin knows what this team's potential can be and his focus is making sure it arrives with the postseason just over a month away and they understand what this time of year is about," McLoughlin said "We know where we want to be heading into the tournament We need to keep taking steps in the right direction." Having only five turnovers against an aggressive Maysville defense was a positive for Lyall He expects the Scotties to continue to play with urgency "Even though this game doesn't affect the league If we take care of the ball and play good defense then we have a good chance each time out." A house fire with fatal results is under investigation with the Banks County Coroner's Office Georgia State Fire Marshal's Office and Banks Fire Department officials Friday Banks County Fire Chief Steve Nichols says their crews were still out early Friday morning at the scene of a single family home along the 600 block of Russ Rumsey Road after receiving the call just after 11:35 p.m Thursday night for the structure fire with a reported entrapment.  Upon arrival Banks County crews began to attack the well involved interior fire of the home while searching for one male resident of the home Nichols' press release Friday says the fire was brought under control a short time later and a male victim in his late-sities was found inside the structure while no other family members were at home during the time of the fire The name of the victim has not been released at the time of this publication.  while the cause for the fire and the victim's death remain under investgation at this time through the Georgia State Fire Marshal's Office Banks County Fire Department and the Banks County Coroner's Office with assistance from Jackson County emergency service crews Fire crews in Jones County spent around three hours putting out a fire at a facility off of US 17 Bypass in the area of Maysville The usage of Jones County Regional Water caused temporary low water pressure at some homes and businesses in the area Maysville Fire Department crews tell us that the fire happened at 11710 US-17S in Maysville Crews tell us that a sprinkler system helped control the fire until the arrival of fire crews The cause of the fire was due to combustion from material inside the bin Multiple volunteer fire department responded to the fire This story will be updated as more information is made available