End of an era...

After 31 years as the head coach of Russia boys basketball, Paul Bremigan retired from the Raiders program on Wednesday, April 29th. Coach Bremigan took over in the 1984-85 season and eventually built the Raiders into a powerhouse in the Shelby County League. In his last 17 years at Russia, the Raiders won eight outright league titles and had only one losing season. Coach Bremigan became Shelby County's all-time winningest boys basketball coach and tallied 437 victories overall, including 44 his last two seasons. His greatest accomplishment will always be remembered by Russia fans as the 2001-02 season when the Raiders won a school record 24 games and made it to the state finals. Below is Coach Bremigan's record year-by-year

These Russia seniors had class...

Russia played at Trent Arena twice this season. A rare opportunity

that came about because of exceptional talent and hard work

Ten Russia seniors wrapped up their basketball careers on the floor of Trent Arena Tuesday night, falling in the regional semifinals to Tri-Village 59-50. As the clock ticked down the final seconds, fans dressed in mostly gold stood up to applaud. Applaud the efforts of a hard fought battle and recognize a group of boys who put Russia hoops back in the regional spotlight again.

It was most of these same classmates that carried Russia to the regional tournament last year. Before 2014 it had been eight years since the Raiders last played in the regionals. That was back in 2006 when the venue was at Miami University and the Russia program was still riding the wave of annual success from the 2002 state runner-up team. What seems like yesterday for many faithful Raider fans was too long ago for most of the current seniors to remember.

Starting in junior high this special group of boys began to establish a reputation for winning. Capturing league titles in 7th and 8th-grade only fueled expectations for what was to come. As they entered high school the classmates that played together so well were split between the freshman, junior varsity and varsity teams. Then, as juniors, most of them reunited. It only took a short while to find that same chemistry they once enjoyed and the boys put together a 22-5 season, including a tournament run that brought home a district title over talented Cincinnati Aiken. The 2014 season eventually ended against Marion Local in the regional semifinals, but the taste of success only increased their appetite for their final year together.

Nolan Francis was a floor leader for the Raiders in junior high.

In high school he led Russia in scoring with over 1000 points

To say this last season of basketball for ten friends has been enjoyable would be a huge understatement. Another 22-5 season, titles in the SCAL, sectional tournament and one more district championship over Cincinnati Aiken this year was just part of the fun. Winning the Piqua holiday tournament and playing at Flyin' To The Hoop were moments that Raider fans may never experience again. Those ten seniors and Russia followers got to enjoy the fruit of six years in the making. Most of all though, this group did everything the right way. Great sportsmanship, hard work and starting the next wave of success for Raider basketball will be what they are remembered for. The boys may not have achieved everything they hoped for, but they were a class with class. And that's something to be proud of.

The 2015 seniors joined the class of 1995 as the only two teams 

in school history to win district titles in both boys and girls

basketball in the same season. Quite an accomplishment

Jared Hoying doing all he can do...

Jared Hoying's production through one week of Spring Training

Jared Hoying is doing all he can do to prove he deserves on the Texas Rangers major league roster when the regular season starts the beginning of April. Last year the Ft. Loramie product spent his entire season at Triple-A Round Rock and this year he is making the most of his first-ever invitation to big league camp. In the first six games of Rangers spring training the center fielder has played in five of those games and hammered out the line above. In doing so, #71 has garnered the attention of several baseball columnists and sports bloggers.

The media guys have noticed Jared's arrival at camp

Most fans back in west central Ohio are wondering though, how much attention he's getting from the Rangers organization. Last season at Round Rock, Jared batted .271 with 26 homeruns and 78 RBI. That kind of production is what landed him in the Triple-A all-star game and obviously what merited his invitation this spring with the big boys. Texas Rangers minor league guru for the Newberg Report, Scott Lucas, speculated on Twitter that the reason Jared isn't already ensconced as the 4th or 5th outfielder for the Rangers is due to his .318 on-base percentage (OBP) at the minor league level. No doubt fans back home will point to Jared's .500 OBP so far this spring training. Lucas further tweeted that if Rangers outfield prospect Delino DeShields (who was the lone player Texas selected in the Rule 5 draft back in December) doesn't pan out, Jared is an option for backup outfielder due to his defense, power and speed. So far this spring DeShields is 1-for-9 in five games with a triple and a .200 OBP.

If Jared continues to produce as he has this past week, heads of the organization will have to take notice. Texas finished 2014 with the American League's worst record at 67-95 and used a major league record of 64 players during the season. In order for the Rangers to enjoy any type of success similar to their 2010 and 2011 World Series teams, they need stability. And a 25-year old power-hitter that swings from the left side of the plate just like Texas star Prince Fielder would be a good start.

Doing little things like this should lead to big things for Jared