Jamie Baker posted on January 27, 2012 23:49
By TED RADICK
staff writer
MCCOMB — Steve Williman’s varsity coaching career didn’t get off to an auspicious start.
The Old Fort native took over at his hometown school in 1980 and promptly lost his first 11 games.
A first win, against some ballclub from some school named Liberty-Benton, got the ball rolling.
Now in his 31st year of coaching, the past 26 at Liberty-Benton, Williman won his 500th game Friday as the Eagles defeated McComb 49-36 in a Blanchard Valley Conference game.
“I’m happy for our team,” Williman said. “I know, at times, it’s been a struggle for us. Even on a daily basis, we’ve struggled to get some consistency.
“For us to get a good BVC win on the road, I’m much happier for our kids than I am for myself.”
Liberty-Benton improved to 9-3 overall and 4-1 in league play.
Williman spent three years at Old Fort, was a graduate assistant for one season at Bowling Green State University and coached at Galion for two years. He then took over at L-B before the 1986-87 season. His 500th victory came in his 700th game, making his career mark 500-200.
“Like I told them in the locker room, anything that anyone ever attains in our program, whether it’s from a coaching standpoint or a player, are all team awards,” said Williman, who is 465-128 at Liberty-Benton. “It’s all part of our program. No one is bigger than our program.
“And so, I’m happier for our kids because I know how we’ve struggled throughout the year.”
Williman’s players obviously knew the milestone was approaching.
“That’s a lot of work,” said sophomore guard Ryan Geise, trying to put 700 games and 500 wins in perspective. “He’s a great coach and a great guy, and he deserves it.”
Geise led the way with 17 points as Liberty-Benton jumped out to a big early lead and staved off a spirited second-half comeback from the Panthers (7-5, 2-4).
The Eagles seemed to have the game salted away in the first quarter. L-B scored the game’s first 11 points and had a 26-9 advantage late in the second quarter.
“We had a quick start,” Williman said. “We executed well in a half-court set. We made some shots, and we got some putbacks.
“As the game progressed, we seemed to play a lot more tentatively. We stopped attacking the basket and they were pushing us farther and farther from the basket.”
That’s been standard operating procedure for McComb.
The Panthers played dead even with L-B in the final three quarters, but an 18-5 deficit after the first eight minutes was too much to overcome.
“That’s been the theme of a lot of our games lately, we just get down in the first quarter,” McComb coach Aaron Roth said. “We play even the rest of the way, but against good teams you can’t get down because then they can run their stuff.
“We’ve tried different lineups, we’ve tried different philosophies. We’ve pressed, we’ve not pressed. We’ll keep working at it, but so far I haven’t figured it out.”
McComb ramped up the defensive pressure and forced 10 Liberty-Benton turnovers in the second half. A layup off a steal by Jerry Brown pulled the Panthers to within 32-24 midway through the third quarter.
Mitch Linhart hit a 10-foot jumper to cap a quick Liberty-Benton four-point burst to start the fourth quarter.
“We’re obviously a much better team when we play with the lead, with our personnel and our style of play,” Williman said. “We’re not a good team when we’re forced to extend the floor and pick people up full court.
“Tonight we were still able to keep it a half-court game.”
McComb pulled within 40-32 midway through the fourth quarter after an Austan Westenbarger 3-pointer, but a young Panthers team could get no closer.
“We try to get it up and down, but even then we can only sustain it for a couple minutes,” Roth said.
Linhart had 10 points for Liberty-Benton, while Adam Cytlak and Rob Rucki each had eight rebounds.
Rucki, the son of Findlay High coach Jim Rucki, knows first-hand the effort Williman has put into the game over the years.
“Obviously, 500 wins is a lot of work,” Rucki said. “My dad is gone a lot, he’s working a lot. So, yes, 500 wins is definitely a huge deal.
“It’s something I’ll always remember. I’m glad we got the victory tonight.”
“We needed to come out here and get a win,” Geise said. “It’s a great accomplishment for coach, and I’m glad he accomplished it and it’s over with.”
Westenbarger hit three 3-pointers in the second half and led McComb with 10 points. Jerry Brown had nine points and a team-high six rebounds.
Roth, in his 15th year on the sidelines at McComb, saluted his veteran rival.
“I’m disappointed we lost, but he’s been a great coach and he’s always been nice to me in the 15 years I’ve been here,” he said. “He’s always helped me and has been a great guy. I’m not going to lose sleep over it tonight because I know he’s beaten a lot of other people.
“It’s just a great accomplishment for him.”
Liberty-Benton (9-3, 4-1)
Cytlak 2-3—7, Cook 0-2—2, Geise 5-3—17, Rucki 2-2—7, Linhart 4-1—10, May 1-0—2, Archer 2-0—4. TOTALS: 16-38 11-13 — 49.
McComb (7-5, 2-4)
Lanning 0-2—2, Newcomer 2-0—5, Buck 1-0—2, Westenbarger 3-1—10, Wilson 2-3—8, Brown 4-1—9, Grubb 0-0—-0. TOTALS: 11-39 7-11 — 36.
Liberty-Benton 18 11 7 13 — 49
McComb 5 11 10 10 — 36
3-Point GOALS: Liberty-Benton 6-16 (Geise 4, Rucki, Linhart); McComb 5-18 (Westenbarger 3, Newcomer, Wilson).
rebounds: Liberty-Benton 28 (Rucki & Cytlak 8); McComb 16 (Brown 6).
turnovers: Liberty-Benton 16, McComb 10.
junior varsity: Liberty-Benton, 49-34.
Radick: 419-427-8405,
tedradick@thecourier.com