NOL race heating up quickly

The Northern Ohio League boys' basketball race is off to a rousing start.

Seven teams are within two games of each other as the first half of the league slate ends Jan. 16.

Two of those teams -- Bellevue and Norwalk -- are in the mix.

The Redmen, under first-year coach Mike Raifsnider, are 3-2 in the NOL and tied with Upper Sandusky, Tiffin Columbian and Fostoria, one game back of league-leading Galion.

Bellevue pulled off close wins over Tiffin Columbian 60-59 and Norwalk 58-57 in December. They've also topped Willard 55-43.

The Redmen have lost to Galion 60-54 and Shelby 74-65.

"It's a competitive league from top to bottom,'' said Raifsnider, who made the switch to the Redmen boys' team after coaching the school's girls' squad. "You have to bring your 'A' game every night. Athletically there's a lot of equal talent.''

Raifsnider is pleased with his team's start.

"We were fortunate to get a big win at Tiffin,'' he said. "When you win some close games, that does nothing but help the kids' confidence. We've been real consistent on offense and have done a good job of defending.''

Bellevue still has to play at Upper Sandusky Friday and host Fostoria Jan. 16 to complete the first round.

"I don't think it will change at all,'' Raifsnider said of the league race.

Meanwhile, veteran Truckers coach Steve Gray is trying to replace five senior starters from last season's Division II district team.

Norwalk is 2-3 in the league, along with Shelby, on the season and two games back of the Tigers.

The Truckers have posted league wins over Fostoria 40-37 and Shelby 58-51 with losses to Upper Sandusky 77-72, the Redmen and Tiffin Columbian 57-37.

"We're trying to place a greater demand in practice,'' Gray said. "It's a situation now of repetition. When it finally clicks, I think you'll see a good team. The kids are working hard and are coachable.''

Since joining the NOL from Lexington before the 2001-02 season, Gray has watched NOL alums Nick Dials go to Akron, Jimmy Langhurst Robert Morris, Jake Diebler Valparaiso and Jon Diebler The Ohio State University.

With the Dieblers, the Rams won a Division II state title in 2005 and Upper advanced to the 2007 state final in Jon's senior season.

"I think there are two things,'' Gray said of the parity. "One, everything runs in cycles and two, when's the last time our league hasn't had a Division I Player? Last year we were a senior dominated league.

"I think we have a lot of teams with equal ability. It can be tradition, it can be team chemistry and it could be as simple as the ball bouncing your way. When you play with a lot of underclassmen, you're not sure what you're going to get.''

Still, the league does have some talented players.

"We'll continue to see players who will play at the next level when they graduate,'' Gray said. "I think next year it will be a lot different. A lot of teams return quality players. There's a great deal of equality.''

Norwalk ends the first round of league play with home games against Galion Friday and Willard Jan. 16.

"I think it will be a slugfest,'' Gray said of the NOL. "There will be some teams that get better and some will fall out of the race. Hopefully we can accept the challenge and respond in a positive way.''