Teams defending homecourts

Is there a home court advantage when it comes to basketball?

St. Paul, Edison and Plymouth are all unbeaten on their home courts so far on the boys' side.

After a 61-55 win over Ashland Crestview Dec. 12 to open the season, the Flyers have outscored their counterparts 281-202 in the last four games at the convocation center.

"I don't know if home court is the case,'' St. Paul coach Mike Smith. "If you look at just the last five or six games, fortunately some of those have been at home."

St. Paul, 7-3 overall, still has five home games remaining.

The season opener against Huron Dec. 5 was pushed back to Feb. 28 because of the Flyers' run in the football playoffs.

"I guess I'll assess that the next time we get on the road,'' Smith said. "Edison (Saturday) will be a tough road match, but I we have three of the next four at home and then coming down the stretch we will have to win games on the road.

"We will kind of see where we're at when we get to that point and I hope that we just keep getting better and better and our success at home is just a coincidence, but the last five games we've played well and shot it well."

Edison, which is 9-2 overall, is a team playing well both at home and on the road.

The Chargers are 4-0 in the Thunderdome with wins of 15 or more points against Huron 94-62, Perkins 79-64 and Port Clinton 84-58.

Edison topped Margaretta 55-48 Jan. 3.

"I think it's more a case of familiarity,'' Chargers coach Chris Ceccoli said. "It's certainly an advantage to play on the floor where you practice eight to 10 hours a week.

"But the bottom line is you still have to play your best. There are so many quality opponents in our league, we have to be prepared to go every night whether at home or on the road."

Edison, which suffered its first Sandusky Bay Conference loss to Perkins, 54-50, Saturday, is driving for a league title.

Of their remaining nine regular-season games, six are at home.

"It's been fun to watch our stands fill up as the season has progressed,'' Ceccoli said. "Our community has been great in its support of our program. Our student body has done a fantastic job of being vocal during our games.

"On the nights when our pep band is playing, there's that much more energy in our gym. Our players feed off of the enthusiasm and energy."

Plymouth, which leads the Firelands Conference at 7-0, is 6-0 this season.

The closest win was 69-58 over South Central Dec. 19, while the largest margin was 80-41 over Crestline Saturday.

"I think the kids feel more comfortable at home,'' Plymouth coach Brad Turson said. "We've been pretty successful in the new gym. Team historically don't shoot well here, so I do think we have a little advantage.''

Turson has been pleased with the fan support.

"It's important to our players,'' he said. "They just feel that support and maybe that makes them focus a little more.''

Turson has coached at the old school, as well as the one at the new high school which opened in the fall of 2002.

"The old gym has a special place in my heart,'' he said. "I've played there and my sons have played there.

"At the new gym, the lighting is better, the floor is bigger and there's a high roof. There's more space.''

By contrast, Turson playing on the road can be a challenge.

"It's something we talk about,'' he said. "You're going into unfamiliar surroundings. I know we struggle shooting at both Western Reserve and Monroeville.

"We tell them that they need they to be focused on the next play and they are doing a great job of staying focused.''

Plymouth, a regional team last season, has captured nine straight wins since losing on the road to Wooster Triway in the College of Wooster Steve Smith Classic Dec. 15.

Of their eight regular season games left, four are at home.

Both the Flyers and Western Reserve are 6-2 in the league.

Plymouth still has to play St. Paul twice -- Feb. 10 at Plymouth and Feb. 20 at the convocation center.