It ranged beyond the court, though. A smattering of Smithville Smithies made the trip to watch/scout the Garaway-Orrville 10 a.m. matchup. And basically Norwayne's entire varsity roster was on hand as well. A few of the Bobcats even joined in for the basketball version of musical chairs during halftime of the Sandusky Perkins-Shaker Heights game.

"It's a great venue. I come down ever year," Smithville coach Mike Miller said Monday after Orrville's victory over Garaway. "Some year it probably will work out that we can come and play. Right now I'm just focused on winning a league championship."

Smithville turned down an invitation to play this season.

Playing on Sunday was a problem, playing at 10 a.m. wasn't preferred and scheduling a non-conference game in the heat of the WCAL season was a concern. As an example, Miller cited Waynedale's trip to the Classic a few years ago.

The Bears played a league game on Thursday and at the CITC Saturday. League games then followed Tuesday and Thursday -- the last a Waynedale loss to Norwayne which almost cost the Bears a WCAL title.

CALLING COLIN -- Prior to the Hiland-Hathaway Brown CITC finale, Hawks coach Dave Schlabach called Hiland Athletic Director Colin Mishler to the floor. At that time, Schlabach and CITC promoter Tom Jenkins presented Mishler, who is retiring after 39 years in the education field, with a plaque reading: Thank you for 21 years of service as Hiland High School Athletic Director. Your behind the scenes efforts have helped make the Classic in the Country a special event recognized nationwide. You truly are a "Classic" in the country.

"I think that means old -- that part at the end," Mishler joked. "It certainly has been a trek. It actually makes me kind of tired just thinking about it."

Schlabach said some kind words in front of a near sell-out crowd.

"Without his time and effort here, we wouldn't be where we are today," Schlabach told the fans.

After a year at Central Christian and three teaching in Africa with his wife, Julia, Mishler came to Hiland. He taught health, physical education, driver's education and was the first to handle computer classes in the district.

The last two decades have been spent running the athletics department at a rural school with facilities comparable to top-notch Div. I programs.

RISE AND SHINE -- Normally, a day off school equals sleeping in for members of Orrville's girls basketball team. Not Monday, as the Riders played the first game of the final day of Classic in the Country V.

"It was different," Kelley Johnson said of the 10 a.m. tip. "We got here and I was like, 'Oh, I've got time. The JV has to play.' Then it was like, 'No, they're not here.'

"It was hard not to be awake, though, playing in front of all these people," Johnson added. "Actually, (DeVonne Howard) said, 'This is like the WNBA.'"

ROAD TRIP -- Shaker Heights was popular this weekend. The Raiders accepted invitations to play in tournaments at both Pickerington High (Saturday) and then the Classic (Monday). Shaker Heights lost to Pickerington Central 49-39 Saturday morning and 50-46 to Sandusky Perkins yesterday.

"We were a little tired coming out, to be honest. These are high school kids and that's a lot of traveling," Shaker Heights coach Don Readance said. "We got here at 3 (Sunday), just in time for (Perkins') game against Regina. Then it was back to the hotel to eat dinner."

OH BABY! -- Orrville assistant Laurie Haller, a 1990 Chippewa grad, celebrated the Riders' victory over Garaway Monday. There wasn't much jumping up and down, though, as she's due to give birth to twin boys May 20. Haller isn't the lone Riders coach to be pregnant, as head boss Marcie Alberts is expecting her second child.

MEAL TIME -- Der Dutchman again catered meals to college coaches, media members, volunteers and select sponsors again this year. It served 845 meals in the balcony of the Perry Reese Community Center.