the 2022-’23 Rams, building a future

As the Rams entered the second year under Tinora alumni Kris Lymanstall’s leadership, one thing that was glazing obvious question, how do we replace Nolan Schafer and the other graduated seniors’ leadership? Schafer, a four-year varsity letterman, and one of the lifelines of the Rams offense the previous four seasons, was no longer in the green & white uniform.

Stepping into the shoes of Schafer and the previous seniors, Lance Rinkel, Keegan Miles, Eric Bohn, and Tyler Weimken, was the 2022-’23 senior class of Gavin Eckert, Eli Plassman, Cole Anders, Shae McMaster, and Luke Harris.

The 2021-’22 Rams were plagued by inexperience and close game losses, finishing up last season at 5-16 (1-6 in the GMC)

A new team and a new season began on a late November Saturday evening at Tinora High School as the Rams looked to get the season started with a win over the Golden Bears.

The Rams came out firing with a 52-38 win. Luke Harris bucketed 19 points, while Gavin Eckert returned to action with 13 points and 12 boards. Varsity newcomers Aiden Rittenhouse and Owen Ackerman showed they would also be a force to be reckoned with, not only in game one, but this new season as well.
The Rams were off and running at 1-0.

Game two vs Delta, it was raining threes at THS. Eli Plassman and Luke Harris each bucketed 5 threes as the Rams improved to 2-0 with a 49-42 win over the Panthers. 20 total threes by both team were made during this contest.

Game three saw the Rams travel to the Grand Canyon, well, not literally, but to Napoleon. A tough 57-47 loss dropped the Rams to 2-1. Luke Harris began to show he was one of the areas best scorers with 19 points, and Aiden Rittenhouse also began to show his growth with 11 points.

Game four vs former GMC foe Holgate saw Tinora with a huge fourth quarter surge. Owen Ackerman broke out with 15 big points, while Luke Harris again threw in 19 in the 46–38 Rams win. Tinora moved to 3-1.

In a bizarre game, the GMC opener at Edgerton, the Rams held off the Bulldogs for a 43-38 victory. With the win, Tinora improved to 4-1, 1-0 in GMC play. Tinora was led by Harris’s 20 & Rittenhouse with 10.

As the Rams were ramping up for the holiday season, Scrooge made his way to Ram country as the Tinora basketballers dropped their next four games to fall to 4-5.

A loss to Liberty Center in front of a jammed packed crowd at THS, followed by three straight road losses at Patrick Henry, Wauseon, and Miller City sent the Rams spinning.

As the New Year kicked in, Tinora welcomed in GMC rival Fairview.

Rams basketball coach and Tinora alum Kris Lymanstall surprised the team as players came out sporting new throwback uniforms, honoring the Rams teams from the 70’s and 80’s.

Tinora greats from the likes of Tim Aschemeier, Ty Gullium, and the father of current Rams player Luke Harris, Jim Harris donned these colors decades ago in the old Alan Moore Gymnasium.

The Rams broke their four game losing streak, improving to 5-5 with a 42-34 win over Fairview. Despite being limited to just three points, Rams senior leader Gavin Eckert would grab 15 rebounds in the Tinora win.

Games 11 and 12 saw the Rams face two of the areas better teams, Kalida and Wayne Trace. The Wildcats visited THS in 1/7 and dominated the Rams, 67-37. The lone Rams bright spot was Aiden Rittenhouse and his 13 points.

In a visit to The Palace at Wayne Trace, the Rams hung with the Elite Eight Raiders through three quarters, trailing just 47-40 before eventually falling 64-46. Tinora was led by Rittenhouse’s 16, and Harris with 12.

The Jan 14 THS crowd saw one of the more thrilling games in recent memories as the Stryker Panthers made the trip over.

In a “you have to be there to believe it” moment, with just seconds on the clock, Tinora’s Gavin Echert would attempt the inbounds pass five times, four of them would be deflected off the Panthers 6′ 6″ Elijah Julliard. Finally, on the fifth attempt, Eckert would hit Luke Harris on the left wing, and Harris would be fouled on the inbound pass as time expired, sending Harris to the free throw line with the clock at 0.00. The senior, shooting 88% from the line at the time, hit both, tying the game at 52-52.

Unfortunately, the Stryker Panthers would dominate the OT period, outscoring Tinora 14-9, heading back to Stryker with a 66-61 OT win. Despite the loss, dropping the Rams to 5-8, Rittenhouse had 15, and Harris 28 for Tinora.

The Rams were playing well, but just couldn’t find the win column. A hot streak was just around the corner as the season was halfway through.

River Rivalry, game 14. The Pilots made the short drive across the river to THS in a game everyone circles on the calendar.
In perhaps their most complete game, the Rams defeated their rivals 53-37 to break the three game losing streak. The Rams were led by Eckert with 13, Harris’s 23, & Ackerman 13. Cole Anders with great presence at the points guard spot in this win.
The Rams improve to 6-8 with the win, moving into second place in the GMC with a 3-1 conference record.

Game 15 saw the Rams win their second straight, a season high point total, a 61-43 road win at Hilltop. Tinora again led by Luke Harris 18, Plassman 11, and Rittenhouse 13.

Game 16 at Hicksville, a game that would unfortunately change the course of the Rams hoops season.
Tinora would lose Owen Ackerman in the first quarter, and later would lose Aiden Rittenhouse for the season in the fourth quarter.

Sophomore’s Alex Homier and Adam Spychalla were forced into the fire, both stepped up and helped the Rams down the stretch.
Despite the loss of personnel, Tinora would battle its way to a 50-46 win and improved to 9-9, and 4-1 in GMC play. Rittenhouse would bucket 10 before leaving & Harris 24.

A huge Friday night game welcomed in the GMC’s top dog, the Paulding Panthers. A win would tie the Panthers and Rams atop the GMC. Unfortunately, the Panthers dominated from start to finish, defeating Tinora and ending their hopes of a GMC title, 51-28, ending the Tinora three game winning streak. The Rams looked on as the Panthers celebrated on the THS floor.
A rematch with the Panthers was in the Rams future.

Adam Spycalla, who, along with Homier, was going to help fill the loss of Rittenhouse was lost for the season due to an injury suffered in the game vs Paulding.

After the losses of Rittenhouse and Spychalla, the Rams would struggle to score at times, and unfortunately Tinora would lose their next four games. Losses to Archbold, Antwerp, Crestview and Pettisville would set the Rams at 8-13. The loss to Antwerp would end the Rams GMC season at 4-3.

Senior night, always a great tradition. Suiting up on the home floor for the final time in the green and white in their high school basketball careers were Rams Gavin Eckert, Eli Plassman, Cole Anders, Shea McMaster, and Luke Harris.

Once the final regular season game tipped off, the Rams were off and running, Luke Harris would set a season high with 29 points as Tinora would send the home fans and seniors home happy with a 60-51 win over the Bombers.

In their final home game, seniors Eckert would score 13, Plassman 6, and Anders ended with 6. Shae did nor score, but his leadership throughout the season was a huge asset.

The Rams regular season would end at 9-13.

Tinora would have a date with Paulding in the OHSAA Sectionals in a rematch on 2/22.

The great Herm Edwards once said, “you play to win the game.”

Less than three weeks earlier, the Rams were watching Paulding celebrate a GMC Championship by defeating the Rams by 24 points, now they were squaring off against the Panthers at Springfield High School in Holland, Ohio.

The Rams would not back town to the GMC Champs, Tinora would go toe to toe with the Panthers.
Despite losing by 5 in OT with 30 seconds left, Tinora still had a pulse. A deep three by Harris cut the deficit to 46-44.

In a coming of age moment with 10 seconds remaining, junior Owen Ackerman would tie the game at 46-46 on a drive and foul, and give the Rams the lead on a free throw 47-46. The Rams defense would hold on, and Luke Harris would seal it at the line for a thrilling win.
Tinora would live to play another game, defeating Paulding in OT, 49-46.

Up next in the Sectional Finals was another rematch, this time with the Archbold Bluestreaks. Archbold had defeated the Rams less than three weeks earlier as well, 46-34.

As in the first matchup, the Rams would play right with the ‘Streaks into the final quarter.
Tinora fought to stay with Archbold, trailing by just four through three quarters, 37-33.
Unfortunately, it was the same movie for the Rams as Archbold outplayed Tinora down the stretch, ending the Rams season with a 61-46 defeat.

The Tinora 2022-’23 season would end at 10-14.

In their final game in a Rams uniform, Eckert had 13, Plassman 3, Anders 0, McMaster 0, and Harris finished with 20.

Postseason awards went to Luke Harris, named to the All GMC First Team, as well as the NW District second team.
Gavin Eckert was named to the GMC Honorable Mention team.

Thank you seniors, you led with class, determination, and all out hard work. No one was going to out hustle the Rams, and you five were the leaders.

You each supplied Tinora fans with many great memories this season, and especially made Ram country proud with your work on and off the court.

A great job by the Rams coaching staff of Coach Lymanstall, Andy Hunter, Reid Anders, and Isaac Shelton.
These gentleman go above and beyond during the season for the kids, it doesn’t go unnoticed, thank you!

All in the numbers, season leaders:
Average PPG: 45
High game vs 61 x 2 Stryker and Hilltop
Leading scorer: Luke Harris 18 PPG
FT%: Luke Harris 85%
Assist: Cole Anders 2.6 APG
Rebounds: Gavin Eckert 6.7 RPG

Players of the game below:
*11/26 vs Bryan – boys basketball – Gavin Eckert 13 points
*12/2 vs Delta – boys basketball – Eli Plassman 17 points – 5 3’s
*12/10 vs Holgate – boys basketball – Luke Harris 19 points – 15 in the 4th Qtr
*12/16 vs Edgerton boys basketball – Gavin Eckert – 6 points – great Defense
*1/7 vs Fairview – boys basketball – Cole Anders – 8 points
*1/20 vs Ayersville – boys basketball – Gavin Eckert 13 points, 12 rebounds
*1/21 vs Hilltop – boys basketball – Luke Harris – 18 points, 8 rebounds
*1/27 vs Hicksville – boys basketball – Luke Harris – 24 points, 7 rebounds
*2/17 vs Edon – Boys basketball – Senior boys
(Gavin Eckert, Eli Plassman, Cole Anders, Shea McMaster, and Luke Harris.)
*2/23 vs Paulding – boys basketball – Owen Ackerman – boys basketball – 10 points

Next seasons senior class of Aiden Rittenhouse, Owen Ackerman, and Micah Shelton look to fill the void left by the five member senior class.

The JV team also has plenty of talent, those will be incoming juniors Alden Friedrickson, Adam Spychala, Cooper Ferrell, Connor Welling, Trentin Delarber, Alex Homier, and Mason McQuillin all should return and provide a spark at the varsity level.

Thanks to the Rams cheerleaders as well!!
Cheer Assistant: Danielle Hagerman
Varsity Cheerleaders:
Mikayla Smith, Savanna Brooks, Teylan Gilroy, Karli Vogelsong, Julia Plassman, Addison Tussing
Mascot: Jason DeWyse