DIVISION IV Coach's routine changed, but Groves was prepared

Many want a piece of the Panthers as they prepare for Thursday's state semifinal game.
By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
Bristol coach Scott Groves hasn't been interrupted this week -- he's been ambushed.
"I've been on the phone all day," Groves said Monday. "I've talked to television stations, newspapers from Lima to Delphos to Columbus. Everybody wants to know what's going on.
"It's just been a whirlwind."
Bristol is making just its second trip to state -- the first came in 1994 -- and Groves, a second-year head coach, is discovering all the "joys" that come with qualifying for Columbus.
"I've talked to coaches that have tried to warn me about a couple things," Groves said, "but I don't think you can be prepared for the media blitz. You just try to deal with it the best you can."
Next: Bristol plays Delphos St. John's in a Division IV state semifinal Thursday at 9 p.m. at the Schottenstein Center in Columbus. The Panthers will leave tonight.
This is how Grove's week shaped up. After Bristol beat Strasburg in Canton last Friday night, Groves rode back on the team bus and got home at 11 p.m. He went to a memorial service for one of his player's grandparents Saturday morning and had an evening practice that night.
He met with the principal and athletic director Sunday afternoon, had a media photo shoot Sunday evening, then went to a meeting with the booster club on how to handle ticket sales until 11 p.m.
Add in a few trips to Columbus, a pep rally, practices, film sessions, meetings about accommodations, food and travel, media requests, OHSAA requests, a banquet honoring senior John King as district player of the year and somehow finding time for food, sleep and -- lest we forget -- his wife, and you've got a very busy week.
Groves took a vacation week from his job as a service consultant at Lou Wollam Chevrolet. Probably not a bad idea.
"You don't want to say it's a once in a lifetime thing, but you've got to enjoy it while it's here," Groves said. "At the same time, you realize that you're going down there to win. I think a lot of teams fall into the pitfall of just being satisfied with making it.
"No small school from Trumbull County has ever won a boys basketball title. We want to be the first."
The opponent: St. John's lost in last year's state final to Tipp City Bethel and Bristol has scouted the Blue Jays a few times over the past two years.
He's impressed, but not intimidated. "They're athletic and they shoot a lot of 3s, but they're not an up-tempo team," Groves said. "We're going to pressure them and try to wear them down into making mental mistakes.
"I don't know if they've had pressure on them for 32 minutes."
The Panthers finished the season ranked third in the Div. IV Associated Press poll. Eighth-ranked Russia, which plays Whiteoak, is the only other ranked team remaining.
"Some look at us like David facing Goliath and some see us as the highest ranking team left," Groves said.
"We may not look like much, but when we lace 'em up and come out on the floor, you can see how much the kids want to win."
scalzo@vindy.com