Rayen's School's gymnasium hosts its final game tonight

By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- Floyd Showers III remembers playing in front of sellout crowds at The Rayen School in the mid-1980s, although that wasn't always a good thing.
"Half of them were there to see us win and the other half wanted to see us lose," Showers recalled, chuckling. "It was an excellent challenge every night because every team was coming after us."
State champions
Showers' best moment in a Tigers uniform came 22 years ago, when he helped Rayen beat Linden McKinley 50-44 in the 1985 Class AA state final at St. John Arena. It was the final high school game of his career and Rayen's only state championship.
"The thing about that team is, every team before us laid the path for what we did," Showers said. "Guys like Mark McClendon, Ed Briggs, Steve Lyles, Jake Staples, Byron Taylor, Kevin Spivey ... I could go on forever.
"Those teams that came before us, they taught us how to win. And we paid attention."
More than 20 years later, on Friday night on the North Side, Showers' son, Floyd Showers IV, was going through a pregame layup line, preparing for the next-to-last game at Rayen High.
Sad?
"Yeah, it is," Showers IV said. "I've had a lot of good times here."
Merger awaits
Countless Tigers would say the same thing. Rayen will close its doors forever at the end of this school year, merging with Wilson into the new East High next fall.
The Tigers will play their final home game today at 6:30 p.m. (the junior varsity game starts at 5) against Chaney.
"It's going to be a sad day," said the elder Showers. "I was hoping they weren't going to tear the school down, but they have to do what they have to do. And I appreciate what they're trying to do."
Former coach Frank Cegledy built a dynasty at Rayen in the 1970s and 80s, winning regional championships in 1981, 1982 (when it lost in the state final), 1985 and 1986. His assistant on the 1985 team, Phil House, took over for Cegledy when he retired in 1988.
"He was a great communicator," the elder Showers said of Cegledy. "A lot of coaches have trouble communicating to kids, but he could reach any of us."
Alumni interest
Rayen held its major farewell celebration last fall during football season, but several alumni will return for tonight's game. There will also be a disc jockey at the game and, hopefully, one more sellout crowd.
Although the Tigers have struggled in recent years, people still remember those powerhouse teams. The younger Showers, a sophomore at Rayen, has heard the stories and he's hoping East can regain a little of that magic.
"There's a lot of pressure to do what my dad did," said Showers. "It's a little hard to be in his shadow, but I've still got two more years. My dad wants me to do even better than he did."
scalzo@vindy.com