Ohio

BadgerBlitz – Takeaways from No.20 Wisconsin's 62-54 Victory over Ohio State

Published

2 years ago

February 14, 2024

BadgerBlitz – Takeaways from No.20 Wisconsin's 62-54 Victory over Ohio State

MADISON, Wis. – Load management is not an option at the University of Wisconsin, especially with the Badgers amid their longest losing slide in six years.

Riding its veteran starting lineup, seeing the five starters average 34-plus minutes on the court, No.20 Wisconsin registered an old-school Big Ten victory with a 62-54 victory over Ohio State Tuesday at the Kohl Center.

“It’s February, and we got to do what we got to do,” head coach Greg Gard said. “I ride who is playing well … Games we have to go full throttle.”

For the first time in several weeks, it was UW’s core group that delivered in every category: scoring, rebounding, facilitating, and defending to halt the Badgers (17-8, 9-5 Big Ten) and their freefall down the conference standings.

Here are my takeaways from Wisconsin’s first victory since January 26.

Ohio State guard Bruce Thornton (2) tries to turn the corner on Wisconsin guard Chucky Hepburn (23) (Mark Hoffman/USA TODAY Sports)

Crowl’s Assertiveness Was Evident

The first three possessions for Wisconsin were indictive of the night Steven Crowl was going to have. While the center opening the game with an open three-pointer was a nice boost, Crowl executing a driving layup was a sign of how he was going to play the Buckeyes: aggressively.

He wasn’t always successful, getting shots altered or swatted in the lane by 6-11 center Felix Okpara. Unlike his games against Purdue’s Zach Edey or Rutgers’ Clifford Omoruyi, Crowl kept attacking.

Crowl finished 7-for-14 and two assists, a low number considering how often Wisconsin got him and fellow forward Tyler Wahl (10 points, 7 rebounds) the ball in the post to either score or spark the offense.

“I thought he was more than effective in the post,” Ohio State coach Chris Holtmann said of Crowl. “You give him credit.”

Considering Wisconsin’s head coach demanded that action, it’s not surprising to see a renewed focus on low-post touches with UW finishing +13 on the glass (39-26) and +10 (17-7) in second-chance points.

“It was not a suggestion,” Gard said. “It was a mandate … He’s too good for us to not find every which way possible to touch him in (the post).

Hepburn and Klesmit Shine With Defense

Starting backcourt Chucky Hepburn and Max Klesmit combined to shoot just 5-for-15 from the floor, but their impact carried as much weight as UW’s starting frontcourt.

Undervalued as a defender, Hepburn matched up with sophomore guard Bruce Thornton and made the sophomore work from start to finish. Thornton finished with a game-high 18 points, but it took him 19 shots to reach that number. At halftime, Thornton made more turnovers (two) than field goals (one) on seven shots.

“In the Big Ten, most of the opponent’s teams start with the point guard, so that’s my main goal is to take the point guard out of the game because it disrupts the rhythm of the opponent,” Hepburn said. “My game will come throughout the game. I’m going to find it, but my main goal is to make sure we run the offense right and to defend the best that I can.”

Hepburn’s offense did come with nine points on 3 of 5 shooting, including two three-pointers that were delivered in rhythm with good rotation off his hand. His first three came at a pivotal moment after Ohio State had cut a 17-point lead down to five.

Hepburn finished with seven assists, five rebounds, two steals, and no turnovers in 39 minutes, pushing his assist-to-turnover margin to 3.17 (second-best in the Big Ten).

“Just get the ball to Chucky, he’ll make the right play as you saw multiple times,” Crowl said.

After Jamison Battle took Wisconsin to task in Columbus (7-for-11, 18 pts), Klesmit delivered in his second shot at the senior. Averaging 14.1 points per game, Battle hit his lone shot with 16 seconds left and the game decided, leaving him with a season-low three points on 1 of 6 shooting.

“Max has taken that ownership of that chase guy really to heart,” Gard said, “and takes a lot of pride in it of really making it hard of the other team’s better shooters to even get looks off, let alone good ones.”

First-Half Surge A Critical Factor

A sleepy first half was ignited during consecutive possessions late in the first half, courtesy of Klesmit and A.J. Storr.

Crowl was emphatically denied on a post shot by Okpara’s block, but Hepburn grabbed the offensive rebound and fed the ball to Klesmit, who buried the three-pointer in front of Ohio State’s bench.

On the next trip down the court, Hepburn forced a turnover against Thornton, running a two-man break with Storr. It wasn’t an alley-oop pass leading to a thunderous dunk, but Hepburn’s pass to Storr led to a two-handed slam.

Holtmann called timeout to try and stall the 7-1 run and the building momentum, but the Badgers continued pouring on the offense from the paint and the perimeter.

With the Buckeyes cold (missing nine of their last 10), UW’s 16-3 run over the final 5:30 gave the Badgers a comfortable lead at the break.

UW started 6-for-16 from the field but made 5 of its final 8 shots.

By The Numbers

11 – Wisconsin picked up its 11th Quad 1/Quad 2 win of the season, joining only No.2 Purdue (11) and No.1 Connecticut (13) with at least 11 such victories

54 – Ohio State’s 54 points were the fewest Wisconsin has allowed to a Big Ten opponent this season and the fewest the Buckeyes have scored on the Badgers since a 72-48 UW win on March 8, 2015.

2 – The Buckeyes went 1-for-2 against the line against UW, a season-ow for a Badgers opponent in both categories.

52 – With two steals Tuesday, Hepburn upped his total to 52 for the season and ranks second in the Big Ten with 2.2 steals per game.

151 – Wahl appeared in his 151st game, passing Nigel Hayes for second on UW’s career list. He trails only Brad Davison (161), who Wahl tied for fifth place on UW’s win list.

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Ohio

Ranked choice voting ban silences Ohio voters | Opinion

Published

12 hours ago

April 20, 2026

Press Room

Ranked choice voting ban silences Ohio voters | Opinion

By banning ranked choice voting and penalizing communities that consider it, Ohio leaders have limited local control and signaled a lack of trust in voters to shape their own elections.

Tyler Minton
| Opinion contributor

When Gov. Mike DeWine signed Senate Bill 63 into law, he didn’t just ban ranked choice voting in Ohio. He sent a clear message: Ohio voters cannot be trusted to make decisions about our own elections.

That should concern everyone, regardless of where you stand on ranked choice voting.

This is not really about a specific voting system. It is about whether communities have the right to explore new ideas, debate them openly, and decide for themselves what works. Senate Bill 63 shuts that door completely. It tells cities and counties across Ohio that even considering a different approach is off-limits.

Worse, it punishes them for trying.

When policy becomes coercion

The law threatens to withhold Local Government Fund dollars from any community that adopts ranked choice voting. That is not guidance. It is coercion. It forces local leaders to choose between representing their voters and protecting their budgets.

In a state that has long valued local control, that should raise serious red flags.

Here in Greater Cincinnati, we pride ourselves on collaboration, innovation, and civic pride. We bring people together across industries, neighborhoods, and perspectives to solve problems and build something stronger. That spirit does not come from the top down. It comes from people who are trusted to show up and participate.

Senate Bill 63 undermines that spirit.

Ranked choice voting is already used in cities and states across the country. Some have embraced it. Others have rejected it. That is exactly how democracy is supposed to work. You try something. You evaluate it. You adjust.

Ohio does not even get that chance.

Who gets to decide our elections?

Instead of trusting voters to decide, state leaders decided for them. Instead of allowing debate, they ended it. Instead of encouraging participation, they shut it down.

If we believe in democracy, we have to believe in the people who make it work.

We have to trust Ohioans to think critically, to weigh options, and to choose how our elections should function. Taking that choice away does not protect democracy. It weakens it.

Gov. DeWine had an opportunity to stand up for that principle. He chose not to.

Now it is up to Ohio voters to decide what kind of voice we want to have moving forward and whether we are willing to accept it being taken away.

Tyler Minton is a Cincinnati resident and Ohio native who works in the meetings and events industry.

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Ohio

Wanda Lou Bailey, Louisville, Ohio

Published

1 day ago

April 20, 2026

Press Room

ALLIANCE, Ohio (MyValleyTributes) – Wanda Lou Bailey, born August 8, 1940, in Charleston, West Virginia, passed away peacefully on April 18, 2026, in Louisville, Ohio. She was a beloved member of her community, whose life was marked by dedication to her family, faith, and numerous heartfelt pursuits.

A graduate of Poca High School in West Virginia in 1958, Wanda’s early years paved a foundation of commitment that she carried throughout her life. Her professional journey included roles at Big Lots and Quality Farm and Fleet, but it was her role as a pastor’s wife that truly defined much of her life’s work. Alongside her late husband, Rev. Paul Bailey, whom she married on May 31, 1958, Wanda was deeply involved in spiritual and community service until his passing on March 9, 2021.

Wanda’s warm spirit and spicy attitude extended beyond her family and church. She was known for her skills in puzzles, crafts, quilting-each piece a testament to her caring nature. Her memory bears, lovingly crafted from cherished fabrics, stand as small yet profound symbols of her dedication and love. She also volunteered for many years at Canaan Acres Christian Camp, embracing her role as “Camp Nana” with a heart full of grace and kindness, known by all who knew her there.

Wanda is survived by four devoted children: Paula (David) Monteleone, David (Debra) Bailey, Laura (Pastor Mike) Kimball, and Beth Bailey. She also leaves behind nine grandchildren-Jennifer (Nathaniel) Miller, Carrie (Casey) Callarick, Kimberly (Brandy) Brown, Michael (Heidi) McLaughlin, Gregory Bailey, Rev. Cassandra (Bryan) Wynn, Jeremiah (Jaclyn) Kimball, Courtnie (Jon) Eckelberry, and Joshua (Ruby) Vandeborne. Her legacy further extends through twenty-four great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren, as well as extended family who called her mom and nana, continuing her family lines that meant so much to her. Wanda was also sister to Mary McCalister, Clara Honaker, and Archie Quigley. She was preceded in death by her beloved parents, William and Rebecca (Vansickle) Quigley, and her husband, Rev. Paul Bailey.

The community will gather to honor Wanda’s life and legacy with a viewing on April 25, 2026, from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM at Canaan Acres Campground, located at 8020 Nazarene Ave NE, Louisville, Ohio 44641. A funeral service will follow at 4:00 PM the same day at the campground with her son in law Pastor Mike Kimball officiating. Entombment will take place at Highland Hills Cemetery in Follansbee, West Virginia. on Monday, April 27th the time will be announced at a later date.

Wanda Lou Bailey’s life was one of service, creativity, and boundless love-a true beacon to her family and community. She will be dearly missed and lovingly remembered by all who had the privilege to know her. Memorial contributions can be made in Wanda’s memory to “Camp Nana Fund) in care of Caanan Acres Campground, 8020 Nazarene Ave. NE Louisville, Ohio 44641. Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home, Sebring Chapel (330) 938-2526, www.grfuneralhome.com.

Family and friends may view send condolences at Gednetz-Ruzek-Brown Funeral Home & Cremation Service.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Wanda Lou Bailey, please visit our flower store.

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Ohio

Bonnie Sue Reed-Tilton-Hetzel, East Liverpool, Ohio

Published

2 days ago

April 19, 2026

Press Room

Bonnie Sue Reed-Tilton-Hetzel, East Liverpool, Ohio

EAST LIVERPOOL, Ohio (MyValleyTributes) – Bonnie Sue Reed-Tilton-Hetzel, known lovingly as Bonnie, passed away on Thursday, April 16, 2026, in Cleveland, Ohio, following a sudden unexpected medical emergency.

Bonnie was born on March 27, 1947, in East Liverpool, Ohio.

Bonnie lived a life marked by faith, devotion and steady love. She was a Christian woman, whose life reflected the goodness she believed in and shared with others. Those who knew her best will remember her as faith-filled, loving and generous, a woman who offered encouragement, comfort and warmth wherever she went. She carried herself with a spirit that lifted others and she lived with the kind of purpose that leaves a lasting imprint on family, church and community alike.

Bonnie was preceded in death by her beloved daughter, Crystal Tilton (surviving husband Daniel) Sigmon of North Carolina. She was also preceded in death by her mother, Helen Cameron-Reed-Salisbury of East Liverpool, Ohio; her father, Leonard A. Reed of Ohioville, Pennsylvania; her grandparents, Frank and Ethel Hager-Cameron and Ina Duncan-Reed-Sarvey; and her two brothers, L. Frank Reed of Mansfield, Ohio and William J. Reed Sr. of East Liverpool, Ohio. Though these loved ones have gone before her, the bond of family and memory remains strong, and her life was deeply shaped by the generations who came before her and the ones she helped raise with love.

Bonnie graduated from East Liverpool High School in 1965, where she lettered in music, played violin in the orchestra and the bellyra in the band, where they marched in the 1964 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, an achievement that stood as a proud memory of her youth. Her school years reflected her gift for music and her willingness to serve as part of something larger than herself. She later attended Kent State University and continued to live with a spirit of growth, learning and perseverance.

Her work ethic was strong and steady and she was respected for the many ways she contributed to the lives around her. She worked at Hills department store, Carriage Hill Meat Packing Plant and the United States Postal Service offices in Steubenville, Youngstown, Boardman, Austintown, East Liverpool and Calcutta. Later, she became self-employed in construction, roofing and remodeling, where her determination and practical skills were evident to all who knew her. Bonnie understood the value of honest work and she met life’s responsibilities with courage and grace.

Bonnie’s interests reflected her heart for ministry, family and fellowship. She loved delivering the word of God through music ministry, alongside her husband, bringing hope and comfort to nursing homes and prisons. She served her community and church, Lake Milton Baptist Temple, where she felt called to live with love and generosity. She also cherished hosting family dinners, where board games, laughter and togetherness created memories that will continue to bless her family for years to come. She enjoyed travel, especially trips to Florida and visits with family, and she valued church activities and the companionship of her six rescue cats, who were also part of the home she nurtured with tenderness.

She is survived by her devoted, faithful and loving husband, Frank Hetzel, or as she would call him “her Franko”, to whom she married on January 9th 1988; and her sister, Judi Reed-Cameron of Salem, Ohio, who will forever share in the treasured memories of a lifetime of sisterhood.

Bonnie leaves behind her two daughters, T. Renee Tilton-Rardon and her husband, Gene Goldberg of Wellsville, Ohio and April Tilton Large and her husband, David Large of Minerva, Ohio; as well as her son, Aaron Tilton of Lake Milton, Ohio. She also leaves behind her two stepdaughters, Mary Elizabeth Hetzel of Tennessee and Rebecca Hetzel Fowler and her husband, James Fowler of Tennessee; and her stepson, Robert Hetzel and his wife, Amy Hetzel of Wisconsin. Her family circle extends through 15 grandchildren, Nicholas (Ashleigh) Rardon, Zachary (Haylee) Cramer, Cassandra Sigmon, Elijah (Alexis) Sigmon, Joshua Sigmon, Alexa Sigmon, Emma Large, Ivy Large, Elyse Tingler, Danni Tingler, Tristan (Laurel) Fowler, Colton Fowler, Christian (Clarinda) Hetzel, Faith (Jacob) Charpentier and Joy (Aaron) Kamla; as well as five great-grandchildren, Macie Cramer, Damian Rardon, Savannah Rardon, Alleah Cramer and Petra Charpentier. Her family was one of her greatest joys, and she treasured each name, each face, and each precious moment shared together.

Bonnie’s life offers a testimony that speaks plainly and powerfully. A life grounded in Christ does not end in defeat, because the faithful are held in the hands of God. She lived with conviction, served with compassion and loved with an open heart. Her story reminds us that a life of prayer, service and kindness is never wasted. As Maya Angelou wrote, “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Bonnie made people feel loved, remembered, welcomed and encouraged and that is a legacy that endures.

Though her earthly journey has ended, Bonnie’s influence remains in the music she shared, the meals she prepared, the prayers she prayed, the work she completed and the family she helped shape. Her life was a blessing and her memory will continue to call others toward faith, gratitude and love. May those who mourn her also celebrate the hope she lived by, trusting that the same God who sustained her in life now holds her in eternal peace.

Romans 8:6

King James Version

“For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.”

Viewing and services will be held on Monday, April 20, 2026, at Lake Milton Baptist Temple, 415 S Pricetown Road, Diamond, Ohio 44412. Viewing will be held from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m., with a service following at 3:00 p.m.

A small burial service for immediate family will be held at the cemetery afterwards.

There will be a dinner held at the church’s hall after funeral services and everyone is welcome to join to celebrate Bonnie’s life.

Arrangements for the family have been provided by Bernard P. Borowski Memorial Home.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Bonnie Sue (Reed) Tilton-Hetzel, please visit our floral store.

A television tribute will air Monday, April 20, at the following approximate times: 6:47 a.m. on WYTV, 9:43 a.m. on WKBN, 10:58 a.m. on FOX and 8:12 p.m. on MyYTV. Video will be posted here the day of airing.

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