As I watched the Buchtel Griffins totally humiliate a decent Alliance team at the Canton District tournament last Friday night, it was a case of deja vu.

I've seen Buchtel play a suffocating full-court pressure defense all season. I was remembering where I had seen this same type of defense played before. Only once in my career covering high school hoops have I seen such a lethal defense. It was back in the '70s when I was a young sports director at a local radio station.

The last team I've seen that so totally dismantled an opponent was the state champion Barberton team coached by the legendary Jack Greynolds in 1976. The tallest player on that squad was 6-2 center Carter Scott. Just like Buchtel, the Magics routed much taller teams with good athletes by keeping them from getting the ball up court.

The undefeated state championship team of '76 would totally demoralize their opponents by turning double-digit steals into easy baskets for lopsided victories. This is the first time since that great Magics team that I've seen with su...