Talk about influence, The Ohio State Buckeyes are even having an impact on high school basketball.

With the Buckeyes playing Florida on Monday in the BCS championship game, area basketball teams are adjusting their schedules to accommodate fans who want to see both their team and the Buckeyes.

At 6 p.m. St. Joseph hosts Fairview,Ky., and Green entertains Portsmouth Clay. Those times have not changed from their normal home tip-offs.

However, Symmes Valley will host New Boston at 5:30 p.m. in a varsity-only game.

Coal Grove plays at Rock Hill and the reserve game begins at 5 p.m. followed quickly by the varsity.

The South Point at Chesapeake game has been moved from Monday to Wednesday.

A real Buck-nut

Jane and Pat Whaley have decorated their front door at 2512 S. 10th St. with a Buckeye snowman.

But even Jane concedes that Pat’s brother Andy is ate up with scarlet and gray fever.

Andy’s basement is decorated in all-Buckeye gear including a 12-x-4 mural of the stadium, a Heisman Trophy wall, a championship wall, and a framed jersey of Ironton’s Tyler Whaley who is a current Buckeye.

Reds spring into action

To be fair, all the talk can’t be about football and basketball. Let’s talk some baseball, too.

The Cincinnati Reds spring training tickets are now on sale including seven premier packages until Friday, Jan. 12.

The premier packages at Ed Smith Stadium include games against American League champion Detroit March 8, Cleveland March 9, the Yankees March 22, Boston March 26, Tampa Bay March 14, Pittsburgh March 15 and Minnesota March 29.

Ticket prices are: box $14 regular, $16 premier; reserves $12 regular and $14 reserved; and general admission $7 regular and $9 premier.

To order, contact the ticket office at 1-877-647-REDS (7337).