Early CCC Top 5
After spending the last few days previewing Dayton Divisions as a whole, now I will shift my focus to early conference previews. The goal here is to show you right now who the Top 5 teams are in the conference and the Top 5 players. Let’s look at the Cross County Conference.
- Bethel– The Bees were bound to take the #1 spot. After years of watching Tri-Village take home the CCC title, Bethel now has their chance of repeating as champions. With Caleb South and Ryan Rose both returning, Bethel will be one of the most dynamic offensive teams in the conference.
- Franklin-Monroe– Many people did not get to see what the Jets are truly made of in the postseason since they were upset by Preble Shawnee in the state tournament. What people did see was the athleticism this team has, especially in wing Ethan Conley. There aren’t many guys that can guard him well and he will be a game-changer throughout the season.
- Tri-County North– A relatively unknown team in the past, the Panthers emerge in the top 3 after a strong summer showing as well as picking up Dillon McCullough from Tri-Village. The Panthers will attempt to keep up with Bethel and F-M, and have a real shot of being a dark horse team in the conference.
- Ansonia– If it weren’t for TCN’s great summer run, Ansonia would have taken the #3 spot instead of #4. With 1st team all-CCC player Hunter Muir returning, as well as a strong core, the Tigers will likely pull some upsets and turn some heads throughout the season.
- Arcanum– The Trojans are making an appearance in the top 5 and for good reason. They have one of the top young players in Carter Gray on their roster, and return a few starters to surround Gray with.
Top 5 players
Caleb South (Bethel)- High scoring guard capable of taking over a game with ease.
Ryan Rose (Bethel)- Aggressive guard that excels in catch-and-shoot situations.
Ethan Conley (Franklin-Monroe)- Tremendous athlete with great skills on both ends of the floor.
Dillon McCullough (Tri-County North)- Great ball handler able to score as well.
Hunter Muir (Ansonia)- Talented scorer with great rebounding skill to accompany.