2019 Ohio Division III Preview
Anna- Last season’s Rockets flew under the radar most of the year, and found themselves playing in the Regional Finals before falling to Purcell Marian at Fairmont HS. Although it may be difficult to repeat this feat and a 25-3…
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Continue ReadingAnna- Last season’s Rockets flew under the radar most of the year, and found themselves playing in the Regional Finals before falling to Purcell Marian at Fairmont HS. Although it may be difficult to repeat this feat and a 25-3 season, Anna could still make some noise in 2019-20. They return backcourt teammates Riley Huelskamp and Bart Bixler who will provide the leadership and scoring. A tough defensive group, Anna should one of the better teams in SW Ohio Division III and could make a run into the Districts again.
Arcanum- The Trojans lost their head coach Jim Melton this Spring as he left to take the Fort Recovery position. In addition, several seniors are gone and leave voids especially in the front court. Guard play will be solid as sophomore Jake Goubeaux returns as does star senior Carter Gray. Gray has battled injuries throughout his career and will need a clean bill of health if the Trojans are to be one of the top teams. Controlling the glass will be key as will their ability to maintain a consistent scoring threat between Gray and Goubeaux.
Benjamin Logan- After a successful 13-11 season last season, The Raiders are losing a ton of talent from last year. All 5 starters are gone and 2019-20 will be a rebuild year as Ben Logan tries to replicate their success. Junior Keaghen Stahler is the top returning player, but only averaged 1 point and 1 rebound per game last season. With so little experience coming back, this season will likely be a rebuilding year as the Raiders will compete near the bottom of the Mad River Division. A move down to Division III should help with the departures.
Bethel- After losing several all-conference players in 2017-18, some expected Bethel to struggle in CCC play. Instead the Bees finished above .500 and were competitive in conference play. It will be difficult to repeat this feat though as they lose 7 seniors from last season. Among the returning guys are senior guard Nick Schmit and junior inside-out forward Ethan Rimkus. The Bees will need someone returning to play like Kendal James, who did everything for the Bees.
Brookville- The only thing that would have been better for the Blue Devils last year is if they were able to make it to UD Arena for District action. Instead, Brookville finished 21-4 and fell in the Sectionals to Versailles 48-46. The top 2 scorers from last year are now graduated as Brookville looks to repeat their success. Junior A.J. Eller is the top returning scorer and will be the top guy in the backcourt. Senior Manny Willis is the top frontcourt player and is explosive enough to be an all-league player. Experience will be an issue as no one scored more than 2 points per game after Eller and Willis. Coach Jeff Davidson has shown he can rebuild Brookville time and time again. This season may be a bit of a struggle but Brookville always finds ways to surprise us.
Carlisle- After starting 3-4 last season, Carlisle only won 2 games the rest of the season before being defeated by Anna in the tournament. 3 starters are gone from the team that only defeated Dixie in 2019. Nolan Burney is unquestionably their top returning player. A 6’5 junior forward, Burney gave the Indians consistent scoring an made himself known as one of the better low post players in the SWBL last year. Senior guard Cash Ridinger is also back and will lead Carlisle out of the backcourt. Joining Ridinger will be Legacy Christian transfer Roman Newsome, a junior who did a solid job leading the Knights last year. It is hard to see Carlisle making a huge leap as they will need Ridinger to improve off of his 5 points per game average if the Indians are to improve from their 5 win season a year ago.
Cincinnati Country Day- CCD is coming off a 10-14 season where they played well on the offensive end, but also struggled defensively allowing almost 60 points per game a year ago. 4 starters are also gone leaving junior Mason Mack as the lone returning guy. Frano Valentin is the leading scorer with 9 points per game and will be the leader in the backcourt. CCD did well outside of the MVC finishing 5-3, so they will need to improve on how they perform in conference play. It will be difficult to be a contender with the talent in the Gray division, but don’t rule out this squad if they can find so help in the scoring department.
CHCA- The Eagles depend on their defense to help keep them in games and 2018-19 was no exception. Allowing 45 points per game last season, CHCA used their defense to finish 2nd in the MVC behind Clark Montessori. Leading scorer Cole Fisher is back after averaging 18 points per game a year ago. In addition, the Eagles get former Moeller guard Jake Younkin for his senior year which will give CHCA one of the best backcourts in the MVC. Rebounding will need to improve as they finished second to last in the conference a year ago. CHCA has a real chance to make some noise not only in MVC play, but in District play as well.
Clark Montessori- Coach Wally Vickers loses 4 starters from a team that gave Anna everything they had before falling in the District Finals last season. Last season’s leading scorer D’Shawnti Hawkins is gone and will now place the pressure on senior Sean Ealy to lead Clark on the offensive end. Vickers will also have sophomore Terrance McClain back to assist. Clark was one of the better defensive teams a year ago as they led the MVC in steals and used their pressure defense to wreak havoc in the conference. Although Vickers is one of the best coaches in Cincinnati, I think it will be tough to replicate their District runner-up with so much talent in Southwest Ohio in Division III and losing so many key pieces.
Clermont Northeastern- When you look at the talent returning for the Rockets this season, it would be very hard not to pick them as the preseason favroties in the SBAAC National Division. 5 of the top 6 are back and arguably the most dominate player in the conference is back. Enter senior Skyler Schmidt and his 23 point and 16 rebound per game average last year. Schmidt is so difficult to defend and with another forward threat in senior Blake King, could be the most dominate frontcourt duo in the conference. Not all the talent resides in the frontcourt as senior Jerryd Burns and Bryce Reece are back and both are quality guards. Burns is more of a scorer while Reece is a better distributor. For the Rockets to take the next step, they have to improve outside of the SBAAC. Although they went 9-3 against conference foes, Clermont went a dismal 1-10 against teams that were outside of the conference.
Dayton Christian- Expectations were high for the Warriors last season as some people picked them to finish in the top 5 in Division III and compete for the MBC championship. Instead the Warriors finished 7-16 and was without Anton Webb for several games during the year. Webb is gone but Dayton Christian returns 6 of their top 7 scorers from last season. Leading the way will be seniors Seth Griswold and Jon Welker while sophomore Devin Dreier will also be a top player to watch. With Webb graduating, DC will be losing their top rebounding threat. However, with the experience coming back the Warriors will have a chance to compete for an MBC title and should improve off of last season’s disappointing finish.
Deer Park- It was going to be difficult for the Wildcats to repeat their undefeated season in 2018. A 16-8 finish and District runner-up campaign is ultimately how their year ended. Plenty of firepower is back, but some big names are also gone. Senior Mark Wise transferred to Taft over the summer, meaning senior Steven Gentry Jr. must now be the top guard for the program. DeShaun McEntire is also back and brings more athleticism to the Wildcats making them dangerous on the perimeter. This team was the highest scoring offense in the CHL a year ago. With a strong core of Gentry and McEntire, I expect to see Deer Park back in the top 2 in the league and look to challenge Wyoming for a CHL title.
Dixie- Last year was a year the Greyhounds would like to forget. After finishing 0-23, Dixie will look to improve in 2019-20. 4 of the top 6 scorers are back with leading scorer Jordan Butt being one of the returning players. With 3 freshman on last season’s roster, the Greyhounds were young and inexperienced. However with a year under their belt, Dixie should see improvement next season and could be a year away from competing in the SWBL.
East Clinton- The Astros won only 1 game overall a year ago and failed to win a game in the SBAAC. One of the few positive notes is the experience returning gives East Clinton a chance of jumping Bethel-Tate, but they are still far away from winning the divisional title. Junior Branson Smith is the top returning player and will be accompanied by senior guard Matt Mitchell and center Colten Vadnais. The experience coming back gives the Astros the edge over Bethel-Tate, but the lack of a true offensive star will make their ceiling only mid-level in the SBAAC.
Finneytown- The Wildcats tied for last in the CHL a year ago but lose no starters from a 5-16 team. Mickel Clay and Kodee Holloway were the leading scorers a year ago and give Finneytown an interior threat consistently. Offensive efficiency will need to improve as the Wildcats averaged less than 50 points per game a year ago. In addition, we need to see Finneytown vastly improve on the rebounding end. Clay has shown he can be a force down low. Now is the time for him to take over the interior play.
Georgetown- The G-Men were absolutely dominating in the SBAAC a year ago, finishing undefeated in the conference, and rattling off an 18-6 finish to the season. 2019-20 will likely be a down year as they lose all 5 starters from that team. Only 2 players are back that appeared in 20 or more games a year ago. Junior Josh Galley is back in the guard spot and senior Fred Linville comes back as the frontcourt player to watch. Most of the size has graduated which makes us wonder if the G-Men will replicate their 45 points per game allowed last year. In addition, rebounding could be a major issue especially since there is some serious size coming back in the National Division in the SBAAC this year.
Greeneview- Ram Nation will hope for a better outcome in 2019-20 after an 8-14 record the year prior. The good news is the top 2 scorers are back in seniors Gabe Caudill and Cole Allen. This senior leadership will have a chance to lead this Rams squad and help alleviate the loss of 6 seniors. The bad news is we are concerned with the support that will be able to help Caudill and Allen. Without support, the Rams will again struggle.
Greenon- 2 starters are gone from a Greenon team that finished 10-13 before getting blown out by Brookville 57-36 in the sectionals. The 2 leading scorers are back in junior Cade Rice and senior Luke Downing which will be a positive note for Greenon since they bring 25 points per game back. Defense will be a concern as they finished in the bottom quarter of the conference in points allowed. They need to be more aggressive on the defensive end and create more turnovers.
Houston- Houston struggled immensely in the SCAL last year, finishing 1-11 in the league a year ago. Seniors Jairon Douglas and Adam Winner will be looked upon to alleviate the loss of 7 seniors from last year’s squad. With the top teams from last year in the SCAL bringing back so much talent, Houston will struggle to compete and we expect them to struggle again in league play.
Indian Lake- All 5 starters are back for the Lakers as they look to rebound from their 8-15 finish last year. It starts with senior Austin Parker, who is capable of dropping a double-double on any given night. Fellow seniors Clay Jacobs and Nate Reichert are back as well and provide Indian Lake with the offensive weapons needed to move out of the cellar in the CBC Mad River Division. Experience and scoring power will not be an issue, however defense will need to improve as the Lakers allowed almost 60 points per game last year.
Gamble Montessori- Gator nation celebrated an undefeated season in the CMAC a year ago, and should see a repeat in 2019. With 4 starters back, Gamble should run the Blue Division with the amount of personnel being brought back. Junior Kaden Warner is gone to Huntington Prep and brings his 25 points per game average with him. Frontcourt threat Michael McCants is the top player now returning. The Gators have multiple weapons on the offensive end and should be one of the toughest teams to defend in the CMAC. If they can continue to average close to 72 points per game, the Gators should not only defend their CMAC title, but could challenge in Division III as they move up a division from last year.
Madeira- 4 starters are lost from a Mustangs team that finished 13-10 and took an early exit against Clark Montessori in the sectionals. Senior Sam Solinski is the lone returning starter and will have pretty large shoes to fill for a Mustangs team that is going to struggle early on. Madeira found some success late in the season winning 6 of their last 9. If they can tap into that enthusiasm and continue this winning trend, Madeira may be able to find some success in a tough CHL.
Middletown Madison- Last season had high hopes for the Mohawks as they returned plenty of talent after a successful season. Although they finished 2018-19 with a 20-5 record and a SWBL Buckeye Division title, the season ended with several “what ifs” as the Mohawks fell to National Trail in the Sectional Finals 52-38. 2 starters are gone from that team, but several names return to give coach Jeff Smith and his team a sense of confidence for the 2019-20 season. Grant Whisman is one of the best all-around players in the conference and is the teams’s top returning scorer and rebounder from last year. Senior guards Matt Gomia and Tristan Sipple also return in the backcourt. This senior group has yet to advance into the District Finals and will have a chip on their shoulders as they try to reach this game in 2020. As long as the Mohawks can avoid early tournament upsets, I think they have enough talent back that they can challenge for a District title.
Mariemont- The Warriors struggled immensely a year ago, finishing 9-14 but only winning 2 games in CHL play. Fortunately, the top 6 scorers are back for the Warriors, including top 2 juniors Cameron Lackney and Jack Boergerding. With plenty of high powered offensive teams in the league, Mariemont will need to improve their defensive efforts as they allowed 55 points per game a year ago. I think Mariemont will definitely improve from 2018 and should dig themselves out of last place.
Meadowdale- The Lions did not have the most impressive regular season last season, but found their way into the Sectional final before falling to Trotwood. Meadowdale has several key players returning that should help the Lions improve in the City League. Senior Will Hill is back and could contend for Player of the Year honors. Justin O’Neal and Reico Colter will provide additional support. The Lions move from Division II to Division III and could see themselves making a deep postseason run as Stivers did last year. Their athleticism will be tough to match and if Hill plays at a high level, Meadowdale could be a dark horse to watch.
Mechanicsburg- A .500 finish is where Mechanicsburg saw themselves finishing for the year in 2018-19. 2020 will give them a chance to increase their win totals, however it will be tough with their top 2 scorers from last year gone. Senior Logan Hurst is the top returning player and averaged 8 points and 8 rebounds per game last year. Also back are sophomore guard Jake Edwards and junior Tristan Hall. With the majority of the scoring coming last year in the backcourt, Hurst and Hall will be looked upon to give the Indians their scoring output. With the size advantage, we see Mechanicsburg being a contender in the OHC North. However, Mechanicsburg now moves up to Division III which brings a new challenge.
Miami East- The Vikings finished .500 in the CCC last year and 9-13 overall. Fortunantly, several seniors are back that bring experience to help Miami East be tough in conference play. Brendon Bertsch and Sam Zapadka are the top guys back and will provide the Vikings the senior leadership needed. Offense was not their strong point as they averaged less than 50 points per game. This experience should help see offensive improvement.
Milton-Union- Bulldog fans were happy to see improvement last season as Milton-Union went from a 2-21 finish in 2017-18, to 8-15 in 2018-19. With 4 of their top 6 back from that team, the Bulldogs could improve that winning number even more in 2019-20. A core group of seniors will help guide M-U as they try to challenge the Madison and Northridge’s of the world. Brandon Lavey is one of the tallest returning players and will help on the glass while guards A.J. Lovin and Nathan Brumbaugh provide support in the backcourt. This group could potentially challenge in the middle of the league race, but without a consistent double digit scorer, the Bulldogs will likely struggle again to keep up with the talent returning in the league.
National Trail- Last year’s team surprised a lot of people by reaching the District Finals in Division III before falling to Purcell Marian. There is a real chance this team can repeat their success in 2019. Junior guard Cameron Harrison is back and has a chance to be one of the best guards in the CCC. Zach Woodall is also back and will bring his intensity and double-double potential to the table. The Blazers were one of the best defensive teams a year ago, allowing 41 points per game. Assuming they lead again, we expect National Trail to be the CCC champion.
North College Hill- The two leading scorers from a year ago are gone as NCH looks to improve off their 12-11 season a year ago. Senior Hakeem Griggs returns and brings varsity experience and leadership to the table. Kamren Williams had a solid freshman year and will look to improve during his senior season, especially as a scorer since he averaged 2 points per game. North College Hill has always been one of the better teams in Cincinnati and we believe their athleticism will allow them to compete with several teams in the conference. However, with 3 starters gone from a year ago, we do not see them winning the Scarlet division this year.
Northeastern- The Jets return 3 of their top 7 players from last year’s 4-18 team that struggled outside OHC play. Senior Noah Fenton is the top returning player and will be the leading player in the backcourt. Fellow senior Dale Bush is also back and will need to improve off his 5 point scoring average last year. Offensive output will have to increase as the Jets finished last in the OHC in scoring last season. We see them improving off 4 wins, but still not where they need to be contend.
Preble Shawnee- The Arrows struggled against some of the better teams they faced last season and after pulling together two sectional wins in the postseason, found themselves on the losing end against Anna 75-32 in the Sectional Final. That being said the Arrows return 3 of their top 4 scorers from last season, including junior Bryce Singleton who led in both scoring and rebounds. Singleton will have a chance to be an all-SWBL player come March if he continues to play at a high level. Senior Sam Agee is also back and gives the Arrows an outside shooting threat that can stretch opposing defenses out. With only 4 players gone from last season’s team, the Arrows will have enough experience back to move up the ladder in the Buckeye Division, but Northridge and Madison look to be the teams to beat, and the Arrows finished 1-3 against these teams last year. If they can improve that record in 2019-20, Preble Shawnee can see themselves challenging for a SWBL title come March.
Reading- The Blue Devils finished last year at 18-7 before falling to Versailles in the District Final 47-44. All 5 starters from that team are now gone and the pressure is on for Reading to find new go-to players to assist. Junior Dre Kindell and sophomore Logan Stidham will be the first guys looked to, but they only averaged 5 points per game combined. This year could be a down season as the Blue Devils reload their roster.
Riverview East Academy- With a ton of sophomores on their roster a year ago, Riverview will look for their guys to gain more experience as they try to get over the hump and challenge Gamble in the Blue Division. Senior Elijah Hill is the leading scorer back and will give them their primary scoring threat off the perimeter. Ibrahima Niang and his 6’4 stature will anchor the paint and provide an interior option. Defense is an area they excel in as they led the entire CMAC in steals a year ago. If they can continue to rely on their defense and find ways to score efficiently, East could move up in the conference and challenge for the #2 spot.
Seven Hills- The bad news if you’re a Seven Hills fan is 4 starters are gone from last season’s 16-8 team that tied Cincinnati Christian for a division title in the MVC. The good news is the lone returning starter, senior Curtis Harrison, may be one of the toughest players in the conference to defend. Not many teams in the MVC have a guy that can match up with Harrison and his 6’7 frame. He will have a chance to be a 20+ scorer on any given night. The issue will be whether the Jackets are able to provide any support on both ends of the floor for Harrison as he will not be able to carry this team by himself, especially with Cincinnati Christian and New Miami having so much talent in their arsenals. We don’t expect another division title in 2019, but we can expect Seven Hills to continue to compete and finish in the top 3 in the Gray Division again.
Stivers- Coach Felix Turner brings back a ton of talent from last season’s Regional Semifinalist Tigers team. Senior point guard Trevon Ellis is back and will run the offense as he has shown he can be a floor general on numerous occasions. Fellow senior guard Doug Spear brings defensive intensity to the floor and will allow Stivers to extend defensive pressure. Junior guards Allen Latimore and Da’Juan Allen are also back and give Stivers more option from the wings to score. Interior play will be a concern, but at first glance this Tigers team looks solid. I predict another District title and potentially a deep run through the Regionals is possible for this team as they should be one of the most experienced teams in Division III in Southwest Ohio.
Summit Country Day- A new coach will be at the helm for Summit as they look to rebound from their 10-13 season a year ago. Ryan Fleming is the new coach for the Knights and will look to bring his winning experience as a high school player to the new head coaching role. He will have some talent to work with as he returns 3 of his top 6 players from a year ago. In the backcourt, junior Matt Dahling and senior Jimmy Stines are back, but neither averaged more than 6 points per game last year. Senior BT Toble returns as the frontcourt guy and the leading rebounder a year ago. Finding a consistent double digit scorer will provide the biggest issue for the Knights as they try to compete with some of the tougher teams in the MVC Scarlet Division and in DIvision III as they move down a division for the year.
Taft- There were some that felt the Senators were a potential state champ in Division II. Instead an early exit in the District Finals to Cinderella team Northridge. 4 of the top 7 from last year are back and give Taft a chance of being a top tier team in the CMAC yet again. Senior Nekhi Smith is back and should compete for POY honors. In addition, Muhammed Metz is back in the backcourt which will help alleviate the loss of two starting guards. The offseason was huge for the Senators as they picked up several new names as well. Senior Mark Wise comes over from Deer Park, Leroy Walker transfers over from Winton Woods, and stud freshman Rayvon Griffith will play for the Senators as well. Smith will be tough to defend as will this Taft team as a unit. If they can contain the many athletes in the CMAC, Taft can be a contender again and with the move to Division III, Taft should find themselves in Columbus as there isn’t a team in Division III that can match up with their athleticism.
Triad- The only place to go is up for Triad as they look to improve off their 0-23 season last year. 6 of their top 9 are back meaning the Cardinals will have a group of guys hungry to get their winless season out of their memories. Senior Jacob Simonelli and junior Drew Thompson are back and will be looked upon for leadership. Offensive efficiency and overall defense needs to improve for the Cardinals to move up especially as they move up to Division III this year.
Versailles- The Tigers surprised many people by making a run to the Regional Semifinals in Division III last year. Others weren’t surprised due to the tough schedule Versailles plays. This season will have an opportunity to see Versailles back as a favorite in the MAC and in the Dayton Districts as they lose only 1 player from last season. One guy from the 1st Team All-MAC squad returned in 2019, which was Tigers senior guard Michael Stammen. Stammen is part of a very experienced senior class with Ryan Martin and Austin Toner that should be very tough to compete with. With size, scorers, and defense, Versailles has the tools to be a complete team that can compete on any night.
West Liberty-Salem- Plenty of experience is back for the Tigers as they look to improve off of last season’s 11-12 season where WLS lost their final 6 games of the season. The top 5 scorers are back for the Tigers, including seniors Holden Nease, Matthew Loffing, and Jack Eggleston. Junior Nick Burden will also be a name to watch. One of the better defensive teams last season, WLS will need to dominate the glass again if they are going to move up the ladder in the OHC North. If they do this, I think this team can be the favorite in the North.
Williamsburg- Williamsburg celebrated a 7-5 record in the SBAAC last season, tying Blanchester for 3rd. 4 of the top 8 players from last season are back as they try to replicate their conference success. Among the returning players, seniors Trent Kremer and Loghan Keiley will be the top outside shooting threats while junior Nick Boland is the best overall scorer returning. While Williamsburg finished above .500 in the conference, they went 0-11 against non-conference foes. This has to improve for them to make any noise come sectional play. For SBAAC competition though, they should have enough back to stay competitive, but they will likely need bench support if they are going to compete with the likes of Clermont and Blanchester.
Adena- The Warriors claimed a District title last season before falling to state champion Harvest Prep 78-39 in the Regional Semifinals. Although their leading scorer from that team is gone, Adena still returns their next 3 best scorers and have a strong nucleus returning for Round 2. Logan Bennett is the returning scoring leader and also led the team in rebounds and will be surrounded by other guys including Preston Sykes and Jarrett Garrison. All 3 guys are juniors which is great for Warriors fans for not just this season, but the following season as well. I think Adena has enough back they could find themselves back in the Regionals in 2019.
Albany Alexander- The Spartans lose only 3 players from their TVC runner-up season and District runner-up squad. Seniors J.K. Kearns and Caleb Terry are back and the leading performers on both ends of the floor for this team. Terry is likely one the tallest player in the conference at 6’10 and will be a mismatch any night. Last year’s team was one of the best defensive units in the conference and we don’t expect anything different this year. With Terry in the paint and a plethora of talent around him, this could be the year the Spartans win a District title and make a run into the Regionals.
Bellaire- The Big Red only won 4 games last season and will likely try and forget about their rough season. One of the bright points for this upcoming season is the return of junior David Zwack who will likely be the name to know for the next 2 seasons with Bellaire. Overall, Bellaire needs to become more competitive and find a way to win more in the Buckeye 8 division.
Belmont Union Local- The Jets lose 2 All-District players from their 10-13 team a season ago. Several senior guards have graduated for Union Local and leave voids that will need filled. A strong core of seniors are back and will be leaned on. This is a Jets team that found a way to compete with the likes of St. Clairsville and Martins Ferry last season. If they bring that intensity to every game, they will be a tough team to beat by the end of the season.
Belpre- The Golden Eagles finished last year 11-12 before being beaten by Chesapeake in the tournament. Only 2 seniors have graduated from that team and a solid senior class is back to lead the Eagles into action. Seniors Logan Adams and Nick Godfrey will be the experience while junior Connor Baker will be the scoring threat for the Eagles. One issue will be their ability to be a force on the glass as they graduated their top rebounder from last season. This upcoming season should be much improved but this could still be a tough year for the Eagles.
Buckeye Local- The only place to go is up for the Panthers as they won only 3 games in 2018-19 and struggled most of the season. Fortunately, most of the talent is back as only 1 senior departs from last season’s team. Of the returning guys, 6’5 sophomore Luke Darrah will be the most fun to watch for the Panthers. With 11 freshmen and sophomores on the roster a year ago, Buckeye will be a young team again, however with Darrah and many guard options, the Panthers could easily see their win total increase in 2019-20.
Buckeye Trail- The Warriors lose 6 seniors from last year, including 2 All-District players from an 8-15 team last season. While most of the talent gone comes from the backcourt, there is still some younger players in the junior and sophomore classes that should help build Trail back up. Senior forward Jack Parry is the top returning player and will have the pressure on him on both ends of the floor as well as for leadership. Buckeye Trail was not one of the tougher teams in the IVC a year ago and we do not expect them to be a top team in 2019-20.
Chesapeake- If you had asked anyone in early Spring, Chesapeake was looking like they could be the team to beat in the Ohio Valley Conference. Then Eli Archer and Tylan Hutchinson transferred out and knocked some of the air out of the Panthers. Fortunantly, Chesapeake fans aren’t freaking out just yet. Sophomore Levi Blankenship is back as well as almost everyone from last season’s District Runner-up. With the loss of Hutchinson and Archer, much of their size is gone. However, the youth on the roster and experience back shouldn’t keep the Panthers from making a deep postseason run. It will be harder without those guys, but this season can still be a big year.
Chllicothe Southeastern- The Panthers were full of freshman on their roster last season and the inexperience showed as they clawed their way to a 4-19 record, winning only 1 game in SVC play. Even with the lack of varsity experience, the Panthers were playing solid basketball by the end of the year, including a victory against West Union and single digit losses to Unioto and North Adams to end the year. Two seniors will be tasked with leading this young group yet again in Lane Ruby and Aaron Gillum. The Panthers should definitely be a better team than last season, but improvements have to be made on both ends of the floor.
Coshocton- The Redskins were a bit of an up-and-down team a year ago in route to a 10-12 finish. After a 3-0 start, Coshocton struggled the rest of the year also finishing 5-9 in ECOL play. The good thing Is the Redskins have two seniors returning that they can lean on for 2019-20. Gaven Williams and Tyren Walker will be the focal points on both ends of the floor. If they can find consistency throughout the season and lean on the supporting cast around their seniors, this season could be much improved for Coshocton fans.
Dawson-Bryant- The Hornets were District Champions last season, but were demolished in the Regionals 70-39 to Berlin HIland, ending the high school career for 5 of the top 8 players from last year. Among the returning talent are plenty of seniors including Cory Borders, Evan Gannon, and Payten Smith. One of the best offensive units last season in the OVC, the Hornets will need to replace the 5 departing scorers and will need to develop their bench quickly. While having 3 upperclassmen options is great and should help the Hornets compete again, a lack of a bench will make it quite difficult to advance farther than Regionals again, especially with the Hornets now playing in Division III.
Eastern Brown- The Warriors finished 16-6 a year ago, but took a very early exit in the Sectionals. 4 seniors are departed from last season’s team, including their top 2 backcourt players from a year ago. Fortunately, they return junior forward Colton Vaughn who is a solid defensive player especially in the post. In addition, senior guard Titus Burns is also back and will try and fill some of the scoring voids left by their departing players. The Warriors were one of the better defenses in the SHAC a year ago. If they can rely on their defense again, we could see Eastern competing for a conference title in 2019.
Fairland- The Dragons celebrated a 19-5 finish last year, but fell short in the Sectionals to Albany Alexander 49-26. While they lose 6 seniors from last year, the top two scoring threats are back and both are non-seniors. Sophomore Aiden Porter is arguably one of the best shooters in SE Ohio and led the team in scoring last year. Junior Clayton Thomas is also back and compliments Porter and the backcourt. Not only do they have guards, but Fairland also has some size returning in 6’3 junior Jacob Polcyn. The Dragons were successful when they kept games low scoring and held opponents under 40. If they can continue this trend, we don’t see why the Dragons can’t compete for an OVC title.
Fort Frye- The Cadets were undefeated last season in PVC play and went on to finish 17-8 on the year. This season, they return juniors Nic Hart and Kelton Fogle that will continue to make this team a favorite to defend their title. Averaging 61 points per game last year, the Cadets used a strudy offense to score 60+ in 7 games last year. With Hart and Fogle returning, the offense should again be clicking on all cylinders and should see them defending their title.
Garaway- The Pirates celebrated a 20 win season last year, but repeating in 2019-20 looks quite tough. 4 All-District players are gone for Garaway with many of the key players from a year ago now graduated. Questions now are raised of who the scorer will be and if Garaway can find a way to compete in the IVC. If there is no one that can contribute scoring and experience is off, this could be more of a rebuilding year for the Pirates.
Harrison Central- If there is one name Ohioans in the Eastern half of the state should know, it is Kobe Mitchell. The 6’1 guard is one of the most explosive scorers in Eastern Ohio and he is back for his junior year with the Huskies. However, Harrison Central is losing 3 All-District players that would have surrounded Mitchell. The Huskies will go as far as Mitchell can take them, however we will need to see other guys step up if they are going to win a Buckeye 8 title.
Ironton- One thing about this Ironton team is they can score the basketball. Averaging 60 points per game last year, the Tigers have a solid core of seniors returning that will provide plenty of firepower for the season. In the post is where they have the most talent. Senior Trent Milleson has been one of the better performers during his time with the Tigers. Throw in J.R. Reid and you have a nice 1-2 punch. Other guys worth watching are Reid Carrico and Jordan Grizzle. One thing is for sure, this Ironton team will be a tough defensive team. With the amount of upperclassmen coming back, we expect the Tigers to be a competitor in the OVC this upcoming season.
Latham Western- The Indians finished with 17 wins in 2019 and a 3rd place finish in the SOC. Unfortunately, the top 2 scorers from that team have now graduated. The goods news however is 4 seniors are back including Coleman Gibson and Broc Jordan for an Indians team that could still be a contender. One of the better defensive teams last season, Western allowed 48 points per game last season and held Glenwood and Eastern under their scoring averages in all 4 games. While this is great, the Indians went 1-3 in those games. Offense is an area they can improve on yet but should still be a tough out in the Sectional/District tournament.
Lynchburg-Clay- Mustangs fans would like to forget last year’s 3-20 finish for Lynchburg. 4 seniors are departed for a Mustangs team that was quite young last year. Of the returning players, senior Raymond Conner is the name to watch and will be relied heavily on. Sophomore Noah Miller will have an increased role, but Lynchburg will need backcourt support as 3 of the departing seniors were guards last year. Conner will compete for Player of the Year honors, but the Mustangs need a lot of support if they are going to move out from dead last in the SHAC D1 standings.
Martins Ferry- The Purple Riders have high hopes in the 2019 season as they return one of the top players in the Eastern Ohio area. 6’6 junior Logan Smith is a force to reckon with on both ends of the floor and will have a chance to be one of the best players in the Buckeye 8 conference. Senior Cody Olson will help run the offense on the perimeter. For the Purple Riders to be successful, they will need Smith to be playing great basketball night in and night out. Much of the talent is back for Martins Ferry and they appear to be a favorite to win the Buckeye 8 in our eyes.
McConnelsville Morgan- The Raiders finished above .500 last season in the MVL and will try and repeat the feat in 2019. Finishing 2nd in the league in scoring a year ago was a positive sign and the Raiders will need to repeat this statistic if they are going to improve from their 13-11 record last year.
McDermott Northwest The Mohawks struggled last year slumping to a 2-21 record and going 0-14 in the SOC. While they return seniors Braden Borens and Timmy Emmons, we aren’t sure that talent is enough to dig them out of the cellar in the conference. In 11 games last year, the Mohawks scored 39 or less points. Offensive efficiency was lacking and they were unable to compete with the likes of Wheelersburg and Oak Hill. 2019 will need to see a new Northwest team or else continued struggling is expected.
Meigs- 4 seniors are gone from last year as the Marauders start back up after a 13-11 season last year. They struggled down the stretch finishing 3-4 in February before ultimately being defeated by Wheelersburg. Fortunantly, 2 of the top 3 scorers from that team are back. Senior Weston Baer and sophomore Coulter Cleland are high level players and will be heavily depended on. The question will be who steps up to #3, #4, etc. A strong support and bench will go a long way for Meigs, but support will be crucial as the Marauders were the top offensive team in the TVC last year averaging 61 points per game.
Minford- The Falcons were 7-15 last season and finished in the bottom half of the SOC. While 2 of their top performers are gone, a few upperclassmen return which will likely take some of the heat off of the Falcons youth. Nathan McCormick is the top returning player and the senior leader. Throw in Elijah Vogelsong in the backcourt as well. Defense was a brutal area as Minford allowed 63 points per game last year. That number has to decrease or else 2019 could be another 7 win season.
Nelsonville-York- The Buckeyes lost their last 3 games of the season last year, finishing 9-14. Gone are the top 2 scorers from last year for a team that struggled defending in TVC play. Senior Mikey Seel will have the scoring responsibility for the Bucks and will be accompanied by fellow senior Keegan Wilburn. The Buckeyes are pretty inexperienced and small in size. Rebounding is going to be an issue as weill defending some of the size that is in the TVC. Overall, this could be a down year for the Buckeyes and will likely see struggles throughout the year.
Newcomerstown- The Trojans struggled a ton last season, but bring back two pieces that should help them improve in 2019-20. Senior Alex Porcher will be leaned on for leadership purposes while sophomore Cayden Wilkin is a rising player that can have an improved role in 2019. Although we do not see the Trojans winning an IVC title, we still think improvement will be seen from the year prior.
North Adams- The Green Devils are returning 4 of their top 5 scorers from a team that finished 18-5 before falling in the District Semifinals to Wheelersburg 58-39. Coach Nathan Copas has talent across the board. Junior Jayden Hesler is back and will run the point for the Devils. In the paint is senior big man Austin McCormick who will have an opportunity to be Player of the Year in the SHAC if he plays his cards right. With several other upperclassmen returning, North Adams is considered one of the heavy favorites to win the SHAC D1 division in 2019.
Oak Hill- The Oaks only lose 2 players from their 18-6 team last season. While both were key role players for Oak Hill, last season’s leading scorer and rebounder Chase Hammond is back and is accompanied by 4 other seniors to make up a strong core. Defense was an area this Oaks team was very good at but one area of concern is bench support. The Oaks will need to find someone that can relieve their starters or else this team could be a favorite to be upset come tournament play.
Piketon- The Redstreaks looked solid last season before falling to North Adams in the tournament 58-41. The top 2 scorers from that team are gone and with their departure goes chunks of their offense. Junior Chris Chandler is the top returning scorer and will likely be the top interior threat for Piketon. Logan Nichols is their top senior back as well. The Streaks were the only team in the SVC to allow less than 50 points per game last year. In order for them to stay in the top of the conference, they need to continue their defensive prowness and find replacement weapons on the offensive end.
Portsmouth- It was a tough season for the Trojans last year as they went through some growing pains with a young roster. Finishing 8-16 the season cultivated with a near upset of Adena 57-54. 2019-20 is here and Portsmouth has more experience returning. Senior Matthew Fraulini will be the senior to lean on on both ends of the floor and for leadership purposes. The top guy back is junior forward Miles Shipp who will have a chance to be a dark horse player in the OVC. Also keep an eye on sophomore Drew Roe. The Trojans will be young again, but if they can find a way to be playing their best basketball in February, they have the potential to upset anyone. Defense will need to improve in addition.
Portsmouth West- The Senators won only 6 games in 2018-19 and fell by one point to Portsmouth in the Sectional tournament. Of their top 6 players last season, only 2 are back and gone are much of the scoring and rebounding output. While junior Luke Howard brings potential on the glass, they still are not looking like an elite team to watch this season. We expect West to struggle as they try to find new personnel to use. Senior Nick Davis is a name worth keeping an eye on.
Richmond Edison- The Wildcats lose quite a bit of talent from last season, including 3 All-District players. 4 seniors are back including 5’11 guard Alec McBane and 6’2 Andrew Pugh. Much of Edison’s size is gone and the lack of experience will be a problem as well. I am concerned with consistent post play and if the Wildcats will be able to find scoring from their bigs.
Ridgewood- The Generals were a tough out a year ago with many of their games being determined by single digits. With a solid core coming back, Ridgewood could be even better and be a more competitive finisher. Seniors Koleten Smith and Kaden Smith are the 1-2 punch that lead the Generals. Sophomore Gabe Tingle makes up another solid piece to Ridgewood’s squad. If the Generals can continue to finish off games and see improvement in their core players, this could be a team that could make some noise come March.
Rock Hill- The Redmen struggled last season, going winless in the OVC and winning less than 5 games on the year. Their leading scorer and rebounder from last season are gone, leaving an opportunity for someone to sneak up as the new go-to guy. With several seniors returning, this could go to any of them. Logan Hankins will likely be the guy leaned on while sophomore Owen Hankins will also turn some heads. This Redmen team really struggled to compete last season. In order for improvement to happen, they need leadership early on and a consistent offense to replace what they graduated.
Sandy Valley- The Cardinals marched to the Division III Regionals before falling to a tough Wheelersburg team 51-48. During that run, they knocked off top seeded Garaway and second seeded Meadowbrook in the Disticts. 6 seniors are gone from that team and now raise some questions about their depth for the 2019-20 season. Fortunantly, the Cardinals have a nice group of guards in seniors Keegan Offenberger and Brodie Kelly that should continue to bring the toughness and allow Sandy Valley to be a force to reckon with. Keep an eye on junior Demetrius Evans as he will also be a guard that will help. 4 of the departing seniors were post players last year, meaning the Cardinals will need support in the interior but we expect there is enough talent back that Sandy Valley could get out of the district again this year.
South Point- The Pointers were a tough opponent last season in the OVC. Although they lost 15 games, they found a way to defeat teams like Glenwood, Fairland, and Chesapeake during the regular season. The top 4 scorers from a year ago are back and give the Pointers some firepower for an offense that struggled at times a year ago. Senior Chance Gunther is the leading scorer and could compete for all-OVC honors. Junior Austin Webb was last season’s leading rebounder and proved to be their best rim protector. He will need to continue to improve in 2019. South Point has shown they can hang with some of the better teams, but now they must put it together and compete every night.
Tuscarawas Valley- The Trojans struggled on the defensive end in route to a sub .500 season. Giving up 50+ points in many of their games, Tuscy Valley needs to improve on that if they are going to be a better team in the IVC this year. Size will not be an issue as the Trojans return 6’3 senior Sam Ray and 6’5 senior Steven Gilland to help them on the glass. Keep an eye on junior Tyler Stump to make an impact as well.
Wellston- The Golden Rockets struggled, going winless in February and finishing 3-19 on the year. Their only wins in the TVC were against River Valley twice. 2019 is going to be rough as the talent pool just isn’t up to par with the rest of the conference. Senior Ryan Molihan is going to be the top guy back but the Rockets are far from being a contender in the conference.
West Muskingum- The good news is Wesk Muskingum lost no seniors from a year ago. The bad news is that team finished 4-19. Senior Jaren Garber is back and will run the offense, but the real issue is lack of defense as the Tornadoes allowed 59 point per game last year, second to last among MVL teams. This team however did find ways to compete against some MVL teams, but not to a point of pulling off a huge upset. This season could be better, but only if the Tornadoes take care of business on the defensive end and find it in them to knock off some of the middle-tiered teams in the MVL.
West Union- The Dragons made a run to the District Semifinals last season before falling in a heartbreaker to Chesapeake 53-50. This season’s team is missing some serious talent, especially in the backcourt and will need to find new players to go to if they are going to continue their success. Senior Zane Kingsolver will likely be the focal point in the Dragons offense as the 6’2 forward is the top frontcourt player back. As previously stated, guard play will be a concern as West Union looks for replacements for their departed seniors. We expect the Dragons to continue to be a tough team in the SHAC, but will likely finish in the middle of the pack in 2019.
Westfall- The Mustangs struggled on the offensive end a year ago and will try to improve in 2019 from their 6-17 finish the year prior. Senior Jay Wyman is back, but will several pieces gone from last season, we likely see this being a down year for the Mustangs. Moving down from Division II will be helpful.
Wheelersburg- For 26 games last year, Wheelersburg ended after 32 minutes with a W. Game 27 was the only difference. The Pirates fell 52-38 to eventual state champ Harvest Prep in the Regional Finals. Gone are 5 of the top 7 scorers, including star Tanner Holden and his 25 points per game. While some may rule the Pirates out, there is some talent still in the cupboard that make them very very good. After Holden was J.J. Truitt who was the 2nd best performer in scoring and rebounding. Matthew Miller was another guard option that will now step into a larger role. One guy worth watching will be 6’4 junior forward Carter McCorkle who should help a lot on the glass. While we don’t expect another undefeated season, it would be foolish to rule Wheelersburg out because of the losses they took. Winning another SOC title will be tough, but the potential is there if the talent coming back can step into new roles and accept them.
Zane Trace- A strong group of seniors are back for the Pioneers after a 21-5 season and a Regional Semifinal finish last season. The Pioneers were the best offensive team last year and have a strong inside presence in 6’6 Nick Nesser and a perimeter threat in Cam Evans. This is one of the most experienced teams in SVC and they have a solid chance of making another deep postseason run as they drop from Division II to Division III in 2019.
Beachwood- The Bison lose 2 All-District players from a team that finished a few games above .500 a year ago. Unfortunately, a lot of players from last season are gone as many were seniors. Sophomore Jalen Minter and senior Jeshaun Minter are the top returning players, but almost all height and most of the scoring is gone with graduation. We don’t expect the Bison to be competitive in the CVC this season.
Berkshire- The Badgers finished 3-20 last season and failed to win a game outside of CVC play. To make matters worse, they lose a large amount of their roster to graduation. Senior Jake Sinkenbring is back but inexperience and lack of depth is going to be a huge issue for Berkshire to improve. Expect another down year.
Black River- The Pirates lose quite a bit of talent after finishing 6-17 the year before. Senior Caleb Simenson will be the top performer back, but a lack of supporting talent is going to make things difficult to improve off their 6 win season.
Brookfield- The Warriors return several key pieces from their 10-13 finish a year ago. Leading scorer Connor Stevens is back as well as rebounding threat Brady Reichart. With the majority of the talent returning from last season, Brookfield will have an opportunity to compete for an AAC title in the Blue Division.
Brooklyn- The only place to go is up for the Hurricanes as they rebound after a 1-21 season last year. Overall they must improve at all aspects as there was an apparent struggle throughout the season for Brooklyn.
Campbell Memorial- A lot of fans wish to forget last season’s rough year for the Red Devils. Some of the top talent from last year has graduated and has created voids for the Red Devils to fill. With not a lot of offensive talent back from a year ago, we expect another rough year for Memorial as they try to rebound and reload.
Canton Central Catholic- The Crusaders finished 16-7, including wins against GlenOak and Bishop Ready during the season before falling to Mogadore 43-40 in the tournament. 2 All-District performers are gone for Central Catholic and the pressure will be on to repeat their success. Senior Angelo Milini will be the guy worth watching and will be heavily leaned on.
Cardinal Mooney The Cardinals finished 9-15 last season, but lose their top 2 scoring threats, including their leading scorer. Senior Sonny Rodriguez is back and will be running the offense this upcoming season. Junior Brandon Mikos will be another name worth watching as well as he will hopefully compliment Rodriguez.
Chippewa- Not enough info
Columbia- Not enough info
Columbiana- The Clippers were a tough team last season in the EOAC, finishing 13-11 on the year. Only 2 players graduate from last season’s squad, making the returning Clippers team a senior heavy roster. Columbiana will be led by guard Hunter Zentner and will have an anchor in the paint in 6’5 Matt Mazei. Depth should not be an issue this year, but the Clippers struggled down the stretch, losing 3 of their last 4 games in 2019. We expect a strong season this year with a chance of finishing near the top of the conference a real possibility.
Conneaut- The Spartans only won 6 games last season, but are returning 7 seniors this season as well as several juniors and sophomores with varsity experience. Senior Kyle Woods seems to be the name that will be heard a lot this upcoming season and should be leaned on for leadership. All returning talent will need to step up as they must replace 2 All-District performers that graduated.
Crestview- Not enough info
Crestwood- The Red Devils are returning a ton of talent from last year’s 16-8 team that started off the year strong before struggling to end the season. Last year’s leading scorer Mason Angle is back and is accompanied by Mason and Trent Jakacki and overall is one of the more experienced teams coming back in the Portage Trail Conference.
East Canton- The Hornets will have a new coach at the helm in 2019-20 as they try and rebound from a 4-19 finish a season ago. With 7 players back, including senior Gavin Schoeneman, the Hornets will hopefully be able to improve as they have some depth coming back. Schoeneman has potential to be a double-double machine and is one of the more athletic guys on roster.
East Palestine- The Bulldogs will try and rebound from an 8-15 season where they struggled to compete in the EOAC. The future looks bright however in 5’8 sophomore Jonathan Bertovich who returns after finishing 1st Team All-Conference last year. Leaning on him will be crucial, but not as crucial as finding some offensive rhythm. The Bulldogs scored 60+ in only 6 games last season with none of it happening until after the new year.
Elyria Catholic- Defending their GLC title will be tough for the Panthers as they must replace 4 of their top 6 player from last season, including 1 All-District player. Fortunantly, there are several key pieces coming back that give Elyria Catholic fans something to look forward to. Senior duo Edward Wright and Branson Taylor may be the best 1-2 punch in the conference and for good reason. Wright is the best returning scorer while Taylor brings his 6’7 frame to battle in the post. The Panthers definitely have some size coming back, but the main concern will be can they replace what they have lost.
Fairview- The Warriors were without a doubt the top team in the PAC a year ago. They will likely repeat this in 2019-20 as they return their top scoring options across the board and move down to Division III. In the senior class, they are led by guard Luke Howes who is one of the best backcourt players in Northeast Ohio. In addition, he will be accompanied by fellow seniors Martin Lowry and Noah Mesaros. The Warriors have the pieces to be a competitor on Northeast Ohio, but will they be able to defend the more athletic teams across the District?
Garfield- Not enough info
Grand Valley- The Mustangs hit a wall last year finishing the year 1-11 after starting the year at .500. They return their top 2 guys in senior Malik Mitchell and junior Ashton Zupancic. The big question will be can Grand Valley find depth to keep them in tough matchups with the rest of the NAC.
Hanoverton United- 7 seniors are departed from the Golden Eagles, including their top 3 players as they reload after finishing .500 a year ago. Much of the top talent returning is in the junior class and will need to step up and mature quickly. Keaton Baker will be just one of these names to watch as the Eagles will struggle to keep in the middle of the pack in the EOAC.
Jefferson Area- The only team to have a worse record in the NE8 than Hubbard, Jefferson Area went winless last season but for good reason. With 4 freshmen on the roster and 3 sophomores, the Falcons were one of the youngest teams in the conference a year ago. With so much youth, it will take another 1-2 years for the Falcons to hopefully move back up the ranks. Expect another rough year this season though. A move down from DIvision II should help.
Kirtland- The Hornets will be down 3 All-District performers from a year ago. While Kirtland found success late in the season, winning 4 of their last 5 regular season games, they ultimately fell short 68-60 against a very good Lutheran East team. Zach Samsa is the top player returning and will have to provide leadership and scoring capabilities for a team that graduated half their roster from a year ago. In addition, almost all of their size is gone meaning the Hornets will need to find new pieces to use in the paint.
LaBrae- LaBrae returns junior Connor Meyer from a quality team a year ago.
Loudonville- Not enough info
Manchester- A young backcourt will be responsible for leading the Panthers as they try to stay relevant in the PAC. Senior Ethan Wright will be accompanied by sophomore point guard Trent Pappas. However, a lack of defensive prowness and size will make things difficult for the Panthers.
Mapleton- The Mounties struggled immensely a year ago, but bring back a few different pieces that give them hope for next year. Junior Calvin Vermilya will be worth watching and should be a focal point for a Mapleton team that must find alternative ways to score on the offensive end.
Middlefield Cardinal- The Huskies lose much of their roster after a 10-14 season last year. Of the returning talent, junior Casey Horner will be in charge of running the point and be a perimeter threat. The Huskies also have 6’3 senior Robbie Granny who is a big body in the paint for Cardinal. With the amount of talent now gone, we don’t expect to see the Huskies competing for a CVC title anytime soon.
Mineral Ridge- After a strong start to the season last year, Mineral Ridge struggled a bit in January and February. While they finished above .500 on the year, 2019 is going to be difficult as the Rams lose 2 of their top 3 guys and will need to fill their voids quickly. Junior Austin Governor will have to step into a leadership role quickly and will be the guy to watch.
New Middletown Springfield- The Tigers made a run through the tournament last season , making it all the way to the Regional Finals before falling to Richmond Heights 46-43. 1 senior has graduated and leaves the majority of the roster intact. 3 seniors will be on the roster this season and will be led by 6’3 Drew Clark and 6’1 Evan Ohlin. The key for the Tigers will be to continue to develop the many juniors and sophomores on the roster so they can step into a larger role after this season.
Newton Falls- Senior Adam Honeycutt will be the name to watch.
Norwayne- The Bobcats split the regular season with Northwestern and thus finished with a runner-up position behind the Huskies in the Wayne County League. Unlike Northwestern, Norwayne is returning much more talent from last season, including senior guard Ben Draper. Junior Joey Raudebach played well at times for the Bobcats and at 6’4, he will be one of the biggest guys on the floor at times.
Oberlin- Not enough info
Orrville- The Red Riders were a solid team last season winning 17 games. Repeating the feat in 2019 is going to be tough as Orrville graduates a ton of guys, including 2 All-Conference guys. While a duo fo juniors will most definitely be a major help, a lack of depth and size is going to be glaring issues. D’Vontez Brown and Cooper Haley are the guys going to be leaned on for leadership.
Pymatuning Valley- 2 of the top 3 guys from last season are gone for a Lakers team that was one of the better defensive groups in the NAC a year ago. Junior guard Jonah Wilkerson is the top guy back and will run the offense. The Lakers have some depth in different positions and could challenge for an NAC title.
Ravenna Southeast- The Pirates were winless a year ago, but return several seniors that will hopefully return hungry to improve in 2019-20. 5’9 Tristan Knoch and 6’1 Conner Muldowney are back and will be 2 guys worth watching. Don’t expect an immaculate turnaround, but it tends to be a positive sign when much of your returning talent is upperclassmen.
Rootstown- The Raves were 13-10, but they could have been so much more, going 3-4 in February.
Smithville- Another young team a year ago, the Smithies only won 8 games in 2018-19, but only had one senior on roster. Now they come back with more experience, especially in their sophomore class and could be a team that slides under the radar. 6’3 Luke Meech and 5’11 Carter Fath are both sophomores and are both the top guys back. With the amount of youth here, we expect Smithville to continue to grow and could be a contender in the next 1-2 years.
South Range- The Raiders are returning a very good group of seniors from a team that finished 17-7 a year ago. Senior Chris Brooks is one of the most impressive players in the conference and will be heavily relied on throughout the year. With a healthy mix of guards and posts, South Range will have a chance to take over as the top team in the NE8 and will be the team to beat.
St. Thomas Aquinas- The Knights lost a lot of their key pieces from a 5-18 team last year. 5 seniors from the rotation graduated and sophomore Hunter Geissinger transferred to Massillon Jackson. Leftover is 6’4 senior Raysean Owens and senior Ben Wheeler. With a plethora of sophomores on roster, the Knights will want to start building those guys up so they can be ready to start contributing if not this season, next year for sure.
Trinity- The Trojans slumped to a 3-19 finish last year, struggling all year. 2 of the top 3 scorers from last season are gone and plenty of guards return for Trinity. 5’8 junior Keon Holland is the key piece to watch but without much of a supporting cast, another very poor season is likely for Trinity and their fans.
Tuslaw The Mustangs lose a ton of talent, including 2 All-Conference guys from last season. Their top returning guy may be their top talent though in 6’6 sophomore Nathan Frascone. Frascone will have to be a leader even though he’s an underclassmen as the amount of returning talent is not enough to keep the Mustangs competitive this season.
Warren Champion- Last season was a nice finish for the Golden Flashes as Champion finished the year strong winning 7 of their last 9 games before falling to LaBrae in the District tournament. 2 All-Conference players are gone from that team, but senior Nick Stahlman is back and will be leaned on. Junior Austin Willforth will be a player to watch as well. The Golden Flashes should still be in the top half of the AAC Blue, but we aren’t sure if they are in a position to contend for a title yet.
Warrensville Heights- The Tigers lose 2 of their top 5 from a team that finished in the middle of the pack in the Lake Erie League last season. The returning talent returns in the backcourt in junior guard Ramelle Arnold and senior Omahn Dobbins. Much of their size from last year is graduated which means new guys will need to make an impact early on. While the Tigers will rely heavily on Arnold, they will need interior defense to keep them in games with some of the higher level LEL teams.
Waterloo- The Vikings are bringing back a ton of talent from last season’s MVAC championship group and they will have a shot of defending their title with this same group of guys. A senior heavy team, Waterloo will be led by Vaughn Dorsey, Caleb Francis, and Max Adelman as well as junior Kyle Shockley. This upcoming season will be a race between the Vikings and Springfield for the MVAC title. Waterloo won both meetings last season and will have an edge in 2019-20 with the amount of talent they have back.
Waynedale- Of all the teams in the Wayne County League, the Golden Bears have the most depth than anyone else. Junior Zach Geiser is back and is the top scoring threat, but is not the only good player on the roster. 6’6 senior Mason Higgins and 6’2 senior Dylan Ledford are also back and will accompany Geiser for the Bears. With depth and consistent scoring on the offensive end, Waynedale could contend with the likes of Northwestern and Norwayne for a league title in 2019-20.
Wellington- The Dukes bring back a ton of talent from the year prior. Starting with senior Noah Diermyer, this is a Wellington team that has plenty of upperclassmen back to make a difference in the PAC. This could be a special season for the Dukes.
West Salem Northwestern- This Huskies team was pretty solid throughout last year, beating some high level teams and finishing 12-2 in the Wayne County Legaue. 2 of the top guys from that team are back now in seniors Kaden Mellott and J.J. Cline. I like these guys as a duo and think this could be another successful season in West Salem.
Wickliffe- 8 seniors are gone for the Blue Devils and their 16-8 team last season. Senior Anthony Olsen is the top guy returning and should have plenty of players around him with experience. The big concern will be if Wickliffe has the talent to compete with some of the higher caliber teams in the CVC.
Youngstown Liberty- Not enough info
Africentric- The Nubians were definitely a top 4 team in the CCL South last year, although they were not on the same level as Columbus South and Walnut Ridge. 2019-20 should see Africentric staying in the top 4 in the league, but there will definitely be a challenge to compete with those teams again. Senior Cali Davis is back as well as junior Elijahjuan Burke to form a solid backcourt. Sophomore Dan Wagner had a great freshman campaign and will try to replicate his success during his sophomore season. Our concern will be the bench support as many of the top returning players were underclassmen but have several seniors that graduated as well. In addition, the Nubians will have to be able to stay competitive with Walnut Ridge and South, but with not a ton of size back, there will be concerns on their ability to defend the Scots and Bulldogs interior threats.
Amanda-Clearcreek- Non-league teams struggled against the Aces a year ago, as Amanda-Clearcreek finished 9-1 outside the Mid State League. 2019 will be difficult for the Aces to continue their streak as they lose the top 3 scorers from last season’s team. Most of the size graduates, but Jesse Cornell is back and will give the Aces some height with his 6’4 frame. Jayse Miller is the top returning scorer and will be leaned on most on the offensive end. Only 6 players appeared in 14 or more games last season, and 3 of those guys graduated. Inexperience will be an early issue.
Bishop Ready- The Silver Knights lose some of their talent from a year ago, but return enough pieces to stay in the hunt in the CCL. Junior Darius Parham is back after scoring 15 points per game a year ago. Add fellow juniors Garrison Budd and Brock Baker and Ready has a solid group of juniors to rely on. A particular lack of size makes us question how they will fare against teams like DeSales and St. Charles that can be a force inside.
Centerburg- Interior play is a strong point for the Trojans as they bring back size that will be interior forces. 6’3 juniors Carter Jones and Hayden Hankinson are the two names to watch and should be key players on both ends of the floor for the Trojans. As long as Centerburg can have experience in the backcourt they can be a contender in the KMAC. We expect them to finish in the top 3 in the conference this season.
Columbus Academy- The Vikings are losing a lot of their scoring from last season’s 20-5 team that reached the District Finals. Senior Carter Warstler is the top returning scorer from the year prior after averaging 9.8 points per game. Inexperience will be a struggle as will be finding another scoring option to assist Warstler. Senior Mitch Priest will likely be the one to fill that void. If they can find solutions to these issues, the Vikings could find themselves camped in the middle of the MSL Ohio division.
Cristo Rey- Not enough info
Elgin- The Comets struggled a year ago winning only 1 game in the NWCC and an overall 6-15 finish on the year. They lose some experience with 2 All-District performers being gone from that team as well. Senior point guard Stormy Goddard is back, but the Comets will have to improve on the defensive end overall if they are going to be a competiter in the conference.
Fairbanks- The Panthers lose 4 starters from a team that went undefeated in the OHC last year and finished 20-2 last year. Junior Braylon Green is the lone starter returning, but brings a double-double threat every night. Lots of seniors are graduated from this squad which makes inexperience the real concern. We don’t expect another 20 win season as Fairbanks looks to improve after losing so much talent and with much of the OHC North returning plenty of talent.
Fredericktown- A nice variety of talent is back for the Freddies and they could be a top team in the KMAC this season. Junior Lincoln Cunningham is back and was the top scorer a year ago. Ty Hatfield gives Fredericktown another weapon on the perimeter while senior Terry Fearn gives the Freddies size. A solid defensive team, Fredericktown has enough to be a force to reckon with and could be a dark horse in Division III in Central Ohio.
Harvest Prep- The 2019-20 Harvest Prep Warriors will look much different than the state champions from Harvest Prep the year prior. Much of the talent from a year ago is graduated however, their top player is back. Senior C.J. Anthony is arguably the best point guard in Columbus and he is back for his senior year for the Warriors. The biggest issue will be finding players to fill the roles being left my graduated starters and role players. Anthony is good enough to get Harvest Prep another MSL title, but we aren’t 100% sure if the Warriors will be back at the state tournament.
International- Needless to say last season was not a great year for International. Finishing 4-18 and going winless in the CCL North, International now will try and improve, but will struggle with 3 of the top 5 players from a year ago now graduated. They bring back some smaller players in 6’2 senior Jamonte Wright and 5’11 junior Jaden McLester, but we will have concerns on their size and interior play. The two leading scorers that departed scored over 32 points per game a year ago. That is a lot of talent to replace for a team that could not catch a break in league play. We expect another down season in 2019-20 as International tries to catch back up in the league races.
Johnstown-Monroe- Johnstown loses their leading scorer from a year ago, but have several support players from last season back and looking to step into a larger role in 2019-20. Junior Jake Lusk is now the top returning scorer and is now the tallest player back. Fellow junior Gavin Foe and senior Matt Sayer are also back and are names to watch. For them to continue their success, Johnstown will need to continue to rely on their defense and find one of their supporting guys to become the new go-to scorer.
Liberty Union- The Tigers will be without their leading scorer from a year ago.
Madison-Plains- With much of the Eagles roster being sophomores and juniors, all the talent is back as coach Nathan Warner looks to improve his squad off their 5-17 season last year. Of the returning talent seniors Matt Johnson and Anthony Holbrook will be leaned on the most. With the experience coming back, we expect Madison-Plains to vastly improve. We will need to see a more competitive side especially on the glass for the Eagles to reach their ceiling.
Marion Pleasant- The Spartans ran all the way to the District Semifinals before falling to eventual state champion Harvest Prep. Pleasant loses quite a bit of talent from that team, but are returning a few guards that should help keep competitive in Division III. Luke Thomas and Austin Shaffer will be relied on for the Spartans to compete on the offensive end. This season will be a challenge at times but Pleasant can be a dark horse if they can find a support cast.
Mount Gilead- The Indians will be without their leading scorer from 2018-19 but have some pieces back that if they can mold together could be solid. Junior Jackson Huffer is the leading scorer from last season. Seniors Joel Butterman and Liam Dennis will need to improve as will the defense as a whole for the Indians. Expect a struggle throughoutout the season.
North Union- The Wildcats started the season out 6-2 last year, but struggled once the calendar turned 2019, finishing 7-9 the rest of the way. The good news is 0 seniors were on the roster last year meaning everyone will be back for another run in 2019-20. Preston Crabtree is the top returning scorer and 2nd highest returning rebounder and will have a chance to be an all-CBC player. Conor Terrill will be another name to watch on the offensive end. Defense will give the Wildcats an edge as they finished 2nd in points allowed as a team. They could compete for a title if they can get by a tough Graham team.
Northmor- The Knights will have a lot of size on the interior this season and will be a tough team to contain on the glass. Senior Blake Miller is back and could be a Player of the Year candidate in the KMAC this season. He along with 6’5 Trevor Gekler will form a formidable duo in the paint. Add Hunter Mariotti and the Knights have another scoring option in case Miller struggles. Early on we expect Northmor to be a top 2 team in the KMAC this season and could be another dark horse to watch.
Northridge- A senior led team a year ago, the Vikings were one of the lowest scoring offenses in the LVL a year ago. This season will be even more difficult as they lose much of their talent and experience. Expect another down year out of the Vikings.
Utica- Many of the scoring pieces from last year’s 2-21 team are gone and 2019-20 will be a complete rebuild for the Redskins. Utica will depend heavily on junior guard Collin McCullough for leadership and scoring. We expect Utica to again struggle as they try to dig out from the basement of the LVL.
West Jefferson- The Roughriders had a solid year last season, finishing 16-6 and finishing second place in the OHC North. Unfortunately, much of their talent is graduated including their top 3 players from last year. Senior Gabe Jones will be one of the top returning guys and be looked to fill the voids left by the departing seniors. West Jeff is in a division with most of the teams returning several players. As a result, we see the Roughriders struggling to compete in the OHC North.
Worthington Christian- The Warriors return quite a bit of talent from a team that fell in the District Semifinals a year ago to league rival Grandview Heights. This season however, the Warriors have one of the best guards in Central Ohio in 6’3 sophomore guard D.J. Moore coming back after averaging 18 points per game his freshman year. Senior Derrick Hardin and junior Tyler Kindberg are back in the backcourt to accompany Moore. Senior Nakimba Mullins is back in the frontcourt and rounds out the lineup. The Warriors will face a challenge against a solid defensive unit in Grandview, but could still be a contender in District play.
Allen East- The Mustangs were below .500 for the year but only lose 3 seniors from last season’s squad. While they will be guard oriented and lack much post play, Allen East has some guys that could be playmakers and make a difference against a stiff NWC. Juniors Tyler CLum and Bradden Crumrine are the top returning players and with them being juniors, the Mustangs have some guys to build around.
Archbold- The Blue Streaks were the NWOAL champions last year, but repeating will be very difficult as they lose 3 All-League performers from a 23-1 team last year. While experience will be tough to replace, Archbold was one of the best defensive units last year and should again depend on their defense to get them far and keep them competitive in the league.
Lima Bath- The Wildcats went through some growing pains in 2019, playing with 5 freshmen and winning only 1 game for the year. While many of those freshmen gained a year of experience, it will be another rough year as Bath continues to develop their players. Sophomores Ian Armentrout and Andrew Shahr are back and will lead the backcourt but defense will continue to be a struggle and until these guys can get some more experience, expect struggles.
Bluffton- The Pirates return almost everyone from last season. For Bluffton, their biggest game last year was a 43-41 win against Convoy Crestview, which would go on to be the only game the Knights would lose all year. For the Pirates, they bring back a solid trio of seniors to build around in Luke Denecker, Jared Piercefield, and Mason Super. This could be the year the Pirates compete for a NWC title and with the seniors on roster, they should be a tough matchup every night.
Bucyrus- The Redmen finished with a 3 win season a year ago and while they lose 4 key seniors, 2 of those players were the top rebounders on the team a year ago. Size is still there, but this will be a guard oriented team led by senior Jaylen Zehner who finished 5th in the Northern 10 Conference in assists.
Cardinal Stritch- The Cardinals bring back quite a bit of talent from a State Semifinalist a year ago. Senior Joey Holifield is back and will be the top player in the TACC. Junior Jhaiden Wilson will provide a solid point guard threat to lean on as well. Senior Devyn Jones and junior Ross Thompson provide roles with their size at 6’5 and 6’7 respectively. Stritch appears to again be the best team in the conference and could find themselves back in Columbus potentially.
Coldwater- Last year was a memorable year for the Cavaliers as they finished 17-10 and made a run to the Regional Finals in Division III before falling to a very good Cardinal Stritch team. Unfortunately, 4 of the top 5 players from that team have graduated and do not leave a ton of depth behind. Junior Myles Blasingame is the top guy back, but without much support it will be difficult to repeat that same feat. This group is still extremely competitive and will still give MAC teams fits throughout the year.
Colonel Crawford- The Eagles are returning their top 3 players from a 20-5 team that took an early exit to South Central in the tournament. The returning trio are all upperclassmen and all provide the Eagles with weapons all over the floor. Seniors Jordan Fenner and Gavin Feichtner return after averaging 15 points per game each a year ago. Feichtner and junior Chase Walker also give the Eagles presence on the glass. If Colonel Crawford can find bench support, this could be a team that could turn some heads this year.
Ashland Crestview- Not enough info
Delta- The Panthers finished 6-16 on the year last year, but had a good reason as they were one of the youngest teams in the NWOAL with 6 underclassmen on roster. While those guys have a year under their belt, 5 guys have now graduated meaning the youth must now become the key players. Offensively the Panthers will need to really figure things out as they averaged less than 40 points per game. 2019 will likely be a year of continued growth and becoming a stronger team.
Eastwood- The Eagles were on a roll to end last year, winning their last 4 regular season games before falling to Elmwood in the tournament. Fresh off an 11-13 finish, Eastwood returns a solid backcourt that should allow them to stay competitive in the Northern Buckeye Conference. Seniors Jacob Halko and Noah Henline will be leaned on heavily.
Elmwood- The Royals return 2 of their top 3 players from a year ago. 6’3 Mason Lentz and 6’2 Josiah Childress both return and will be leaders as seniors for Elmwood. Much of the Royals roster consists of seniors which will make them an experienced team going into 2019-20. This should allow them to be one of the favorites in the Northern Buckeye Conference.
Evergreen- The Vikings were 18-5 last season and were one of the better defensive teams in the NWOAL along with Archbold. They bring back some size in 6’5 senior Mason Loeffler and 6’3 senior Nate Brighton which will make them a tough team to contain on the glass. Loeffler arguably is the top player in the league and could make some noise for Player of the Year. We think Evergreen is a favorite for league champ and could be a dark horse come March.
Fairview- The Apaches are bringing back almost everybody from a year ago and from a team that played quite well in the Green Meadows Conference. 2 of the top 3 players from a year ago are back, including senior Chayse Singer and junior Russ Zeedyk. Experience will not be an issue for this team, but defending some of the bigger more athletic teams could be a problem as Fairview tries to keep competitive in the GMC. We think they are still a top 3 team in the conference.
Fostoria- Not enough info
Genoa Area- The Comets were undefeated last year in the regular season, before losing to Cardinal Stritch in the tournament handing them their first and only loss. The bad news is 3 of the top 5 players have graduated, including 2 All-Ohio finishers. Senior Mike Rightnower is going to be the top player returning and will have a quality supporting cast with Allen Laytart, also a senior. Defense was huge for the Comets a year ago as they gave up 42 points per game. If they can continue this, they will have a chance to continue to hang with some of the best in the NBC this year.
Delphos Jefferson- Jefferson is going to look much different in 2019 as they lose 6 of their top 7 from a 4-18 team last year. While they return some upperclassmen including junior Ian Wannenacher, there will be plenty of youth and new faces that will need to step up. In addition, Jefferson must find a go-to guy that can consistently give them 14+ points per game.
Millbury Lake- Not enough info
Lakota- Not enough info
Liberty Center- The Tigers have some talent returning that will make this team fun to watch. On the perimeter, Carter Burdue is back and will be the main threat in the backcourt. 6’2 senior Trent Murdock also returns and at 6’2 will be the main player to anchor the paint and post.
Liberty-Benton- The Eagles finished 8-16 last year and will try and rebound after a rough season. Plenty of upperclassmen are back and should give them plenty of support to rely on. Senior Mehkei Jenkins and juniors Ben Spiess and Josh Reindel are going to be the key pieces and will have to play at a higher level for Liberty-Benton to compete in a tough BVC.
Lima Central Catholic- Not enough info
Margaretta- The Polar Bears return quite a bit of talent after a 16-7 finish laast year and have emerged as a team to watch out of Northwest Ohio. Particularly, junior big man Mitch Raifsnider is one of the top players in the SBC and could have a breakout year for the Bears. Senior Brycetyn Hedden also returns and will give Margaretta a strong core in the frontcourt to be a force on the glass. Expect to hear a lot more about Margaretta down the road and they could turn some heads come March.
Montpelier- The Locomotives struggled last year, but bring back some pieces that will help. Junior Dylan Eitnear is a name to watch and will have a chance to make an impact early on for Montpelier as they try and rebound from their 4 win season a year ago. They move up from Division IV this season.
Northwood- Not enough info
Otsego- The Knights lose 3 of their top 4 from last season, and only return 4 total guys from that team. Senior Noah Keifer is the top player returning and will have large shoes to fill. His role will need to increase if Otsego is to get over the .500 hump after finishing 10-11 last year.
Ottawa Hills- Not enough info
Ottawa-Glandorf- The Titans have some size coming back with 3 guys 6’4 or taller. Of those returning players, Senior Ben Westrick will be the guy to watch as he is one of the tougher post defenders in the league. That being said, 4 of the top 5 players are gone for O-G questioning if they have the experience to contend in the WBL. We expect this team to still compete and be a top 3 team in the league.
Paulding- The top 3 players graduate from Paulding , creating room for younger talent to step up and fill some of the voids.
Riverdale- The Falcons are definitely a small team with much of their roster under 6’0. Several seniors return especially in the backcourt, paced by Brock Davis, for a team that was very good in BVC play. There isn’t a ton of high scoring teams in the BVC this year, opening the door for possibility that Riverdale could sneak up on a few teams this season.
Seneca East- The Tigers were hit hard by graduation after an 8-15 finish last year and return only 4 guys from their team a season ago. Of the returning guys is 6’1 senior shooter Andy Bauman. Without much depth and lack of experienced bench support, expect a down year for Seneca East.
Swanton- Not enough info
Tinora- 4 seniors are departed from last season’s 7-16 team that liked to keep opponents in the 45-50 points per game range. Senior Evan Willitzer is back and is bound to have a big season, but he by himself will be unable to hang with Fairview, Wayne Trace, and Antwerp in the GMC. If Tinora can keep these teams under 50 points, they could compete.
Van Buren- The Black Knights were REALLY good a year ago, finishing 10-1 in the BVC and marching through conference play. A strong senior class returns thus making them a favorite yet again. Nick McCracken and Carson Goble will be the key guys to watch. The Knights have 4 guys 6’2 or taller, which makes them one of the taller teams and one of the most experienced teams. We would expect another strong showing this year with the Knights again competing for a conference title.
Wayne Trace- The Patriots return 5 of their top 8 from last season’s 20 win season. Now, a very good senior class is back and will be relied on for Wayne Trace to be in the top of the GMC in 2019-20. Leading scorer Nate Gerber is back as is Reid Miller and Jace Vining to give the Patriots weapons on the inside and out. With the guys coming back, we think Wayne Trace is definitely a top 3 team in the conference and could compete for a conference title as well.
Western Reserve- The Roughriders were undefeated in the Firelands Conference and lose only 2 guys from a 17-5 team. They have a little bit of everything. They have upperclassmen experience, led by juniors Luke Rowlinson and John Skrada. They have a nice group of sophomores that can be built upon in the future. There is a nice mix of guards and forwards coming back. Overall, the Roughriders have the talent and tools to be a tough out in the tournament come March.
Willard- The Crimson Flashes finished 21-4 and lose only 4 seniors from a team that reached the Regional round of the OHSAA tournament. On the offensive end, they are led by 6’3 senior Cooper Parrott. Defensively, Willard has 2 junior shot blockers in Myles Pinkston and Micah Dawson. The combination of offensive and defensive firepower makes the Flashes a tough team to matchup against. With the amount of depth and experience coming back, this could be a very dangerous team come March.
Woodmore- The Wildcats lose their top 3 players and return only 5 guys from last season. Inexperience is going to hurt them and will likely hurt their chance of repeating a 10-13 season.
Wynford- The Royals return almost everyone from a 5-18 team a year ago. While they had some close games, Wynford for the most part struggled especially in Northern 10 play. Of all the players coming back, they are most excited for senior guard Josh Crall who led the entire conference in scoring last year putting up 27 a night. Also coming back is Gunnar Coffman, a 6’4 post player that finishes around the rim. While offense should be fine, defense must be an improvement point as the Royals look to improve from allowing 62 points a game last year.