Boys Basketball Big School Capsules: Plenty of standouts among area's big schools

Tri-Valley is seemingly in contention for the Muskingum Valley League each season.

There are seven players, including starters Ty Smith, Jalen-Goins Chandler and Luke Lyall, lost from a 20-6 squad that won the MVL Big School Division title and finished as district runner-up. Alex Williams, Drew Burkhart, Reese Smith and Grant Dalponte are also among the losses.

Three key contributors return for Todd McLoughlin, who has been coaching for 25 years with more than a decade at Tri-Valley. Sophomore guard Max Lyall leads the way after averaging 9.5 points per game, while junior Erik Neal and senior Aaron Frueh return to the post. Neal contributed 8.2 points and Frueh scored 4.9 points.

Senior guard Jayden Walker, junior guard Terrel Darden and sophomore forward Noah Nichols highlight the varsity newcomers.

McLoughlin knows there will be some challenges, but likes the talent on his roster.

"Losing seven seniors from last year's squad will be difficult to replace, but we are excited about this young group," he said.

Sheridan

The Generals bring back experience from an 18-7 squad that won a sectional title and finished as district runner-up. Senior Reed Coconis headlines that effort, as the MVL and District 12 first teamer averaged 12 points per game and led the squad in assists and steals.

Doug Fisher, who starts his 30th year of coaching and eighth with the boys program, has plenty of production to replace. Leading scorer Kaelan Pulliam, who scored 13.6 points and is playing for Muskingum, highlights that group, while Mason Morrison, Kyle Peters and Blaine Hannan also graduated. The trio averaged 15 points between them.

Juniors Raine Rodich and Caden Sheridan and senior Reid Packer return to the varsity, as Rodich chipped in nearly seven points per game last season.

The growth of the returning letter winners will be key, noted Fisher.

"Obviously our offense and defense is centered around Reed, but our team success will depend more on how last year's 'role players' grow in to bigger roles," he said. "Guys like Raine, Caden and Reid all contributed off our bench last season, but they will now be counted on for a lot more production this season as upperclassmen."

Senior Blake Turnes, who missed last season due to injury, brings length, quickness and outside shooting to the squad, while 6-2 junior guard AJ Winders adds another athletic body to the varsity squad. Sophomores Andon Hamner and Evan Anderson should also see some varsity time.

Juniors Ryan Kuhn, another 3-point shooter, Gavin Emmert and Brayden Weaver and sophomore Hayden Henry round out the varsity roster.

"We have definitely added some extra athleticism and length with the returns of Turnes and Winders. Both will play big roles for us this season as well," Fisher said.

Wes Martens (varsity assistant), Ryan Yzenski (JV coach) and Clay Fisher (freshman coach) make up Fisher's staff.

Maysville

The Panthers are looking to build on a 15-9 campaign, as all five starters and plenty of firepower return for sixth-year head coach Dave Brown and assistant coach Jared Cox.

The lone loss is Owen Bell, while senior Hayden Jarrett, the MVL Big School Player of the Year, and junior Alex Bobb will headline the Maysville charge. Jarrett, an All-Ohio Special Mention player, averaged 18.7 points, 7.1 rebounds and 4.0 assists and Bobb contributed 16 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.5 assists. Bobb also made 56% from behind the arc.

Senior Cole Roberts, who chipped in 10 points and shot 40% on 3s, and classmate Connor Larimer and junior Wesley Armstead, as both scored 6 points and combined for 8 boards, add to the talented roster. Senior Kyler Ryan and juniors Coen Fink, Sammy Scott and Tyler Debolt round out the returning letter winners.

Three underclassmen could also vie for some time, as sophomore guard Cameron Parker and freshmen Gator Nichols (G) and Jordyn Watson (F) join the varsity squad.

Brown has been impressed with the off-season dedication and expects the results to follow.

"The guys put in a lot of work during the off-season in order to have a successful season in South Town," he said. "We are working hard to get better on the defensive end and build on a 15-win season. They are a great group to coach and work with every day because they are great basketball players and even better people."

John Glenn

It was an up and down season for the Muskies, who finished 13-11 overall and 8-8 in the MVL Big School last season.

They must replace the production of three key contributors in Avery Parmer, Colin Campbell and Stefan Israel, as they combined to score 28 points a year ago.

A pair of seniors will be relied on to step up in Nathan Walker, a 6-4 wing, and 6-0 guard Kaiden Walls. Walker, a first team MVL and District pick, as well as All-Ohio honorable mention, scored a team-high 16 points and pulled down a team-best 8.5 rebounds. He also dished out 3.5 assists, while Walls chipped in 7.2 points and 5.0 rebounds.

Eric Sheck, starting his fourth season with the Muskies, noted their example will set the tone for his team.

"They will be counted on for leadership on and off the court," Sheck said. "(Walker) brings a high IQ and the ability to score the basketball from anywhere on the court, while Walls has vastly improved his jump shooting and scoring abilities from a year ago and brings a defensive mindset that can be contagious."

Two juniors also return, as 6-6 Caleb Larrick has bulked up since last season and should be a larger presence in the post, while Noah Winland remains a savvy guard, who can defend and find his way to the hoop.

A slew of newcomers will have a chance to shine for John Glenn. Seniors Bexlee Woodard and Luke Chrisman, juniors Nelson Cameron and Lane Hall, sophomore Will Nicolozakes and freshman Stehl Bates bring plenty to the program.

Sheck commended Woodard's patience, whose improvements should make him a regular contributor. Cameron and Nicolozakes can handle the ball and add to the team's 3-point shooting arsenal, and Bates is "a long, lanky freshman who has plenty of confidence" and a knack for scoring, noted Sheck.

Chrisman and Hall are first-year players in the program, and they could provide depth on the defensive end, added Sheck.

"Our guys know that the MVL has some great returning talent with every team seemingly having a few guys who were strong contributors from a year ago," Sheck said. "We are hoping to be deeper than we’ve been the past few years and use that to our advantage against a talented MVL slate of games and a challenging non-league schedule."

River View

The Black Bears had one of their best seasons in two decades, going 11-12.

Ben Belden, who enters his fourth season, brings back two of the league's top scorers in seniors Owen Emig, who scored 22 points per game, and Brody Border chipped in 19 points per game. Emig made first team in the MVL Big School, East District and District 5 and Border made third team East District.

The Black Bears have a lot of production to replace, as the key losses include Gage Summers, Bryson Fry, Jayden Adams, Alex Griffith, Carter Fry and Slater Sampsel.

Brody Shrimplin, Preston Yoder, Mason Giffin and Laired Williamson are among the newcomers to the varsity squad.

Belden feels the team has come together and wants to build on last season's success.

"We are excited about the family atmosphere that we have created in the basketball program at River View," he said. "We have players who have bought in and are excited to be a part of something bigger than themselves. Our coaching staff is excited to push this group to have a special season."

Zanesville

The Blue Devils will look to improve for second-year coach Cedric Harris after a 4-18 campaign.

Losses include leading scorer Isaac Mayle, along with Kanye Evans and Garrett Biedenbach, but a slew of upperclassmen provide experience.

Seniors Xavier Riley (F), Robert Guest (G), Brier Harmon (F) and Drake Renick (F) and juniors Drew Doyle (G) and Maddox Hayes return. Riley averaged 9 points and 4 rebounds after earning second-team Licking County League honors, while Doyle, a LCL honorable mention player, contributed 7 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals and Guest contributed 5 points and 3 rebounds a year ago.

Zanesville has added depth with juniors Rashaud Hampton and Drake Tabler and sophomores Mikey Johnson, Greyson Goines and Avery Mohler joining the varsity program.

Harris has been pleased with his team's work ethic and knows teamwork is vital to their success.

"We have a great group of kids who have been working extremely hard in practice and enjoy being coached," he said. "They understand the challenges they are up against this year but they are committed to one another which will help get through the highs and lows of the season."

Philo

Jason Trout takes over the Electrics, who struggled in a 2-21 season, and graduated three key players in Owen Smith, Jaxon Radcliffe and Carter McCutcheon.

Four returning letter winners will be counted on, as seniors Cade Searls, Demetrius Strickland and Wesley Wilson and sophomore Cooper Radcliffe saw plenty of time on the court last season.

Trout noted Radcliffe will take on the point guard duties this season, while sophomore Talon Preston and seniors Ethan Wickham and Clayton Peterson are newcomers to the varsity squad.

The Electrics have been dedicated since Trout took over, and he hopes his team gets rewarded for their work.

"Our team has been all in all spring, summer, fall and preseason," he said. "We have people emerging as leaders and people staying after practice to get extra work in, people coming in before school to get extra work in, I couldn’t be more excited to see what this season holds.

"We have a lot of upper classmen, but we also have a lot of underclassmen that are going to see significant time this season," he added. "My staff and I are just really proud of the effort and level of commitment we have seen so far."

This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: Boys Basketball Big School Capsules: Plenty of standouts among area's big schools