Boys Basketball previews: Filling key roles crucial for area teams

River View posted one of its best seasons in more than a decade, finishing 11-12 overall with a strong showing in the Muskingum Valley League Big School Division.

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, who chipped in 19 points. Emig earned first-team honors 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 that will be expected to replace those losses.

Belden believes this team has come together and is ready 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."

Ridgewood

The Generals graduated a ton of production from last year's squad that went 16-9 and claimed another sectional title under fifth-year coach Troy Dolick.

One of those losses is four-year letter winner Dalton Patterson, who scored 15 points per game to go with seven rebounds and six assists. He was the District 5 Player of the Year and made first team Inter-Valley Conference and East District and earned All-Ohio honorable mention.

Kadin Bradford, a three-year letter winner who provided a strong post presence, is also among eight graduates after contributing 10 points and nine rebounds per game. He was a second team IVC and East District selection.

Gabe Tingle, who missed last season due to injury, and Kigenn Millender, a second team IVC and District 5 pick, are other three-year letter winners who have moved on, while Braden Maleski, a two-year letter winner, Zander Stroup, Kolby Masloski and Charles Crews are also gone.

A pair of seniors have varsity experience, as 6-1 Kauelen Smith, a guard/forward, and 6-4 Carter Fry, a River View transfer, and will lead the way. Smith averaged 6 points and 5 rebounds per game last season for Ridgewood.

Dolick has a strong class of newcomers ready to contribute. Senior Trent Warden, a 5-8 guard, and juniors, Blake Young (5-10, G), Carter Stanton (6-1, G) and Collin Ladrach (6-1, F), highlight that group. Sophomores Grant Lahmers (6-2, F), Cohen Parsons (5-11, F) and Kole Robinson (6-0, G) and freshmen Logan Ridenbaugh (6-3, F), Jackson Cabot (5-8, G) and Chris Matthews (5-10, G) should also vie for varsity minutes.

Dolick noted Ridgewood lost more than 3,000 career points and 1,400 career rebounds, as well as 451 games of varsity experience. He knows Smith, Warden and Fry will set the tone, while the underclassmen look to improve against a tough schedule, especially in IVC play.

"Kauelen has as much varsity experience as anyone that's played here with all his success in football, basketball and baseball so we are going to rely heavily on him," Dolick noted. "Trent and Carter also compete at an extremely high level and have been great leaders for our younger guys. We will be young for the most part with us dressing three sophomores and three freshmen, but we expect each of them to compete and contribute this season.

"Our schedule will be difficult competing in a loaded IVC this year, but I do know this group of boys will compete every single night," he added. "By the end of the season, I expect us to be playing our best basketball."

Coshocton

First-year coach James Herman, who has posted a 232-212 record going into his 24th season of coaching, is not the only new face on the Redskins' bench. They graduated five players and lost four starters from last year's 8-15 squad.

Senior Zane Bryant, who missed most of last season due to injury, and sophomore guard Colton Conkle, who averaged seven points, are the only players back with varsity experience.

The varsity newcomers include seniors Cam Swigert and O'Rhyin Hoist, juniors Bentley Cunningham, Antwone Johns and Coby Moore, sophomore Logan Lonsberry and freshman JJ Herman.

Coach Herman will learn about his team throughout the season, but even with inexperience, Coshocton expects to compete in the MVL Small School Division. Herman sees New Lexington and West Muskingum as the teams his squad will chase in the division.

"The Redskins have a lot of questions to answer in the upcoming season. While the program has great tradition, they lack experience and depth," Herman noted. "The young men are working extremely hard and enjoying an exciting brand of basketball.

"The MVL will again be full of knockdown, drag out battles every night. Therefore, the race to win the MVL-Small School Division should be an exciting one," he continued, "But the Redskins hope to turn a few heads as they gain experience and continue to develop their skills."

bhannahs@gannett.com; @brandonhannahs

This article originally appeared on Coshocton Tribune: Boys Basketball previews: Filling key roles crucial for area teams