H.S. Boys Basketball Preview: Area teams gearing up for new season with plenty of questions
LANCASTER – The high school boys basketball season tipped off earlier than it ever has, with games being played the night before Thanksgiving, and this year has the makings of an exciting year for several teams.
Lancaster finished last season with 11 regular season wins, and the big question is can the Golden Gales repeat that accomplishment? It won’t be easy considering the fact they lost all five starters and most of their scoring. However, they did tip off the season with an impressive come-from-behind win opener against Teays Valley.
Bloom-Carroll welcomes in the Ryan Davis era, and, while he has had tons of success in his previous coaching stint, it might take a little while to get things going as the Bulldogs lost a pair of 1,000-point scorers in Evan Dozer and Jared Rose. The fact the football team is still playing, Davis is still waiting on several of those players.
The Bulldogs might struggle early but Davis is a proven winner and looks for them to be a team to be reckoned with at the end of the season.
Fairfield Union returns a lot of experience and should compete for a league title, while Liberty Union and Amanda-Clearcreek both have new coaches.
As far as the Mid-State League-Cardinal Division is concerned, Millersport returns a lot of experience, while Fisher Catholic, Fairfield Christian Academy and Berne Union will look to improve from last season’s struggles.
Area Boys Basketball Capsules
LANCASTER
Coach: Kent Riggs (seventh season)
Conference: Ohio Capital Conference-Buckeye Division
Last year’s record: 11-12
Returning letter-winner: Tre Williams, Sr.
Key losses: Dylan West, Sam Finck, Kolson Pugh, Dominic Bornino, Corbin Hietikko, Carson Roudabush.
Key Newcomers: Braydin Diyanni, Sr.; Alex Rodenbaugh, Sr.; Canon Ailes, Jr.; Gabe Boyden, Jr.; JD Thomas, Jr.; Phaylon Shackleford, Jr.; Hayden Allen, Jr.; Colton Bruny, Soph.; Tyler Carpenter, Soph.
Coach Riggs’ take: “We are working hard right now to replace five senior starters and 98 percent of our scoring from last year.”
BLOOM-CARROLL
Coach: Ryan Davis (first season)
Conference: Mid-State League-Buckeye Division
Last year’s record: 24-3 (MSL champions, D-II district runner-up)
Returning letter-winners: Jackson Wyant, Jr.; Michael Malone, Sr.; Michael Whitcraft, Sr.; Owen Conrad, Sr.; Chase Chapman, Sr.
Key losses: Evan Dozer, Jared Rose, Beau Wisecarver, DaShaun Clark.
Key Newcomers: Jayse Rockwood, Jr.; Jett Jones, Jr.; Park Truez, Soph.; Tryce Chaffin, Soph.; Markus Roberson, Soph.; Michael Stevenson, Soph.; Andrew Marshall,
Coach Davis’s take: “We will be somewhat inexperienced this year, but we do have a good number of upperclassmen that all should be significant contributors this year. I have yet to see all our players in the gym at the same time, so once the football guys join us we will have a lot of work to do. Nonetheless, we have plenty of pieces to be a good basketball team come tournament time.”
LIBERTY UNION
Coach: Aaron Riddle (first season)
Conference: Mid-State League-Buckeye Division
Last year’s record: 8-12
Returning letter-winners: Austin McClure, Sr.; Jaden Smith, Sr.; Cole Flannigan, Sr.; Jacob Sage, Sr.; Landon Picirillo, Sr.; Slade McClaskey, Jr.; Blake Shawver, Jr.; Derreq Davis, Jr.; Jacob Brown, Jr.; Noah Shook, Soph.
Key losses: graduated three senior starters that accounted for 40 points per game.
Key Newcomers: Teddy Jencsen, Sr.; Luke Williams, Soph.; Matt Hinton, Soph.; Cooper Manson, Fr.
Coach Riddle’s take: “As a staff, we’ve focused a lot of time and energy on changing the identity of the program, developing future leaders, and improving the overall culture of the basketball program. The energy both inside and outside the locker room has changed and we’ve seen improvements everywhere in the way we prepare and the way we play. There’s a ton of excitement within our walls and we’re looking forward to changing the narrative of LU boys basketball. It’s no secret we play in a tough league, but our players will arrive at each game confident they can compete with anyone. We feel we’ve been sent a gift, and that’s the gift of being underestimated.”
FAIRFIELD UNION
Coach: Travis Schaeffer (second season)
Conference: Mid-State League-Buckeye Division
Last year’s record: 15-8 (second in MSL)
Returning letter-winners: Ted Harrah, Sr.; Brennen Rowles, Sr.; Caleb Redding, Jr.; Caleb Schmelzer, Jr.; Ronnie Rowley, Sr.
Key losses: Owen Morgan.
Key Newcomers: Isaac Schmelzer, Jr.; Cole Johnson, Sr.
Coach Schaeffer’s take: “We return the majority of our rotation and are excited to see how the new pieces fit together this season. Our goal is to build off the successes of last season and compete for a league and district title by playing a fast-paced and physical style of basketball. We know that the league is full of strong teams and that we will have to compete every night. Our program has had a great offseason led by the determination and work ethic of our upperclassmen and we are excited to see the hard work pay off.”
FISHER CATHOLIC
Coach: Shawn Brown (sixth season)
Conference: Mid-State League-Cardinal Division
Last year’s record: 3-18
Returning letter-winners: Hyde O’Rielley, Soph.
Key losses: Kavanaugh Frank and Jack Tencza.
Key Newcomers: Ben Boyden, Sr.; Charley Sumney, Sr.; Grant Keefer, Soph.; Peyton Owens, Jr.
Coach Brown’s take: “This season will be exciting after coming off the first losing season coming Fisher Catholic. Our goal is to outwork our opponents with effort and energy and let the rest work itself out. You will see a fast-running team this year that will be guard dominate and lights out shooting.”
MILLERSPORT
Coach: Tyler Coward (sixth season)
Conference: Mid-State League-Cardinal Division
Last year’s record: 9-13
Returning letter-winners: Michael Levacy, Sr.; Trey Johnston, Sr.; Jordan Ross, Sr.; Mikey Smith, Sr.; Wyatt Collins, Sr.
Key losses: Trevor Treinish.
Key Newcomers: Jason Wells, Fr.; Ty Johnston, Fr.
Coach Coward’s take: “We have a senior-heavy team looking to build off last year’s success.”
(Editor’s note: Information was not received Amanda-Clearcreek, Fairfield Christian Academy, or Berne Union coaches.)
Tom Wilson is a sports reporter for the Lancaster Eagle Gazette. Contact him at 740-689-5150 or via email at twilson@gannett.com for comments or story tips. Follow him on Twitter @twil2323.
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