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Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Boys basketball preview: Piqua
This is another in a series of capsules previewing area high school basketball for the 2009-10 season:
PIQUA
Coach: Mick Leffel, 2nd season
2008-09 record: 4-17 (2-6 Greater Western Ohio Conference)
Returning starters
Tavian Williams, Sr. G, 5-9
Jordan Feeser, Soph. C, 6-4
Notable
Piqua grad Leffel (Class of 1991) begins his second season at his alma mater with five sophomores on the varsity roster, including Feeser, a 225-pounder in the paint. “He doesn’t get shoved much around in the post,” Leffel said. “He’s developing his low-post moves.” The Indians will also get help from some football players, including sophomore Taylor Wellbaum, who started the final regular-season game at quarterback, and Kindric Link, a sophomore guard who made All-North Division in the GWOC as a cornerback. With those skills, Leffel hopes to be strong defensively.
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Boys basketball preview: Wayne
This is another in a series of capsules previewing area high school basketball for the 2009-10 season:
WAYNE
Coach: Travis Trice, 3rd season
2008-09 record: 18-6 (8-2 Greater Western Ohio Conference)
Returning starters
Travis Trice, Jr. G, 6-0
Markus Crider, Jr. F, 6-6
Notable
Trice and Crider combined to score 25 points and grab 8.8 rebounds per game last season, and they’re joined by some newcomers to the Wayne program. Those include Isaiah Boddie, a 6-2 junior from Trotwood, Xavier Jones, a 6-3 senior from Gary, Ind., and Aaron Montgomery, a 6-5 senior from Northmont. The Warriors will also get help from sophomore Keith Clements, who started several games for the team last season and Trice calls “a very tough-nosed kid.” All will follow the lead of Trice Jr., who was the only sophomore named All-GWOC last season (there were only two juniors: A.J. Pacher of Vandalia Butler and Blake Davenport of Lebanon). “We’ve added some big teams to our schedule, so our guard play will have to be strong,” Trice Sr. said.
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Boys basketball preview: Stebbins
This is another in a series of capsules previewing area high school basketball for the 2009-10 season:
STEBBINS
Coach: Jeremy Finn, 1st season
2008-09 record: 2-19 (2-14 Central Buckeye Conference)
Returning starters
Zach Kennedy, Sr. F, 6-1
Allan Thuma, Sr. G, 5-9
Notable
Finn, who came to Stebbins after serving as an assistant at Fairmont, takes over a mixed roster of six seniors, four juniors and three sophomores anticipating a new start, he said. Kennedy will be a force inside at 280 pounds, and Thuma is experienced handling the ball. Stebbins also has strong expectations for 6-4 sophomore Khaleal McCormick, who will shift between guard and forward. “I’m trying to get through to the guys that we want to compete at a high level every single night,” Finn said. “This team has struggled the last two years, so we’ve got a lot of work to do, but the kids are excited.”
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Boys basketball preview: Valley View
This is another in a series of capsules previewing area high school basketball for the 2009-10 season:
VALLEY VIEW
Coach: Brian Lemke, third season
2008-09 record: 8-13 (4-8 Southwestern Buckeye League Southwestern Division)
Returning starters
Ricky Denny, Sr., F, 6-2
Kyle Pohl, Jr., F, 6-2
Notable
The Spartans are strong inside with returning starters Denny and Pohl. Denny led the team in both scoring (17.5) and rebounding (13.1) last season and Pohl chipped in 13 and eight. Guard play could be a concern early. Brandon Fox (5-11 junior) and Ben Fannin (6-0 junior) have experience and bring stability to the position, but Valley View isn’t very deep after that especially after guards Adam Emrick and Jordan Jacobs transferred to Carlisle. The Spartans, though, who finished tied for third in the division last season, are being mentioned as league contenders this season … and perhaps beyond. The roster has just two seniors to go with six juniors, two sophomores and a freshman.
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Boys basketball preview: Carlisle
This is another in a series of capsules previewing area high school basketball for the 2009-10 season:
CARLISLE
Coach: Jeff Waugh, sixth season
2008-09 record: 14-7 (8-4 Southwestern Buckeye League Buckeye Division)
Returning starters
Josh Koogle, Jr., G, 5-8
Notable
Koogle is the lone returning starter, but Valley View transfers Adam Emrick (Jr., G, 5-10) and Jordan Jacobs (Jr., G, 5-8) could help ease the lack of experience. Expect the Indians to be fast, quick and sharp shooters. Rebounding and decision-making, though, are early concerns for Waugh. Carlisle, which tied for second and one-game behind Waynesville in the division, shoots for its fifth consecutive winning season. They’ve averaged almost 15 wins per season during that span. “I believe our division will be the best it has ever been. We will have many strong competitive teams that will provide great challenges on game night,” Waugh said. “With our inexperience and youth, we hope to grow as a team during the season and become one of those strong competitive teams.”
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Boys basketball preview: Monroe
This is another in a series of capsules previewing area high school basketball for the 2009-10 season:
MONROE
Coach: Denny Ferguson, fifth season
2008-09 record: 5-16 (3-9 Southwestern Buckeye League Buckeye Division)
Returning starters
None
Notable
Monroe looks to pick up a few more wins this season and they have the quickness and defensive mindset to do it. Now they just need the experience: The Hornets return no starters. With that in mind, rebounding and finishing off shots will be key. “We need leadership on the floor and everyone needs to score, not just one or two guys,” Ferguson said. “We need to keep moving forward, get better every game.”
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Boys basketball preview: Waynesville
This is another in a series of capsules previewing area high school basketball for the 2009-10 season:
WAYNESVILLE
Coach: Cory Crozier, second season
2008-09 record: 16-6 (9-3 Southwestern Buckeye League Buckeye Division)
Returning starters
Stephen Gossard, Sr., C, 6-6
Brandon Gautreaux, Sr., F, 6-7
Notable
With a pair of returning starters standing 6-foot-7 and 6-6, it’s no wonder the Spartans are a strong rebounding team. The defense should also benefit having those two altering shots inside. Now they need the offense to be a little more patient. Crozier said Madison, which finished a game behind defending champ Waynesville last season, is the team to beat. But don’t count out the Spartans. “We have many players on the team who have not played together in the past. How long it takes them to get used to playing with each other will be key,” Crozier said. “Our team is very athletic, hardworking and will be fun to watch. They can be very good, but it will take a lot of hard work. How good of a start we get off to will be important.”
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Boys basketball preview: Oakwood
This is another in a series of capsules previewing area high school basketball for the 2009-10 season:
OAKWOOD
Coach: Paul Stone, ninth season
2008-09 record: 12-9 (7-5 Southwestern Buckeye League Southwestern Division)
Returning starters
Scott Feldmiller, Sr., G, 6-0
Notable
The Lumberjacks return one starter from a team that tied for second in the Southwestern Division. Oakwood doesn’t return much experience, but Stone hopes the ’Jacks conditioning keeps them going strong deep into games. Passing and rebounding are two early concerns. Stone tabs Bellbrook, the league’s defending co-champs, as the team to beat in the division. “Our coaching staff feels that our team chemistry could be a huge factor for us this year,” Stone said. “Our schedule is brutal, but if we want to compete in Division II, you can’t be afraid to play good teams. We expect our kids to play an unselfish style of play and outwork the other teams we play.”
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Boys basketball preview: Franklin
This is another in a series of capsules previewing area high school basketball for the 2009-10 season:
FRANKLIN
Coach: Brian Bales, third season
2008-09 record: 14-8 (9-3 Southwestern Buckeye League Southwestern Division)
Returning starters
Scott Blake, Sr., G, 6-0
Alex Patterson, Sr., F, 6-3
Notable
The Wildcats are coming off their first league title in 18 years. Experience returns with Blake and Patterson, but the ’Cats need the rest of the roster to grow up in a hurry. Defense and rebounding are Franklin’s two keys to success if they want to compete for another Southwestern Division title. “We do not have much varsity experience returning, however the guys are working real hard in practice and we had a great fall,” Bales said. “We expect the league to be really good again this season. On any given night, anybody can beat anybody.”
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Boys basketball preview: Bellbrook
This is another in a series of capsules previewing area high school basketball for the 2009-10 season:
BELLBROOK
Coach: Perry Caldwell, eighth season
2008-09 record: 15-7 (9-3 Southwestern Buckeye League Southwestern Division)
Returning starters
Chris Lynch, Sr., G, 6-2
Chris Hamilton, Jr., G, 6-3
Jonny Thacker, Sr., F, 6-1
Notable
Golden Eagles return three starters from a team that won its sixth straight division title, this one shared with Franklin. Lynch, Thacker and Hamilton — three of the Eagles’ top four returning scorers — combined to average 33.1 points through the regular season. Perimeter play is a strength, but team defense and rebounding need to improve. Bellbrook gets tested early with games against Fairborn and Lakota West. “If we can develop some chemistry and toughness, we will compete on a nightly basis,” Caldwell said.
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Boys basketball preview: Dayton Christian
This is another in a series of capsules previewing area high school basketball for the 2009-10 season:
DAYTON CHRISTIAN
Coach: Chip James, 2nd season
2008-09 record: 22-5 (10-2 Metro Buckeye Conference)
Returning starters: None
Notable
DC advanced to the D-III state semifinals last season but lost nine of its top 10 players. James and his staff calculated that the team will return 104 total points and 115 total rebounds from last season, which is about 3 percent of the team totals of a year ago. The only returning player who got significant playing time is Julian Harris, a junior who missed the final eight weeks with an ankle injury. DC also adds Mark Lieberman, a point guard who moved from the Seattle area last year. “It’s exciting because of our youth,” James said. “It sounds cliché, but every single day we want to get better.”
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Boys basketball preview: Brookville
This is another in a series of capsules previewing area high school basketball for the 2009-10 season:
BROOKVILLE
Coach: Jeff Davidson, fifth season
2008-09 record: 14-7 (7-5 Southwestern Buckeye League Southwestern Division)
Returning starters
None
Notable
The Blue Devils have a quick, hard-nosed team that plays tough perimeter defense. That’s good, because the Blue Devils return no starters from last season’s team that finished second in the division. With a new group of starters Brookville needs to improve on what you’d expect: Court communication, rebounding and shot selection. The Blue Devils’ cupboard, though, isn’t bare. Ryan Ekberg and Brandon Hughes are returning letterwinners. It’s cliché but one game at a time is the key as they focus on getting better each time out. “One Team … One Time” is the motto.
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Boys basketball preview: Alter
This is another in a series of capsules previewing area high school basketball for the 2009-10 season:
ALTER
Coach: Joe Petrocelli, 46th season
2008-09 record: 15-7 (9-1 Greater Catholic League)
Returning starter
Max Zukowitz, Jr. G, 5-11
Notable
The Knights will have as many as eight football players vying for varsity slots, which is a problem since the Alter football team will finally finish its season Saturday in the Division IV state championship game. The good news: When those football players return, they’ll be in good condition and physically strong, so Petrocelli expects the Knights to be skilled on defense. Alter already had to postpone its Sunday season opener with Fairmont, so now its first game will be Dec. 15 against Badin. “I still have to get them cut down for pictures,” Petrocelli said.
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Boys basketball preview: Chaminade Julienne
This is another in a series of capsules previewing area high school basketball for the 2009-10 season:
CHAMINADE JULIENNE
Coach: Joe Staley, 25th season
2008-09 record: 11-10 (6-4 Greater Catholic League)
Returning starters
Joe Staley Jr., Sr. F, 6-2
Matt Vest, Sr. F, 6-4
Jon Bibbs, Sr. F, 6-4
Notable
Things have been encouraging in the paint for the Eagles in preseason scrimmages, with Staley and Bibbs leading the inside effort. Staley averaged 15.3 points and 7.4 boards last season, and Bibbs added 5.5 points and 3.2 rebounds in six games before an injury shortened his season. Vest has committed to play for Wright State. CJ also returns Tim Szabo, who played in 19 games last season. “The key for us will be how well we guard,” Joe Staley Sr. said. “It’ll be important how our defense develops.”
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