St. Wendelin`s 6-foot-3 Kamryn Troike is hard to guard > INSIDE St

Transcription

St. Wendelin’s 6-foot-3
Kamryn Troike is hard
to guard > INSIDE
T2
COVER STORY
FOSTORIA REVIEW TIMES, WEdnESdAy, dECEMBER 3, 2014
St. Wendelin’s 6-foot-3
Kamryn Troike is
hard to guard
By SCOTT COTTOS
looks and they did everything that
could make me better as a player.
They really helped a lot with everySt. Wendelin’s Kamryn Troike was thing.”
the 2013-14 Midland Athletic League
Troike has always loved basketball,
player of the year and a second-team but her game didn’t begin to take off
division IV All-Ohio performer last until she enrolled at St. Wendelin as
season as a sophomore.
a freshman.
And the 6-foot-3 post player may
“Her freshman year, when she
have only scratched the surface of came over, she was not very good,”
being the player should could become. Smith said. “Early on, we had a conA scenario from this past summer versation and I said, ‘Kam, you can
indicates as much.
be one of two things. you can be a
“We got into an nCAA-certified 6-foot-3 girl who plays basketball or
tournament in Fremont,” Mohawks you can be a basketball player who just
coach Aaron Smith said. “Our open- happens to be 6-3.’
ing game was against Clyde and our
“There’s a lot of difference in that.
second game was against Berlin you can get away with just being tall
Hiland. Where Kam crossed over and get some things done or you can
into where I’d like to see her is, work on your game and be a basketball
Berlin Hiland had
player who just
a 5-8 girl who’s a
happens to be 6-3
“I couldn’t have done it
weightlifter and
and you can domwithout these sisters.
she pushed Kam
inate. Last year,
out of the key on
her confidence
They
would
feed
me
the first possesimproved game by
sion. So we called
the ball. They got me
game by game.”
timeout and asked
As a freshman,
open looks and they did
Kam kindly not
Troike averaged
to let that happen
8.8 points and
everything that could
again.
7.7 rebounds per
make me better as a
“The next
game while sharing time at the
time, the 5 - 8
player. They really helped
post with senior
girl went bounca lot with everything.”
A l i M o w r e y.
ing into the wall
Troike said the
because Kam got
seniors on that
physical. She set
KAMRYN TROIKE,
veteran team
the tone for that
SWHS GIRLS BASKETBALL PLAYER
helped her feel
girl and that girl
couldn’t stop her the rest of the game. comfortable with her new surroundAnd that’s the first thing (Hiland ings.
“They helped me outside of bascoach dave) Schlabach said. He said,
‘That post girl (Troike) was pushing ketball and outside of school and
around bench presses almost 200 practices,” she said. “Sometimes
pounds. We thought we could physical Heather (Saalman) would just want
her out of there, but we just couldn’t to come over and shoot hoops at my
house. That would help, too — them
do it.’”
So, it may not be the best news for not having that senior mentality of
area opponents to know that there’s bossing everyone around. If I made
plenty of upside for a player who aver- a mistake or had my head down, they
aged 20.9 points and 14.7 rebounds were like, ‘All right, just get the next
per game last year while shooting 63 one.’ I would just feed off that. They
were very comforting. ... They helped
percent from the field.
“I know she’s going to reach the me a lot with everything.”
Makenzie McAfee, the lone senior
top bar,” junior teammate Allie Rutter
said. “She’s going to go far. She’s just on this year’s St. Wendelin team, said
really good. She’s a really hard worker. St. Wendelin’s coaches have played a
She puts her time in. She comes to the major role in Troike’s development.
“She came in before her freshman
gym to work on everything.”
Troike, though, shares the credit year, working in open gyms,” McAfee
for her breakout season, in which she said. “Then our coaches really took
broke the school record for single- the time with her to say, ‘These are
game scoring three times, with the the fundmamentals. you will shoot
your foul shots like this. This is how
last being 35 points.
“I couldn’t have done it without you do these things.’ That’s what I
these sisters,” she said. “They would
See TrOiKe, Page T3
feed me the ball. they got me open
SPORTS EDITOR
ANDY WOLF / Review Times
Kamryn TrOiKe has shown
dramatic improvement in two
years at St. Wendelin.
COVER STORY
Troike
Continued from page T2
think helped her really improve.”
A huge leap came in the offseason
between her freshman and sophomore
seasons. She joined the Bucyrus-based
Mid-Ohio Hawks for her second year
of AAU basketball and played with
and against many good players. But
she also took the time for individual
work both in the weight room and on
the basketball court.
“I went to the gym and worked
on my shot and my moves and everything,” she said.
“during her freshman year, she
could score 20 points in a game just
by putting it off the glass,” McAfee
said. “But she learned how to create
her own shots, create looks for other
people, grab rebounds. She knew she
had to become a more fundamental
player between her freshman and
sophomore years. She learned how
to play defense, grab rebounds, make
post moves. now, this year, she’s
improved after that and she’ll just
continue to improve.”
Troike said: “In AAU, I did a lot of
high screens for the point guard and
then rolled down mid-block and shot
that jump shot. I’d never done that in
my high school career. They taught
me a lot of how to set a good pick and
then rolling down, and also defending
a post who could shoot a 3 (-pointer),
which I’d never had to do in my high
school career. So it made me see it
overall — not just being a girl who
stands on the post with her hand up
and gets the ball.”
Just as it did last year, Smith
expects Troike’s new weaponry will
ANDY WOLF / Review Times
benefit the Mohawks this season.
“We’ve been getting calls from dif- ST. WENDELIN JUNIOR Kamryn Troike (50) takes a shot during a preseason practice. The 6-foot-3 post player
ferent colleges checking in,” he said. was a second-team All-Ohio choice in Division IV as a sophomore.
“They’re always going to call the
coach to see what the background of get away with just sitting her down made it option no. 1.
bing it, taking it in both hands and
a kid is. I always tell them the same in the low post anymore. The good
“Rutter and McAfee are tremen- putting it in the basket.”
thing: She’s very, very coachable. And, teams are finding a way to defend dous at giving up shots that maybe
Being a dominant post player may
second, she has the best hands of any that, so we need to move her and have they could take,” Smith said. “But if look easy when a player has several
big girl I’ve seen
her do some cut- she’s posted up, they’re going to get inches in height on a defender, but the
play. I say, ‘In
“Rutter and McAfee are
ting — backdoor her the ball every time. That’s the bigger player has fight off the physicollege, you can
cutting and roll- key to our team and that’s how we’re cal challenges of either another post
tremendous at giving up
make her whating off picks and going to win, if we continue to play player or “that shortest girl on the
ever you want to
team trying to grab at your face and
things like that.” that way.”
shots
that
maybe
they
make her. We’re
“It takes a special kid to give up grabbing at your face and scratching
O f cou rs e,
not going to use
could take. But if she’s
though, when that shot. And it’s not an easy pass you,” Troike said.
her like you’re
“Mentally and physically, you just
the opportunity because you’re throwing it over the
posted
up,
they’re
going
to
going to use her
have to be stronger than the other
top
of
one
(defender)
and
short
of
is
presented,
the
in college. We’re
get her the ball every time.
Mohawks won’t the second girl in to Kam, so it takes person and just fight through it,” she
going to use
mind going to touch. And we’ve got girls who know said. “If you really want to get that ball
That’s
the
key
to
our
team
her to win high
the tried-and- what we’re trying to do. Our philoso- and play good offense, you just have
school games.’
and
that’s
how
we’re
going
true option of phy is if you can take a 2-footer and be mentally and physically better than
“We told Kam,
sending Troike you’re making it 65 percent of the the other person.”
though, that
to win ...”
If one gets idea that Troike is
to the low block time, it’s probably the shot we want.
we’re going to
pretty
basketball-savvy, that’s exactly
It’s
pretty
basic.
And
in
practice,
we
and
sending
lob
try to expand her
AARON SMITH,
the case.
work on it all the time.”
passes her way.
shot and have her
FOSTORIA GIRLS BASKETBALL
“She watches basketball,” Smith
McAfee praised Troike for her abil“It’s effective
come out and set
HEAD COACH
said, “and that’s good.”
bec ause she’s ity to finish those plays.
some more picks
“If you call her up to tell her you
“We’re pretty good at it, but we’re
tall,” Rutter said.
b e c au s e , y o u
know, people are just standing under “We’ve just got to get the pass there.” not great all the time, so sometimes changed practice or something, she
That’s not always easy, but between they go a little astray,” she said of the
there with three girls on her now. you
See TROIKE, Page T23
have to progress every year. you can’t attitude and skill, the Mohawks have lob passes. “She’s really good at grab-
T3
InsIde
Arcadia
T8
Elmwood
T9
Findlay
T10
Fostoria
T6-7
Hopewell-Loudon
T14
Lakota
T15
Liberty-Benton
T16
New Riegel
T17
North Baltimore
T18
Old Fort
T19
St. Wendelin
T4-5
Van Buren
T20
Vanlue
T21
sports editor
Scott Cottos
staff writers
Jamie Baker
Shannon dove
dave Hanneman
Andy Wolf
contributing
photographers
Randy Roberts
Andy Wolf
cover photography
Andy Wolf
cover design
Jason Smith
T4
ST. WENDELIN
MOHAWKS | BOYS
ST. WENDELIN
New coach Sheets has big plans for Mohawks
MOHAWKS
BOYS 2014-2015
SEASON SCHEDULE
GIRLS 2014-2015
SEASON SCHEDULE
Dec. 5
North Baltimore (A)
Nov. 29 Elmwood (H)
Dec. 6
Hardin Northern (A)
Dec. 2
North Baltimore (H)
Dec. 12 Old Fort (A)*
Dec. 5
Old Fort (H)*
Dec. 13 Upper Scioto Valley (A)
Dec. 13 Arcadia (A)
Dec. 19 Sandusky St. Mary’s (A)* 7:00
Dec. 16 Hopewell-Loudon (H)
Dec. 27 Ridgemont (A)
Dec. 18 New Riegel (A)*
7:00
2:30
Dec. 29 E. Christian Tournament (A)
Dec. 23 Tiffin Calvert (A)
Dec. 30 E. Christian Tournament (A)
Jan. 3
Lakota (A)*
Jan. 2
New Riegel (H)*
Jan. 6
Van Buren (A)
Jan. 9
Lakota (H)*
Jan. 8
Fremont St. Joseph (H)* 7:00
Jan. 10
Monclova Christian (H) 7:00
Jan. 10
Vanlue (A)
Jan. 15
Mohawk (H)
Jan. 13
Northwood (H)
Jan. 17
Fremont St. Joseph (A)*
Jan. 16
Old Fort (A)*
6:00
2:15
Jan. 23 Old Fort (H)*
Jan. 20 Liberty-Benton (A)
Jan. 24 Hopewell-Loudon (A)
Jan. 22 Sandusky St. Mary’s (A)* 7:00
Jan. 30 Sandusky St. Mary’s (H)*
Jan. 27 Toledo Bowsher (H)
Feb. 3
Arcadia (H)
Jan. 29 Sandusky St. Mary’s (H)*
Feb. 13
New Riegel (A)*
Jan. 31
New Riegel (H)*
Feb. 14
Vanlue (A)
Feb. 2
Cardinal Stritch (A)
Feb. 5
Lakota (H)*
Feb. 10
Upper Scioto Valley (A)
Feb. 19
Feb. 20 Lakota (A)
Feb. 21
6:00
Cory-Rawson (H)
Feb. 27 Fremont St. Joseph (H)*
7:00
(*) Conference game
(*) Conference game
All games start at 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted
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After several years as an assistant at Lakota and
Fostoria High School, Aaron Sheets finally has his own
head-coaching gig at the helm of St. Wendelin’s boys.
“It’s nice, doing what I want to do,” Sheets said.
“Everything is up to me and I like that.”
What he’d like most to do with the Mohawks, of
course, is make them into a winning group.
Since going 16-9 and reaching the division IV
regional semifinals in 2002-03, St. Wendelin has had
just two winning seasons. The Mohawks were 10-14
overall and 2-8 in the now-defunct Midland Athletic
League last season.
Sheets wants that trend to change immediately, as
he’s aiming his team at challenging favorite Sandusky
St. Mary for the first championship in the new Sandusky River League.
The Mohawks will have to mature quickly in order
to do that. The 14-player roster includes just three
seniors and one junior, with the rest being sophomores.
“We’re so inexperienced and young,” Sheets said.
“But we’re excited. We only have one guy with very
much varsity experience, so there’s going to be a learn-
Sheets
Campbell
Scudder
ing curve. We’ve got to get better every day.”
Among the players St. Wendelin must replace is
Gabe Walters, who graduated after averaging 11.5
points and 8.4 rebounds per game and gaining firstteam all-MAL recognition. Also graduated is nick
Root, an honorable mention all-league performer.
St. Wendelin’s top returning player is 5-foot-10
junior Peter Campbell, a point guard who averaged
See New, Page T5
MOHAWKS | GIRLS
Troike will be a big problem for opponents
St. Wendelin’s girls have a big problem.
Fortunately for them, it’s one that other teams have
to solve.
The Mohawks have 6-foot-3 junior Kamryn Troike.
Other teams do not.
The constantly improving Troike averaged 20.9
points on 63-percent field goal shooting and 14.6
rebounds per game last year while becoming the final
Player of the year in the now-defunct Midland Athletic
League and earning second-team division IV All-Ohio
recognition.
Her contributions were a big factor in the Mohawks
going 18-6 overall and 6-4 in the MAL last year. And
she’s a major reason why St. Wendelin has hopes of
contending for the first championship in the new Sandusky River League.
Coach Aaron Smith is happy to get the numbers and
then some from Troike, who has gained the attention
of several nCAA division I programs.
“Kam’s biggest asset is she makes everybody else
better,” Smith said. “Allie (Rutter) and Makenzie
(McAfee) are as good as anybody, but Kam makes
Good Luck
on a
Winning Season!
Smith
Troike
them even better.”
Indeed, junior Rutter (5-10) and senior McAfee
(5-8) sport solid credentials. Rutter averaged 10.4
points and 2.9 assists per game last season and was a
second-team All-MAL selection. McAfee dropped in
75.7 percent of her free throws and gained all-MAL
honorable mention.
“Because of her talent and size, teams have got to
See TRoike, Page T5
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ST. WENDELIN
T5
New
Justin Myers (6-0), Brayden Moon
(5-9), Joel Lopez (5-10), Jacob Sellers (6-0), Brody Whetsel (6-0), Ryan
nicholson (6-0) and nick Kelbley
(5-8).
Having such a young team requires
9.0 points per game and was an honan emphasis on fundamentals.
orable mention all-MAL choice last
“We’re big on repetition right now
season.
— doing things over and over and
“Peter Campbell is definitely our
over,” Sheets said.
f l o or le ade r,”
Sheets looks to
“We’re so inexperienced
Sheets said.
have his team run
The Mohawks’
a motion offense
and young. But we’re
three seniors are
in the half-court,
donovan Scudexcited ... We’ve got to
but he wants the
der (5-10), Cole
Mohawks to push
get better every day.”
Frankart (6 -2)
the tempo both
and Zach Recker
offensively and
AARON SHEETS,
(6-0).
defensively.
ST. WENDELIN BOYS HEAD COAH
The Mohawks
One challenge
hope to see
for the Mohawks
6-foot-8 sophomore Andrew Schetter will last nearly half the season, as
become a force around the basket. The they open with eight consecutive road
rest of the sophomore class includes games, including seven that finished
Carson noel (6-0), Cyle Smith (6-2), last year with winning records.
Troike
and 5-3 sophomore Cailin Reineck.
While McAfee is the Mohawks’ lone
senior, Rutter and Troike are joined in
the junior class by 5-11 Hunter Weidner,
5-8 Krystal Krout and 5-4 Mikayla Gilfocus on (Troike),” Smith said. “That liland.
Sophomore Hailee Burns (5-6) and
leaves us with an edge because Rutter
and Mac are more than capable of freshman Peighton Troike (5-7) complete the roster.
exploiting that.”
“We think that
Beyond its all“We’re
really
concerned
of
the nine we
MAL returnees,
have, we have nine
St. Wendelin has
about depth, but you’ve
pretty good ones,”
just six other fullSmith said.
always got to worry about
time varsity playThe Mohawks
ers. The roster
depth. Even with nine, I
have beefed up
will be bolstered
their nonleague
think we’re deeper than
for each game
schedule, which
by moving some
we were last year.”
could help in prepplayers up from
aration for facing
the junior varsity.
AARON SMITH,
expectedly strong
“We’re really
ST. WENDELIN GIRLS HEAD COAH
SRL competition
concerned about
from the likes of
depth, but you’ve
always got to worry about depth,” new Riegel and Old Fort. Outside of
Smith said. “Even with nine, I think the conference, St. Wendelin’s schedule includes Liberty-Benton, Elmwood,
we’re deeper than we were last year.”
Aside from Troike, the ball will Upper Scioto Valley and former MAL
mostly be in the hands of Rutter, McAfee rival Tiffin Calvert.
ANDY WOLF / the Review Times
ST. WENDELIN’S boys team includes: (front, from left) Cole Frankart, Donovan Scudder, Zach Recker; (middle,
from left) Peter Campbell, Justin Myers, Brayden Moon, Carson Noel, Joel Lopez; (back, from left) head coach
Aaron Sheets, Jacob Sellers, Cyle Smith, Andrew Schetter, Brody Whetsel, Ryan Nicholson, Nick Kelbley.
ST. WENDELIN’S girls team includes: (front, from left) Krystal Krout, Peighton Troike, Hailee Burns, Makenzie
McAfee, Mikayla Gilliland, Cailin Reineck; (back, from left) assistant coach Bob Gase, head coach Aaron Smith,
Allie Rutter, Kamryn Troike, Hunter Weidner, assistant coach coach Roger Holman.
8(9
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T6
FOSTORIA
REDMEN | BOYS
FOSTORIA
FHS boys aim to turn negative into positive
REDMEN
BOYS 2014-2015
SEASON SCHEDULE
GIRLS 2014-2015
SEASON SCHEDULE
Dec. 6
Tiffin Columbian (H)
Dec. 1
Vanlue (A)
7:00
Dec. 9
Toledo Bowsher (A)
Dec. 2
Lakota (A)
6:00
7:00
Dec. 12 Lake (H)*
7:00
Dec. 5
Lake (A)*
Dec. 18 Genoa (H)*
7:00
Dec. 11
Genoa (A)*
Dec. 16 Elmwood (H)*
7:00
Jan. 2
Elmwood (A)*
Dec. 19 Rossford (H)*
7:00
Jan. 6
Sandusky (H)
Dec. 23 Toledo Scott (H)
7:00
Jan. 8
Rossford (A)*
Jan. 13
Otsego (H)*
Jan. 16
Woodmore (A)*
7:00
Fostoria High School’s boys endured a rough 201314 season, going 2-20 overall and 0-14 in the northern
Buckeye Conference.
First-year coach J.T. Bates doesn’t expect any negative after-effects for this year’s club, which includes
five returning lettermen. In fact, he hopes last season
becomes a positive for this one.
“Hopefully they learned from it and they use it as
motivation this year,” Bates said. “I’m very optimistic
about how good we can be.”
Bates can certainly relate to what the Redmen went
through last season, as he’s moved over to coach the
boys after leading the FHS girls last year.
The Lady Red went just 1-22. But Bates wants his
approach of last year to carry over into this year with
the boys.
“you keep plugging away and working every day,”
he said. “The same thing here — you keep plugging
away and try to make some noise in the league.”
Bates certainly thinks a strong season is possible
with a group that he said features experience, size,
athleticism and a willingness to work.
Bates
Ka. Bemis
Brown
“I’m really enjoying it,” he said. “These guys come
in every day and want to work.”
That’s a continuation of the offseason, Bates noted.
“We played a lot of basketball this summer,” he said
of using the 10 offseason team days allowed by the
Ohio High School Athletic Association. “The summer
is important not only for skill development, but for
confidence.”
See Boys, Page T7
Dec. 19 Toledo Horizon Science (H) 7:00
REDMEN | GIRLS
Dec. 30 Port Clinton (H)
7:00
Jan. 3
Hopewell-Loudon (H)
1:00
Fostoria’s girls are not looking to the past
Jan. 6
Otsego (A)*
Jan. 9
Woodmore (H)*
Jan. 29 Lake (A)*
Jan. 14
Toledo Bowsher (A)
Feb. 3
Genoa (A)*
Jan. 15
Eastwood (H)*
Feb. 6
Elmwood (H)*
7:00
Jan. 20 Lake (H)*
7:00
Feb. 10
Rossford (H)*
7:00
Jan. 22 Genoa (H)*
7:00
Feb. 13
Otsego (A)*
Jan. 27 Elmwood (A)*
7:00
Feb. 14
Van Buren (A)
Jan. 30 Rossford (A)*
Feb. 17
Toledo Start (H)
7:15
Feb. 5
Otsego (H)*
7:00
Feb. 20 Woodmore (H)*
7:00
Feb. 12
Woodmore (A)*
6:00
Feb. 14
Tiffin Columbian (H)
1:30
Feb. 19
Eastwood (A)*
7:00
Jan. 23 Eastwood (A)*
Jan. 24 Fremont Ross (H)
Feb. 21
7:00
Port Clinton (A)
Feb. 27 Eastwood (H)*
7:00
7:00
7:00
(*) Conference game
(*) Conference game
+$9($*5($7
6($621
5('0(102+$:.6
381 Perry St.
419-435-2224
Fostoria High School’s girls won one of their 23 total
games last year and none of 14 in the northern Buckeye
Conference.
With that in mind, the nBC coaches tapped the Lady
Red to again finish last in this year’s league standings.
As for first-year coach darnell Cousin, he doesn’t
want to hear about last season and he doesn’t want his
players to either.
“I don’t want to revisit anything about 1-22,” Cousin
said. “We’re moving on from all of those losing years.
We’ve got to develop a winning attitude.
“Personally, I’m tired of having people use us as a
walkover game. We’ve got to quit accepting the mediocrity we’ve had for several years.”
Even with just 11 girls in the program and three of
them being in the upper two grades, Cousin wants his
team to play to win every game and see what happens.
“Our goal is to win the league,” he said. “I want
us to set lofty goals. That should be everybody in the
league’s goal.
“I want us to go out there and shock people with
the way we play. We may not accomplish everything
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Cousin
Moore
Hampton
we want, but we’re going to be fun to watch.”
Even with limited depth that will keep FHS from
playing junior varsity games this season, Cousin aims
for the Lady Red to be an up-tempo team.
“We’re going to try to beat some people up the court
and get some easy baskets,” he said. “We may get a
little winded. But we’ve got five freshmen and they’re
going to have to play.”
See Girls, Page T7
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FOSTORIA
T7
Boys
get a chance to contribute are Bishop
Mahan (5-11), Jake Fretz (6-0), nick
Shumaker (5-10), Grant Rayburn
(5-0) and noah Hammer (5-11).
Joining Kobey Bemis in the junior
class are Jordan Marshall (5-9), Tyler
Experience returns for FHS with
Agapiou (5-7), dugan Smith (6-4) and
5-foot-7 senior Kaleb Bemis (7.8 Clay Renz (6-0).
points, 2.9 assists last season), 6-0
Bates is aiming to field a team that
senior Kagen Brown (6.5 points, not only will represent the school
2.5 rebounds),
well with an up6-3 senior Raytempo style that
“... You keep plugging
shon Martin
produces positive
away and try to make
(4.9 points, 3.4
results but one
rebounds), 5 - 8
t h at conduc t s
some
noise
in
the
league.”
junior Kobey
itself in a respectBemis (3.5 points)
able way.
J.T.
BATES,
and 5-foot-7 junior
“We’re going
FOSTORIA BOYS HEAD COACH
Jayden Stanton
to have a team
(5.7 points, 2.4
that is going to
rebounds).
be very disciplined, not only in how
“It’s a good thing when you’re put- we play but how we treat the game,”
ting guys out there and they’ve been he said. “There’s not going to be any
there,” Bates said. “We’re counting on (trash) talking we’re going to play for
those returning lettermen as anchors.” the name on the front of the jersey, not
Less-experienced seniors who will on the back.”
Girls
assists and the 4-11 Valenti added 6.0
points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists.
“We’re going to go as far as those
three take us,” Cousin said.
The Lady Red have a pair of sophomores
to start the season in 5-5 sophoFostoria’s five freshmen won nBC
championships in their seventh- and more Lili Velazquez (2.3 points, 3.0
eighth-grade seasons, but while rebounds last season) and 5-7 Sierra
Cousin likes the fact that they’re Cannon (5-7). Lexie Fretz (5-8), who
is coming off an
accustomed to
injury sustained
winning he knows
“We’ve
got
to
quit
in the volleyball
they have plenty
season, will be
of adjustments to
accepting the mediocrity
available after
make while playwe’ve had for several
Jan. 1.
ing at a higher
FHS’ freshman
level.
years.”
cl as s includes
He’s looking
Laria Williams
for leadership in
DARNELL COUSIN,
(5-6), Asia Setboth performance
FOSTORIA GIRLS HEAD COACH
tles (5-6), Karly
and attitude to
Renz (5-3), Evion
come from seniors
Jada Hampton and Erica Moore and Taylor (5-6) and J’Breonn Jones (5-3).
“nobody expects us to do anything
junior Olivia Valenti.
The 5-foot-9 Hampton averaged and that’s the beauty of it,” Cousin
11.2 points and 2.0 rebounds last said. “I may be naive, but we do have
season, while the 5-6 Moore tallied some talent and we’re going to go out
10.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.0 and try to win every game.”
Good
Luck To
All
A AREA
TEAMS
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FOSTORIA HIGH SCHOOL’S girls team includes: (front, from left) Olivia Valenti, Karly Renz, Evion Taylor, Erica
Moore, Larai Williams, J’Breonn Jones; (back, from left) assistant coach Clayton Moore, assistant coach George
Tucker, Liliana Velazquez, Sierra Cannon, Lexie Fretz, Jada Hampton, Asia Settles, head coach Darnell Cousin.
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FOSTORIA HIGH SCHOOL’S boys team includes (front, from left): Nick Shumaker, Noah Hammer, Kagen Brown,
Bishop Mahan, Jordan Marshall; (middle, from left) head coach J.T. Bates, assistant coach Dustin Smith, Tyler
Agapiou, Jayden Stanton, Kobey Bemis, Kaleb Bemis, assistant coach Chad Krukemyer; (back, from left) Jake
Fretz, Grant Rayburn, Rayshon Martin, Clay Renz.
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Luck
Redmen
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ARCADIA
REDSKINS | BOYS
ARCADIA
All five starters are back for Arcadia boys
REDSKINS
BOYS 2014-2015
SEASON SCHEDULE
GIRLS 2014-2015
SEASON SCHEDULE
Dec. 5
Fremont St. Joseph (A)
Nov. 29 Lakota (H)
Dec. 6
Upper Scioto Valley (H)
Dec. 4
Pandora-Gilboa (A)*
Dec. 12 Arlington (A)*
Dec. 6
Old Fort (A)
Dec. 13 Old Fort (H)
Dec. 11
McComb (H)*
Dec. 19 Van Buren (H)*
Dec. 13 St. Wendelin (H)
Dec. 20 Elmwood (A)
Dec. 18 Cory-Rawson (H)*
Dec. 27 Northwood (H)
Dec. 23 Van Buren (A)*
Jan. 2
Hopewell-Loudon (A)*
Dec. 30 Ada (A)
Jan. 6
Lakota (H)
Jan. 3
Gibsonburg (A)
Jan. 9
Liberty-Benton (H)*
Jan. 8
Liberty-Benton (H)*
Jan. 13
New Riegel (A)
Jan. 10 Upper Scioto Valley (H) 2:30
Jan. 16
Leipsic (A)*
Jan. 15
Jan. 20 Riverdale (H)*
Jan. 17
Elmwood (A)
Jan. 23 McComb (H)*
Jan. 22 Vanlue (H)*
Jan. 30 Hardin Northern (A)*
Jan. 24 Riverdale (A)*
Feb. 3
St. Wendelin (A)
Jan. 29 North Baltimore (A)*
Feb. 6
Pandora-Gilboa (H)*
Jan. 31
Allen East (H)
Feb. 13
Vanlue (A)*
Feb. 5
Arlington (H)*
Feb. 14
Allen East (A)
Feb. 7
St. Joseph C. C. (H)
Feb. 20 North Baltimore (H)*
Feb. 12
Leipsic (A)*
Feb. 21
7:00
Feb. 14
New Riegel (A)
Feb. 19
Hardin Northern (H)*
Ridgemont (H)
Feb. 27 at Cory-Rawson (A)*
2:30
2:30
ARCAdIA — It’s not often a coach lists player
experience as a team strength and coaching experience as a weakness during the preseason, but that is
the case at Arcadia this year, where first-year coach
C.J. Holman takes over control of the Redskins’ boys
basketball program.
The Redskins went 5-18 overall and 2-7 in the
Blanchard Valley Conference under former coach Cara
noel. Holman, who was an assistant on that team,
is a 2008 Arcadia graduate. He also is the school’s
athletic director.
All five starters — Josh Ireland, Hayden Ramsey,
dylan Conine, Shae Watkins and Chad Baker — are
back to help welcome Holman and assistant coach
Paul dunn.
Ireland averaged 16 points and 3 rebounds per
game a year ago, Ramsey scored at a 14-point-pergame clip while grabbing 5 rebounds per game.
Watkins (9 ppg, 4 rpg), Baker (6 ppg, 3 rpg) and
Conine (2 ppg, 2 rpg), combined to average another
17 points and 9 rebounds per contest last season for
the Redskins.
2:30
1:30
(*) Conference game
ARCAdIA — When it comes to finding a working
formula for winning basketball games, it’s awfully difficult to beat experience.
At Arcadia, which is coming off a 20-6 record that
included a 7-2 finish in the Blanchard Valley Conference, the Redskins have a lot of experience on the
court and on the bench.
Head coach Randy Baker has compiled a 462-234
career record in 32 years at Arcadia.
He will be counting on a stable of five terrific
returning players as the team prepares to embark on
a new season in a larger BVC.
Molly Glick, a 5-foot-11 do-it-all senior averaged
16.9 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game
last season. She’ll take her basketball talents to nCAA
division I northern Kentucky University next year.
Glick attracted a lot of attention last year from
opposing defenses, but still earned first-team all-BVC
and first-team all-northwest Ohio honors.
Senior Abbie dauterman, a 6-1 forward/center, is
also back after netting 5.2 points with 6.4 rebounds
and 1.5 assists per game. dauterman was honorable
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A collection of solid bench players offer valuable
experience that will be valuable as the season wears
on.
Expected to compete for playing time as Arcadia,
and everyone else for that matter, chase Blanchard
Valley Conference preseason favorites Liberty-Benton
and Arlington, are Alex Pessell, Clint Recker, Logan
Metzger and Austin Bohn.
The Redskins open the season with a nonconference game Friday night at Fremont St. Joseph.
Baker
Glick
Dauterman
mention all-BVC.
Arcadia’s other three returning letterwinners —
senior Maddie Mock (5-6), senior Lizzie Coward (5-7)
and sophomore Taylor Ware (6-0) — combined to
average nearly 7.0 points, 5.6 rebounds and almost
2.0 assists per game.
Sophomores Mariah Monday (5-7), Haley Kieffer
(5-6), Logan Ward (5-4)and Brittney nye (5-4) could
see playing time for the Redskins along with junior
Jenna Saltzman (5-8).
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Glick leads list of Arcadia girls returnees
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GO REDSKINS!!
Holman
REDSKINS | GIRLS
2:30
(*) Conference game
ARCADIA
LIONS
COMMUNITY
CENTER
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ELMWOOD
FOSTORIA REVIEW TIMES, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2014
ROYALS | BOYS
Childress, Solether back for Elmwood boys
BLOOMDALE — A 6-17 record at Elmwood has
been the exception rather than the rule while Ty
Traxler has been the head coach.
In the five years before last season, Traxler had a
combined record of 66-44. He still has a respectable
career mark of 72-61 after last season, which saw the
Royals finish 5-9 in the Northern Buckeye Conference.
A core group of six letterwinners off that team, who
combined for 28 points per game a year ago, return as
the Royals look to take advantage of solid perimeter
shooting, experience and good team chemistry to get
back on the winning track.
Trevor Solether, a 6-foot-4 junior low-post player,
averaged 9 points and nearly 4 rebounds per game
last year while earning honorable mention district and
conference honors as a sophomore.
The Royals have plenty of experience on the wing
with Jarret Childress, Tayte Lentz and Philip Buckingham back.
Childress, a 6-4 junior, scored 7 points and grabbed
3 rebounds per game a season ago, while Lentz, a
6-2 sophomore, added 5 points and 1.4 rebounds. A
Traxler
Solether
T9
ELMWOOD
ROYALS
Childress
5-8 junior, Buckingham contributed 3 points and 2
rebounds per contest.
The glue holding that group together will be junior
point guard Deven Peter, a 5-10 junior who had averages of 5 points, 2 rebounds and 4 assists per game
in 2013-14.
Also expected to contribute off the bench are senior
wing Keyon Camden, senior guard Trevor Robbins,
junior wings Zachary Spanfellner and Derek Sheldon,
and sophomore wings Nate Uzelac and Andy Curtis.
BOYS 2014-2015
SEASON SCHEDULE
GIRLS 2014-2015
SEASON SCHEDULE
Dec. 6
Nov. 29 St. Wendelin (A)
North Baltimore (H)
7:15
Dec. 12 Otsego (A)*
Dec. 2
Van Buren (A)
Dec. 16 Old Fort (A)
Dec. 5
Otsego (H)*
Dec. 18 Woodmore (H)*
Dec. 8
McComb (A)
Dec. 20 Arcadia (H)
Dec. 11
Woodmore (A)*
Jan. 2
Fostoria (H)*
Dec. 16 Fostoria (A)*
Jan. 3
Hopewell-Loudon (H)
ROYALS | GIRLS
Jan. 8
Lake (H)*
Elmwood looking to win another NBC title
Jan. 10
Van Buren (H)
Jan. 13
Jan. 16
BLOOMDALE — Elmwood’s girls basketball team
has had great success since head coach Doug Reynolds
took over the program at the beginning of the 2011-12
season.
The Royals have been one of the top teams in the
Northern Buckeye Conference the past two seasons,
winning league titles in back-to-back seasons.
They captured an NBC title last year with a 13-1
conference record. Elmwood finished 16-6 overall but
lost to Bluffton in the Division III sectional semifinals
last year.
To repeat that success, they’ll have to replace a
class of four seniors led by 2013-14 NBC Player of the
Year Kristen Curtis.
Curtis was a first-team all-district selection at
guard, averaging 16 points and 6.6 rebounds per game.
She is playing at Division II Ursuline College.
But Elmwood does return a solid cast of players,
led by senior post Samantha Ervin. The 6-foot senior
was a second team all-NBC selection last year, and an
honorable mention all-District 7 pick. She averaged
11.5 points and 6.3 rebounds per game last season.
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Ervin
Veryser
The Royals will have additional size in the paint, as
Ervin will be joined by senior wings Rebecca Harvey
(5-8) and Ashley Veryser (5-10). Junior guard/wing
Madison Sears, who averaged 5.2 points and 3.0
rebounds per game, returns as well.
Senior Keli Bradford will see time at shooting
guard, as will junior Lindsay George. Junior Samantha
Laborie is listed as an all-positions player. Sophomores
Paige Marsh (post/wing) and Jaela Kynard (guard)
will also be counted on this season.
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7:00
Dec. 19 Lake (H)*
2:15
Jan. 3
Bowling Green (H)
2:30
Genoa (H)*
Jan. 6
Genoa (H)*
Eastwood (A)*
Jan. 9
Eastwood (H)*
Jan. 23 Rossford (A)*
Jan. 15
Rossford (H)*
Jan. 24 Fremont St. Joseph (A)
Jan. 17
Arcadia (H)
Jan. 29 Otsego (H)*
Jan. 20 Otsego (A)*
Feb. 3
Woodmore (A)*
Jan. 22 Woodmore (H)*
Feb. 6
Fostoria (A)*
Feb. 10
Lake (A)*
Jan. 30 Lake (A)*
Feb. 13
Genoa (A)*
Feb. 3
Old Fort (H)
Feb. 14
Wauseon (H)
Feb. 5
Genoa (A)*
Feb. 20 Eastwood (H)*
Feb. 12
Eastwood (A)*
Feb. 24 Gibsonburg (A)
Feb. 17
Oak Harbor (A)
Feb. 27 Rossford (H)*
Feb. 19
Rossford (A)*
7:15
7:00
7:15
Jan. 27 Fostoria (H)*
7:00
7:15
7:00
(*) Conference game
(*) Conference game
ROYALS!
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T10
FINDLAY
TROJANS | BOYS
FINDLAY
Trojan boys need to find ‘varsity presence’
TROJANS
BOYS 2014-2015
SEASON SCHEDULE
GIRLS 2014-2015
SEASON SCHEDULE
Dec. 6
Nov. 28 Kewpee Tip-Off Classic (A)
Bowling Green (A)
7:00
Dec. 12 Oregon Clay (A)*
Nov. 29 Kewpee Tip-Off Classic (A)
Dec. 13 Springfield (H)
Dec. 4
Mansfield Senior (H)
Dec. 19 Fremont Ross (H)*
Dec. 8
Toledo St. Ursula (A)*
Dec. 23 Toledo St. Francis (A)*
Dec. 11
Oregon Clay (H)*
Dec. 30 Lima Bath (H)
Dec. 13 Defiance (H)
Jan. 6
Lima Senior (H)*
Dec. 22 Toledo Whitmer (A)*
Jan. 9
Toledo St. John’s (A)*
Dec. 30 Lima Shawnee (A)
Jan. 10
Defiance (A)
Jan. 3
Toledo Notre Dame (H)* 1:30
Jan. 16
Toledo Whitmer (H)*
Jan. 5
Toledo Central Catholic (H)*
Jan. 17
Ottawa-Glandorf (A)
Jan. 8
Lima Senior (A)*
Jan. 23 Toledo Central Catholic (A)*
Jan. 13
Celina (A)
Jan. 24 Cleveland East Tech (H) 3:00
Jan. 15
Fremont Ross (H)*
Jan. 30 Oregon Clay (H)*
Jan. 17
Sylvania Southview (A) 3:00
Feb. 3
Fremont Ross (A)*
Jan. 22 Toledo St. Ursula (H)*
Feb. 6
Toledo St. Francis (H)*
Jan. 24 Anthony Wayne (H)
Feb. 7
Kenton (A)
Jan. 26 Oregon Clay (A)*
Feb. 13
Lima Senior (A)*
Jan. 29 Toledo Notre Dame (A)*
Feb. 17
Toledo St. John’s (H)*
1:00
2:00
12:30
Feb. 5
Toledo Whitmer (H)*
Feb. 20 Toledo Whitmer (A)*
Feb. 9
Toledo Central Catholic (A)*
Feb. 21
Lima Shawnee (H)
Feb. 12
Lima Senior (H)*
Feb. 27 Toledo Central Catholic (H)*
Feb. 19
Fremont Ross (A)*
(*) Conference game
(*) Conference game
FIndLAy — Austin Gutting and Adam Twining
ended their Findlay High boys basketball careers
among the school’s all-time top 20 scorers.
Michael Clark set school records for career assists
and games played. Braden Miller led the team in steals.
What Jim Rucki the Findlay program will miss
most, though, is something that won’t show up in the
record book.
“What we lost with those guys is varsity presence,”
said Rucki, beginning his 16th season at Findlay High
School’s head coach.
“Those guys, and duke (Gobrecht) and nick
(Kairys) off the bench, weren’t going to be intimidated
by any situation out on the floor because they had been
through a lot as varsity players. That floor presence
of going out there and knowing what it’s all about and
what you’re up against, that’s hard to replace.”
Findlay graduated four starters and six players from
a team that went 18-6 overall and 10-4 in the Three
Rivers Athletic Conference.
Rucki has one starter back in senior guard Grant
niswander (6.5 points, 4.3 rebounds) and another
Rucki
Niswander
McKinniss
experienced letterman in junior guard Grant McKinniss (4.3 points).
Joey Hammond, the leading scorer on last year’s
JV team, and 5-11, 207-pound post player Jake Brock
are the other seniors.
Chase Miller, a 5-11 junior, will see time on the
wing, along with 6-2 sophomore Kyle nunn and 5-8
sophomore Tre Miller. Providing Findlay with some
size inside will be juniors Jake Elbin (6-3) and Chaze
Proehl (6-8) and 6-2 sophomore drew Hapner.
TROJANS | GIRLS
Future is looking bright for Findlay girls
FIndLAy — The basketball fan in Chris Ireland
could see the glass as half empty. But the coach in
Chris Ireland prefers to see it as half full.
“I like this group. They’ve been working hard and
they have a great attitude,” Ireland said as he prepared
for his first season as Findlay High School’s girls coach.
“I know we didn’t win a lot of games last year. And
I know a lot of these girls didn’t play (varsity). But as
young as we are I like the skill set of this group. ... I
think the future is bright.”
Ireland takes over a young and inexperienced Findlay team that graduated eight players, including honorable mention all-league selections Sarah Thomas and
Jacey Hardesty, from a team that went 3-18 overall
and 2-12 in Three Rivers Athletic Conference games.
The Trojans have just one senior on the roster, and
only one player taller than 5-foot-8. Ireland, though,
prefers to focus on what the Trojans can do, not what
they can’t. Ireland looks for Findlay to be an up-tempo
team, both offensively and defensively.
Sarah Smarkel, a 5-7 junior guard who averaged 5.5
points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.2 assists last season, is the
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Ireland
Miller
Thomas
top returning veteran for the Trojans. Katy Miller, a
5-8 post player, is the team’s lone senior.
Ireland will be counting on Smarkel, Allison Taylor,
a 5-7 sophomore and a 3-point threat, and 5-5 junior
Claire Johnson to supply offensive punch for the Trojans. Thomas, Marissa Wintrow, Lexi Bronston, the
team’s tallest player at 5-11, and Knakyia Gray round
out the junior class.
Completing the varsity roster will be freshmen
guards Jaclyn Bendt and Emily Heiman.
PREP BASKETBALL PREVIEW
T11
Bramlage driven to succeed on
the court and in the classroom
Academics as important as
hoops to Princeton-bound star
By DAVE HANNEMAN
for the review times
OTTAWA — Long before noah
Bramlage ever started hitting the
boards, he was hitting the books.
“That came from home. For as
far back as I can remember, my parents always stressed education,” said
Bramlage, a 6-foot-8 standout for
Ottawa-Glandorf whose GPA is as
impressive as the lofty PPG and RPG
numbers he’s been putting up for the
Titans the past three years.
“Mom (Jenell Bramlage, associate
vice president for academic affairs,
associate professor assessment coordinator for the University of northwestern Ohio) got her doctorate
and works at UnOH. dad (Lincoln
Bramlage, sales executive for the
Benchmark Technology Group based
in Georgia) graduated from Wright
State and he has a tremendous work
ethic.
“Education was a high priority of
both of my parents. I think I picked up
on their example.”
With another high school basketball season about to tip off, noah
Bramlage’s name comes up often
when hoops fans begin bantering
speculation and projection about the
top returning players.
And for good reason.
As a freshman, Bramlage earned a
starting spot on an Ottawa-Glandorf
team that reached the 2012 state semifinals. His sophomore year, he was one
of the Titans top players when they
won the division III state championship.
O-G came one win shy of making
a third straight trip to Columbus last
season. But Bramlage, a well-rounded
player with the size and ability to
play inside and the skill to handle the
ball on the perimeter and shoot the
3-pointer, had another banner year.
He earned second-team all-Ohio recognition after averaging 18.2 points
and 8.8 rebounds for a 14-10 team
that lost to eventual state champion
Lima Central Catholic in the division
III regional final.
Several colleges and universities, schools like Penn State, Toledo,
Miami (Ohio), Ohio University, Akron
and northern Kentucky, began lining
up, ready to offer Bramlage a free ride
to bring his basketball skills to their
campus. Instead, Bramlage will take
his talents to Princeton, an Ivy League
school that does not grant athletic
scholarships. As far as Bramlage was
concerned, though, Princeton offered
much, much more.
“The fact Princeton doesn’t offer
(athletic) scholarships it outweighed
by the opportunities it is going to
give me,” said Bramlage, displaying
an intelligence that goes beyond academics.
“When I really started looking at
where I wanted to go, it really came
down to a choice of lifestyle and how I
wanted to live the rest of my life. I felt
coming out of a school like Princeton,
I would be able to do things and have
opportunities that would put me in
a position to have influence to help
those who have brought me to where
I am.”
Those closest to Bramlage weren’t
surprised by the decision.
“you can see he’s a kid who really
has his act together,” said O-G coach
Tyson McGlaughlin.
“We’re a blue-collar community.
Everybody knows everybody, every-
body is pulling for one another, and
when you have a kid like noah Bramlage, who’s been around the program
four years and excelled not only in basketball but is going to an Ivy League
school, I think people pull for something like that.
“We might not always have the
most athletic guys in the world coming
from this area. But we have very successful people. At the end of each year,
my motto to our guys is ‘Remember
where you came from,’ because no
matter where they go I think the foundation has been laid for them to carry
on and have a successful life.”
With a GPA in the 3.9 to 4.0 range
and enough game to earn a spot on an
elite All-Ohio Red AAU team alongside division I recruits such as Ahmed
Wagner (Iowa), Jalen Coleman (Illinois), Esa Ahmed (West Virginia),
Josh Williams (Akron) and Jordan
dartis and doug Taylor (Ohio University), Bramlage is the epitome of
the student-athlete and the antithesis
of the “dumb jock” persona.
see BRAMLAGE, Page t23
mAtthiAs LeGUire / for the review times
OTTAWA-GLANDORF’S Noah Bramlage drives to the basket against
Huron’s Gabe Camella during a regional tournament game last season at
Ohio Northern University. Bramlage excels on the court and off the court
in the classroom. He will take his talents to the Ivy League when he plays
for Princeton next season.
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T14
HOPEWELL-LOUDON
CHIEFTAINS | BOYS
HOPEWELL-LOUDON
It’s a season of big changes for H-L boys
CHIEFTAINS
Dec. 16 St. Wendelin (A)
BASCOM — It’s going to be a season of big changes
for Hopewell-Loudon’s boys.
Most notable, of course, is the move to the
Blanchard Valley Conference after 28 years in the nowdefunct Midland Athletic League, but coach Adam
Smith is implementing a new up-tempo style of play.
“We think we’ve got 10 guys that can play for us
and everybody’s really buying in to what we’re trying
to do,” Smith said. “The energy and effort at practice
so far has been amazing.”
He added, “We’ve got some guys that can really
put some pressure on the ball. ... We’ve got guys that
can shoot and we want to make sure we get everybody
involved.”
Last season, the Chieftains posted a 14-10 overall
record and were 8-2 in the MAL. Hopewell-Loudon
lost just one starter, Weston Hill, to graduation and
returns some key pieces of last season’s core, including senior guards Ryan Lommerse (6-3) and Garret
Sendelbach (6-0).
Lommerse averaged 17 points and 9 rebounds
per game, while Sendelbach averaged 10 points, 3
Pandora-Gilboa (H)*
Dec. 18 Van Buren (H)*
CHIEFTAINS | GIRLS
Jan. 10
Riverdale (A)*
Dec. 23 Hardin Northern (A)*
Jan. 16
Vanlue (A)*
Dec. 27 Elmwood (A)
Jan. 23 North Baltimore (H)*
Jan. 24 St. Wendelin (H)
Jan. 3
Fostoria (A)
Jan. 30 Cory-Rawson (A)*
Jan. 8
McComb (A)*
Jan. 31
Tiffin Calvert (H)
Jan. 15
Arcadia (H)*
Feb. 6
Van Buren (A)*
Jan. 17
Seneca East
Feb. 7
New Riegel (H)
Jan. 22 Cory-Rawson (A)*
Feb. 13
Arlington (H)*
Jan. 29 Liberty-Benton (A)*
Feb. 14
Old Fort (A)
Jan. 31
Riverdale (H)*
Feb. 20 Liberty-Benton (H)*
Feb. 5
Leipsic (H)*
Feb. 21
Feb. 10
Calvert (H)
Feb. 12
Vanlue (H)*
Feb. 19
Pandora-Gilboa (A)*
BOYS 2014-2015
SEASON SCHEDULE
GIRLS 2014-2015
SEASON SCHEDULE
Dec. 5
Nov. 28 Bucyrus Classic (A)
5:45
Dec. 12 McComb (H)*
Nov. 29 Bucyrus Classic (A)
5:45
Dec. 2
New Riegel (A)
Dec. 20 Woodmore
Dec. 4
North Baltimore (H)*
Dec. 27 Fostoria (A)
Dec. 9
Woodmore (A)
Jan. 2
Arcadia (H)*
Dec. 11
Arlington (A)*
Jan. 3
Elmwood (A)
Jan. 9
Seneca East (A)
7:00
7:15
Lakota (H)
Feb. 26 Leipsic (A)*
7:00
Feb. 27 Gibsonburg (A)
2:15
1:00
7:00
2:30
(*) Conference game
(*) Conference game
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Lommerse
Sendelbach
rebounds and 3 assists.
Veterans Gauge Sadler (5-10, sophomore) and
Waleed Salem (5-10, senior) will run the point, while
senior Ryan Steinmetz (6-3) will play the post.
newcomers Trent Ardner (5-9, sophomore), Bryce
Gorrell (5-10, senior), Kyle Reinbolt (6-1, sophomore),
Jackson Sebetto (5-10, junior) and Garrett White
(5-11, freshman) will also see significant playing time,
as Smith’s new up-tempo scheme will utilize numerous
substitutions for players with fresh legs.
Chieftain girls are ‘Youth on the Move’
BASCOM — “youth on the Move” could well be
the motto of Hopewell-Loudon’s girls for the 2014-15
season. The Lady Chieftains will have a new, youthful
look to open the season. They’ll also be moving to the
Blanchard Valley Conference after a 28-year stint in
the now-defunct Midland Athletic League.
Competition wise, coach Rod daniel doesn’t think
his team will have things any easier in the BVC than
it did in the MAL.
“The MAL was just an unbelievable league,” daniel
said. “you hated to leave it. The competition, at least in
girls basketball the last few years, has been unbelievable. That shows: We usually had a team down at the
regionals for sure and you see that same thing out of
the BVC. It’s a very solid league.”
Adding to the challenge of playing in a new league,
the Lady Chieftains will be learning a new style of play
and hope to improve on last season’s 12-10 overall
record (4-6 MAL). Hopewell-Loudon lost the bulk
of its offensive output with the graduations of Aleta
daniel (13.2 points per game), Courtney Burns (11.7
points) and Hope Brickner (6.7 points). With the
Daniel
Park
Leiter
exception of senior veterans Abby Park (5-foot-8)
and Sicily Leiter (5-7), the Lady Chieftains roster is
composed entirely of freshmen and sophomores. Two
sophomore letterwinners return in Brooklyn Arbogast (5-10) and Gabby Gregg (5-5). Alexis Feindel
(5-9) also lettered as a freshman, but she will miss
this season due to an injury. newcomers include ophomore Kayla Siebenaller (5-11) and freshmen Jacque
Burns (5-9), Hailey Coppus (5-9), Alex Kiser (5-9)
and Kenadee Sibenaller (5-11).
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LAKOTA
RAIDERS | BOYS
Diebler looking to install his winning ways
KAnSAS — Keith diebler is no stranger to seeing
success in his first season as head coach.
In 2001-2002, he guided Fostoria High School to
a 12-7 record before taking over the Upper Sandusky
job in 2005.
There, with the help of sons Jacob and Jon, Keith
turned the Rams into a division II state championship
team, finishing at 27-0.
As he takes over the reins of Lakota, he’ll look to
install his winning ways on team that finished 7-14
last season, including 1-9 in the now-defunct Midland
Athletic League.
“It’s a process,” diebler said. “In the process we’re
learning how to work hard every day, to want to get
better every day.”
Gone from the Raiders are three starters, though
six lettermen do return.
diebler addressed fundamentals early and often to
get the maximum out of his up-tempo offensive and
defensive schemes.
despite the desire to playing at a high tempo, diebler feels his squad’s weakness will come in the transi-
Diebler
Bowling
Monroe
tion and learning the new system.
The Raiders have just two returning seniors, Casey
Monroe, a 5-foot-8 wing, and William Riddle, a 6-2
post player.
Junior wings Josh Mason (5-10), Hunter Chalfin
(5-9) and Spencer King (6-1) each add valuable experience, as does sophomore guard dakota Bowling (5-8).
Rounding out the roster are senior wings dylan
Foos (5-8), drake Foos (5-7) and senior guard deAndre Cannon (5-9).
T15
LAKOTA
RAIDERS
BOYS 2014-2015
SEASON SCHEDULE
GIRLS 2014-2015
SEASON SCHEDULE
Dec. 6
Carey (A)*
Nov. 29 Arcadia (A)
Dec. 9
Margaretta (H)
7:15
6:00
Dec. 2
Fostoria (H)
Dec. 12 Fremont St. Joseph (H)* 6:00
Dec. 6
Dec. 19 New Riegel (A)
Dec. 8
Carey (A)*
Dec. 20 Genoa (A)
Dec. 13 New Riegel (H)*
Dec. 22 Woodmore (A)
Dec. 16 Woodward (H)
Jan. 2
Old Fort (H)
RAIDERS | GIRLS
Jan. 6
Arcadia (A)
Lady Raiders ready to improve overall play
Jan. 9
St. Wendelin (A)*
Jan. 13
Woodward (A)
Jan. 17
Sandusky St. Mary’s (H) 6:00
KAnSAS — Coming off a 4-17 season, it’s easy to
point to a number of areas to improve on.
For coach Mike Miller’s Lakota squad, turnovers,
field-goal percentage and sloppy mistakes turned into
an unwanted theme.
The Raiders were especially hampered in conference play, managing just a 1-9 record in the nowdefunct Midland Athletic League,
Four seniors and a junior comprise the five returnees for the Raiders.
“They’re a good group of girls that work really
hard,” Miller said of his seniors. “They provide great
leadership and put in a lot of time in the offseason.”
Offensively, Miller hopes to use the quickness of
his team to get out and run while keeping everyone
involved.
not only do the Raiders return their leading scoring
in Katie Park at 7.6 points per game, but the 5-foot10 senior post player also turned in team highs of 6
rebounds, 1.4 assists and 2.3 steals. Park’s efforts
earned her honorable mention on the all-MAL teams
last season. Joining her in the post are seniors des-
Mi. Miller
Park
D. Long-Meyer
tiney Long-Meyer (5-10), who averaged 3.4 points,
3.2 rebounds and 1.2 steals, and Paige Paxson (5-9).
Returning at guard are 5-1 senior Paige Alloway (2
points, 1.4 rebounds, 2.1 steals) and 5-8 junior Bree
Long-Meyer (3.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 2.1
steals).
Adding depth for the Raiders are junior guards
Sam Miller (5-4) and Meghan Miller (5-1) and junior
Kayleigh Riddle (6-0) in the post.
Danbury (A)
Feb. 5
Oak Harbor (A)
Feb. 7
6:00
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St. Wendelin (H)
Jan. 8
Sandusky St. Mary’s (A) 7:00
Jan. 12
Genoa (H)
Jan. 16
Fremont St. Joseph (H)* 6:00
Jan. 20 Danbury (H)
6:00
6:00
6:00
Jan. 31
Old Fort (H)*
6:00
Tiffin Calvert (A)*
Feb. 3
Tiffin Calvert (H)*
6:00
Feb. 13
Old Fort (A)*
Feb. 5
St. Wendelin (A)*
7:00
Feb. 16
Monroeville (H)
6:00
Feb. 10
Vanlue (H)
6:00
6:00
Feb. 14
Cory-Rawson (A)
Feb. 17
Gibsonburg (H)
Feb. 19
Sandusky St. Mary’s (H) 6:00
Feb. 20 St. Wendelin (H)*
Feb. 21
Feb. 27 Sandusky St. Mary’s (A) 7:00
6:00
(*) Conference game
(*) Conference game
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Jan. 22 New Riegel (A)
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Dec. 27 Eastwood (A)
Jan. 30 New Riegel (H)
Jan. 31
7:15
Jan. 23 Fremont St. Joseph (A)*
Jan. 27 North Baltimore (H)*
6:00
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T16
LIBERTY-BENTON
EAGLES | BOYS
LIBERTY-BENTON
EAGLES
Gerken takes over L-B boys hoops program
FIndLAy — There is a new coach and he’ll have
some new faces when Liberty-Benton finally tips off
the basketball season, which will likely be delayed a
bit because of the football team’s extended run in the
playoffs.
Longtime assistant coach Ben Gerken takes the
reins of the program after a successful run by coach
Steve Williman, who retired at the end of last season.
Gerken will count on three experienced players
early in the season while the Eagles get their basketball legs.
Junior nathan Craft (6-foot-5), a third-team allBlanchard Valley Conference pick as a sophomore,
is the top returnee. He netted 10.7 points and 4.2
rebounds at the post.
Senior B.J. Lawson, a 5-9 guard, was an all-BVC
honorable mention selection after scoring 2.3 points
with 1.4 assists per game.
Also back is junior wing Alec Rhodes (6-1). He
scored 3.2 points with 1.6 rebounds per game to help
the Eagles post a 19-5 overall record that included an
8-1 mark in the Blanchard Valley Conference.
BOYS 2014-2015
SEASON SCHEDULE
GIRLS 2014-2015
SEASON SCHEDULE
Dec. 12 Leipsic (H)*
Dec. 2
Carey (H)
Dec. 13 Ottawa-Glandorf (H)
Dec. 4
McComb (A)*
Dec. 19 North Baltimore (A)*
Dec. 11
Leipsic (H)*
Dec. 20 Lima Bath (A)
Dec. 16 Shawnee (H)
Dec. 27 Riverdale (H)*
Dec. 30 Lima CC (A)
Dec. 23 Pandora-Gilboa (H)*
Jan. 2
Cory-Rawson (H)*
Dec. 29 Ottawa-Glandorf (A)
Jan. 3
Wapakoneta (A)
Jan. 3
Ada (A)
1:30
EAGLES | GIRLS
Jan. 9
Arcadia (A)*
Jan. 6
Wapakoneta (A)
6:00
Jan. 10
Kenton (H)
Jan. 8
Arcadia (A)*
Simon healthy and ready to roll for L-B
Jan. 16
Van Buren (H)*
Jan. 15
Arlington (H)*
Jan. 17
Rossford (H)
Jan. 17
Miller City (H)
Jan. 23 Vanlue (H)*
Jan. 24 Ottawa Hills (A)
Jan. 22 Van Buren (A)*
Jan. 30 Arlington (A)*
Jan. 26 Kalida (H)
Feb. 6
McComb (A)*
Jan. 29 Hopewell-Loudon (H)*
Feb. 13
Feb. 5
Vanlue (A)*
Feb. 14
Bowling Green (A)
Feb. 7
Riverdale (A)*
Feb. 20 Hopewell-Loudon (A)*
Feb. 10
Bluffton (A)
Feb. 21
Patrick Henry (A)
Feb. 12
Cory-Rawson (H)*
Feb. 24 Tiffin Calvert (H)
Feb. 19
North Baltimore (A)*
Feb. 27 Pandora-Gilboa (H)*
Feb. 21
Ottoville (H)
1:30
1:30
(*) Conference game
(*) Conference game
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Losing a player the caliber of Katie Simon usually
is cause for concern.
Simon scored 17.5 points with 7.9 rebounds per
game as a sophomore but was lost for the season a
year ago with a torn ACL before the Eagles even played
their first game.
The senior guard/post player is back healthy and
ready to roll for the Eagles. She recently signed a letter
of intent to continue her career at the nCAA division
I level at Wright State University.
The Eagles did graduate an outstanding player in
senior Rachel Myers. Myers, who is playing at Bowling Green State University, averaged 22 points per
game on her way to being named Blanchard Valley
Conference Player of the year. She also helped lead
the Eagles to a 22-3 record that included winning the
BVC with a perfect 9-0 mark.
Liberty-Benton coach nate Irwin has a second outstanding player back in senior Lauren Kotey.
Kotey, a second-team all-BVC selection a year ago,
scored 12.2 points and pulled down 9.1 rebounds per
game.
Gerken
Craft
Lawson
Gerken expects three seniors, three juniors and
a sophomore to round out the Eagles’ varsity roster.
Seniors Jon dager (6-2), Jackson Logsdon (6-1)
and Tyler Vorst (6-0) could see action at wing while
dager can also play the post.
Junior Austin Boyd (6-2) is also a candidate for
playing time at post.
Juniors Tyson neiling (6-0) and Spencer Osborne
(6-0) and sophomore Anthony Masterlasco (6-1) will
see action at guard for the Eagles.
Irwin
Simon
Kotey
nicolette devincentis, a junior guard, gives the
Eagles a third scoring threat. She knocked down 10.4
points per game and connected on 50 3-point goals
while grabbing 4.6 rebounds per game.
Sophomore guards Jensen Hiegel and Gabby Lyon
combined to provide 7.5 points per game a year ago.
Hiegel also averaged nearly 7 rebounds per contest.
Irwin expects to get help off the bench from senior
center Colbi Colchagoff, junior guard Krista Simon
and sophomore guard Leah Recker.
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NEW RIEGEL
BLUE JACKETS | BOYS
New Riegel boys looking for improvement
nEW RIEGEL — Coach dave Losey has a short,
succinct list of things new Riegel must do this year
to improve on last season’s 8-16 record.
That list includes capitalizing on strengths, such as
overall experience, size inside and improved athleticism. It also includes improving on some of last year’s
negatives, namely playing better defense and committing fewer turnovers than the team that finished 5-5 in
its last season in the Midland Athletic League.
Gone is last year’s leading scorer, Jake dryfuse,
who scored 13.4 points and grabbed 7.6 rebounds per
game a year ago.
dryfuse also was the leading 3-point shooter a year
ago, hitting 24 of 59 (41 percent) on the season on his
way to being an all-MAL selection.
Seven players are back from last year, including
senior guard Tim Ink, who had averages of 10.7 points
and 2.7 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game.
Grant Lescallet, a 6-2 junior guard, scored 5.2
points per game last year, and Aaron Acree netted
4.8 points per outing.
Losey also plans to take advantage of some of the
T17
NEW RIEGEL
BLUE JACKETS
BOYS 2014-2015
SEASON SCHEDULE
GIRLS 2014-2015
SEASON SCHEDULE
Dec. 6
Eastwood (H)
Nov. 28 Wynford (A)
Dec. 9
Carey (H)
Dec. 2
Hopewell-Loudon (H)
Dec. 12 Sandusky St. Mary’s*
Dec. 5
Sandusky St. Mary’s (H)*
Dec. 15 Buckeye Central (H)
Dec. 13 Lakota (A)*
Dec. 19 Lakota (H)*
Dec. 16 McComb
Dec. 30 Maumee Valley C. D. (A)
Dec. 18 St. Wendelin (H)*
Jan. 2
St. Wendelin (A)*
Dec. 22 Carey (A)
BLUE JACKETS | GIRLS
Jan. 9
Fremont St. Joseph (H)*
Dec. 27 Ada (H)
Plenty of returning talent for Blue Jackets
Jan. 10
Tiffin Columbian (A)
Jan. 3
Jan. 13
Arcadia (H)
Jan. 8
Old Fort (H)*
Jan. 15
Colonel Crawford (H)
Jan. 16
Sandusky St. Mary’s (A)*
Jan. 17
Old Fort (A)*
Jan. 19
Bucyrus (H)
nEW RIEGEL — Sometimes a lack of experience
is a concern for a coach at the start of a new season.
That certainly won’t be a problem for veteran new
Riegel coach Steve Lucius.
Lucius, who has a 522-140 record entering his 30th
season with the Blue Jackets in 2014, will again turn
to a familiar pair of proven players.
Honorable mention all-Ohio point guard Kara
Scherger (5-6) and honorable mention district 6 selection Taylor Arbogast (5-9), both four-year starters,
will be charged with leading a new Riegel squad that
finished 22-3 overall a season ago.
Scherger averaged 13 points, 3.1 assists and 4.3
steals per game last year, while Arbogast notched
12 points, 5.4 boards, 3.1 assists and 3.8 steals per
contest.
Lucius will also get returning experience from letterwinners in seniors Hailey Theis (5-8) and Kenzie
Reinhart (5-8), as well as juniors Leah Bouillon (5-7)
and Liz Zoeller (5-7).
Sophomores Elyssa Theis (5-5), Emily Schalk
(5-7), Haley Hoepf (5-7), Shelby Mathias (5-6) and
Losey
Ink
strengths of last year’s junior varsity team that finished 20-2.
Michael Kirian, a 6-foot-5 sophomore center, averaged 7 rebounds per game for the JV squad last season
and will be expected to contribute at the varsity level
this year.
Sophomores Alex Theis and Brandon Arbogast also
are expected to contribute this season as they make
the step up from the Blue Jackets’ highly successful
junior varsity squad.
Lucius
Scherger
Arbogast
freshman Brianna Gillig (5-8) will also compete for
varsity playing time.
The Blue Jackets will begin competition in the
Sandusky River League this season after the Midland
Athletic League dissolved at the end of the 2013-14
school year. new Riegel was a charter member of the
MAL and won 13 league championships, seven more
than any other school, in its 29 years of existence. The
Blue Jackets will be the favorites to win the inaugural
SRL championship.
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Jan. 23 Sandusky St. Mary’s (A)* 7:00
Jan. 22 Lakota (H)*
Jan. 24 Willard (H)
Jan. 24 North Baltimore (H)
Jan. 29 Mohawk (A)
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2:30
2:30
6:30
1:30
Jan. 27 Tiffin Calvert (A)
Jan. 30 Lakota (A)*
Jan. 31
St. Wendelin (A)*
Feb. 7
Hopewell-Loudon (A)
Feb. 3
Arlington (A)
Feb. 13
St. Wendelin (H)*
Feb. 6
Fremont St. Joseph (H)*
Feb. 20 Fremont St. Joseph (A)*
Feb. 10
Van Buren (A)
Feb. 21
McComb (A)
Feb. 14
Arcadia (H)
Feb. 24 Bucyrus (A)
Feb. 19
Old Fort (A)*
Feb. 27 Old Fort (H)*
Feb. 21
Colonel Crawford (A)
1:30
2:30
(*) Conference game
(*) Conference game
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T18
NORTH BALTIMORE
TIGERS | BOYS
NORTH BALTIMORE
Wright back after terrific sophomore year
TIGERS
Jan. 2
Leipsic (A)*
7:00
Dec. 20 Northwood (H)
2:30
Jan. 3
Holgate (H)
7:15
Dec. 23 McComb (H)*
7:00
nORTH BALTIMORE — While north Baltimore’s
boys basketball team only finished 10-13 last year, it
is primed for significant improvement in its first goaround in the Blanchard Valley Conference.
First-year coach John Kloepfer inherits a much
more experienced team that returns five letterwinners.
Chad Wright is the team’s top returnee.
Wright earned division IV honorable mention
all-district honors last season as a sophomore. The
6-foot-6 forward led the last season with 10.8 points
and 8.9 rebounds per game.
Senior guards Lane Bishop and Levi newcomer
also return. Both averaged 4.7 points per game, while
Bishop also chipped in 2.6 rebounds and 3.1 assists per
game and newcomer had 2.1 rebounds with 1.5 assists.
In the front court, the Tigers bring back senior
derek McMahan (4.6 points, 2.1 rebounds per game)
and junior Sean Watson. McMahan tossed in 4.6 points
with 2.1 rebounds per game while Watson netted 4.5
points with 3.0 rebounds in each outing.
Those experienced players will be looking to help
north Baltimore make a successful transition to the
Jan. 9
McComb (A)*
2:30
TIGERS | GIRLS
BOYS 2014-2015
SEASON SCHEDULE
GIRLS 2014-2015
SEASON SCHEDULE
Dec. 5
St. Wendelin (H)
Nov. 28 Otsego (H)
Dec. 6
Elmwood (A)
7:15
Dec. 2
St. Wendelin (A)
Dec. 12 Vanlue (A)*
Dec. 4
Dec. 19 Liberty-Benton (H)*
Dec. 11
Vanlue (H)*
Dec. 27 Perry (H)
Dec. 18 Pandora-Gilboa (A)*
Jan. 10 Ridgemont (H)
7:15
Jan. 3
Maumee Valley C. D. (H) 2:30
Jan. 16
7:15
Jan. 8
Arlington (H)*
Jan. 17
Patrick Henry (H)
Jan. 10 Ridgemont (H)
Jan. 23 Hopewell-Loudon (A)*
Jan. 27 Lakota (A)
6:00
Jan. 13
Riverdale (A)*
Jan. 15
Leipsic (A)*
Jan. 30 Pandora-Gilboa (H)*
Jan. 20 Perry (A)
Jan. 31
Upper Scioto Valley (A)
Jan. 22 Hardin Northern (H)*
Feb. 6
Arlington (A)*
Jan. 24 New Riegel (A)
Feb. 7
Northwood (A)
Jan. 29 Arcadia (H)*
Feb. 13
Cory-Rawson (H)*
Feb. 14
Riverdale (H)*
7:15
2:15
1:30
Jan. 31
Patrick Henry (H)
2:30
Feb. 5
Cory-Rawson (A)*
7:00
Feb. 20 Arcadia (A)*
Feb. 12
Van Buren (A)*
Feb. 21
Feb. 17
St. Joseph C. C. (A)
Feb. 19
Liberty-Benton (H)*
Maumee (A)
Feb. 27 Van Buren (H)*
7:15
(*) Conference game
(*) Conference game
$,,!)2 (
/"1"*0
Kloepfer
Bishop
Wright
BVC after posting a 4-6 mark in its final season as a
member of the now-dissolved Midland Athletic League
last season.
Kloepfer expects five newcomers — three guards
and two forwards — to make significant contributions
this year.
Three of those five players are seniors: forwards
Skyler Montgomery and Jacob Pelton and guard Christian Richmond. Junior Brodie naugle and sophomore
noah Brian also join the team this year.
Frost, Powell should lead way for NB girls
nORTH BALTIMORE — Adam Burris takes over
the girls basketball program at north Baltimore as
the Tigers embark on a new era as a member of the
Blanchard Valley Conference.
The team may not contend for the conference title
this season, but with seven returning letterwinners it
should certainly be competitive in league play.
The Tigers have a pair of returning honorable mention all-conference selections in Olivia Frost and Kiah
Powell from last year’s ballclub.
The Tigers posted an 8-15 overall record that
included a 2-8 mark in the Midland Athletic League
last season.
Frost, a 5-foot-11 wing/post who is a threat from
3-point range, averaged 11.7 points with 7.7 rebounds
per game.
Powell, a 5-11 sophomore post player who’s athletic
with excellent range, was among the league leaders in
3-point shooting (32.6 percent) and free throw shooting (61.7 percent).
Senior Raegan Fleckner is back at point guard while
classmate Taylor Grilliot (5-3) returns with experience
Burris
Frost
Powell
at guard as does junior Emma Rister (5-4).
Burris calls Fleckner a great team leader who is a
natural point guard.
Senior Lindsay davis (5-9) is back at wing as
is junior Lacey Trumbull (5-7), who grabbed 5.7
rebounds per game.
Burris also expects sophomore guard Bailey Boyer
(5-6), a smart, aggressive leader and shooter, to contribute for north Baltimore this season as well.
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OLD FORT
STOCKADERS | BOYS
Old Fort boys need to fill void left by losses
OLd FORT — Hunter Perry wasn’t the entire Old
Fort offense, but he was certainly its biggest weapon.
The second-team division IV all-Ohio player averaged 28.6 points last season while earning the nod as
Player of the year in the now-defunct Midland Athletic
League.
Filling Perry’s void won’t be up to just one player.
Matching last year’s success will depend on the returning players stepping into larger roles.
“We work for continual improvement and always
find something every day to get better at,” Old Fort
coach Eric Hoover said. “We’re going to continue with
the same (method of operation) — pick up the pace
with rushing and try to get an advantage.”
Hoover last year guided the Stockaders to a 16-6
record and to the district semifinals. He also led Old
Fort to the MAL crown at 10-0 to earn the honor as
the conference’s coach.
Hoover anticipates his returnees and newcomers
to develop and step into their different and bigger
roles. Sophomore Elijah “Hootie” Cleveland (6-foot2) returns at guard after earning all-MAL honorable
T19
OLD FORT
STOCKADERS
BOYS 2014-2015
SEASON SCHEDULE
GIRLS 2014-2015
SEASON SCHEDULE
mention as a freshman guard. Returning as letterwinners are senior guards Chris Anstead (6-0) and Adam
Alexander (5-9) and senior forward John Lotcyz (6-2).
Dec. 6
Oak Harbor (A)
Dec. 2
Monroeville (H)
Dec. 9
Woodmore (H)
Dec. 5
St. Wendelin (A)*
Fellow seniors Elliott Phillimore (5-11) and Jake
Wilson (6-3) add depth at forward along with sophomores Trey Hossler (6-0) and Jacob Hammond (6-1).
Dec. 12 St. Wendelin (H)*
Dec. 6
Arcadia (H)
Dec. 13 Arcadia (A)
Dec. 8
Danbury (A)
Dec. 16 Elmwood (H)
Dec. 13 Fremont St. Joseph (H)* 2:30
Dec. 19 Fremont St. Joseph (A)*
Dec. 18 Lakota (H)*
Jan. 2
Lakota (A)*
Dec. 20 Vanlue (A)
2:15
STOCKADERS | GIRLS
Jan. 9
Dec. 27 North Baltimore (H)
2:30
Stockader girls loaded with returning talent
Jan. 10
Margaretta (H)
Dec. 30 Hopewell-Loudon (A)
Jan. 13
Clyde (H)
Jan. 3
Sandusky St. Mary’s (A)* 7:00
Jan. 17
New Riegel (H)*
Jan. 5
Tiffin Calvert (A)
Jan. 20 Monroeville (A)
Jan. 8
New Riegel (A)*
Jan. 23 St. Wendelin (A)*
Jan. 16
St. Wendelin (H)*
Jan. 24 Danbury (A)
Jan. 22 Fremont St. Joseph (A)*
Jan. 30 Fremont St. Joseph (H)*
Jan. 24 Woodmore (A)
Feb. 3
Vanlue (H)
Jan. 27 Oak Harbor (H)
Feb. 5
Mansfield St. Peter’s (A)
Jan. 31
Lakota (A)*
6:00
Feb. 13
Lakota (H)*
Feb. 3
Elmwood (A)
7:15
Feb. 14
Hopewell-Loudon (H)
Feb. 6
Feb. 17
Tiffin Calvert (A)
Feb. 10
Margaretta (H)
Feb. 20 Sandusky St. Mary’s (A)* 7:00
Feb. 17
Genoa (H)
Feb. 27 New Riegel (A)*
Feb. 19
New Riegel (H)*
OLd FORT — Losing experienced players to
graduation is inevitable for every high school coach.
But unlike most coaches, Old Fort girls coach Jenny
Miller returns every player from her squad of last year.
And that team went 15-8 overall and 6-4 in the Midland Athletic League, with a sectional-final loss to
Tiffin Calvert.
This time around, Miller is setting her sights on
a deeper postseason run with the advantage of all of
her returning talent.
“It will definitely take some cohesiveness from the
girls, which they are already on a good start from that,”
Miller said. “It definitely takes extra effort with our
scrappiness, our press and our post players because
we are outsized.”
Though the Stockaders have four seniors, three
sophomores return after having been top performers last year. Leading the way for the Stockaders is
sophomore shooting guard Alli Adelsperger (5-foot-6),
who earned second-team all-MAL recognition after
averaging 10 points per game.
Supporting her will be fellow sophomores Peyton
Hoover
Cleveland
Rounding out the roster are senior forward Eli
Payne (6-1) and freshman guards Luke Wagner (5-7)
and Jacob Webb (5-6).
J. Miller
Adelsperger
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Magers
Miller (5-1), at point guard, and Jordan Magers (5-8),
at power forward, both of whom earned all-MAL honorable mention.
Returning seniors are guard Shelby Bilger (5-3),
Sam Hartsel (5-9), Michaela davidson (5-8) and Sara
Bell (5-9).
Adelsperger, Peyton Miller and Magers are joined
in the sophomore class by Mackie Ward (5-5), Addi
Reineck (5-4), Sammy Miller (5-6), Sydney Clouse
(5-8) and Hali Kimmet (5-8).
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LOCAL
SPORTS
SIX DAYS
A WEEK
REVIEW
TIMES
Fostoria’s Newspaper
2:30
(*) Conference game
(*) Conference game
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T20
VAN BUREN
BLACK KNIGHTS | BOYS
VAN BUREN
BLACK KNIGHTS
BOYS 2014-2015
SEASON SCHEDULE
GIRLS 2014-2015
SEASON SCHEDULE
Dec. 6
Nov. 28 Woodmore (A)
Columbus Grove (A)
Dec. 12 Hardin Northern (H)*
Dec. 2
Elmwood (H)
Dec. 13 Miller City (A)
Dec. 4
Leipsic (A)*
Dec. 19 Arcadia (A)*
Dec. 11
Dec. 27 Genoa Area (H)
Dec. 13 Shawnee (A)
Dec. 30 Upper Scioto Valley (H)
Dec. 16 Bluffton (A)
Jan. 2
Arlington (A)*
Dec. 18 Hopewell-Loudon (A)*
Jan. 3
Patrick Henry (A)
Dec. 23 Arcadia (H)*
Jan. 9
Vanlue (H)*
Jan. 3
Riverdale (A)*
Jan. 6
St. Wendelin (H)
Jan. 8
Cory-Rawson (A)*
Jan. 23 Cory-Rawson (H)*
Jan. 15
McComb (H)*
Jan. 30 McComb (A)*
Jan. 17
Eastwood (H)
Jan. 31
Bluffton (H)
Jan. 20 Ayersville (A)
Feb. 3
Riverdale (H)*
Jan. 22 Liberty-Benton (H)*
Feb. 6
Hopewell-Loudon (H)*
Jan. 27 Perry (H)
Feb. 13
Pandora-Gilboa (A)*
Jan. 29 Vanlue (A)*
Feb. 14
Fostoria (H)
Feb. 5
Pandora-Gilboa (A)*
Feb. 20 Leipsic (H)*
Feb. 10
New Riegel (H)
Feb. 21
Feb. 12
North Baltimore (H)*
Feb. 17
Patrick Henry (A)
Feb. 19
Arlington (A)*
Jan. 10 Elmwood (A)
Jan. 16
7:15
Liberty-Benton (A)*
Kalida (A)
Feb. 27 North Baltimore (A)*
7:15
Feb. 28 Waynesfield-Goshen (H)
7:00
1:00
7:00
7:15
(*) Conference game
`lk
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9Care
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• Brakes • Shocks
• Tires • Exhaust
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125 E. Front, Findlay
419-422-8945
Knights glad to have Adolph, Fasone back
VAn BUREn — Van Buren put together a 14-10
campaign in 2013-14 despite playing the entire season
without two of its best players due to injuries.
This season the Black Knights hope to improve
on that record and the 6-3 mark they posted in the
Blanchard Valley Conference with the return of seniors
draeton Fasone and Ross Adolph.
Adolph, a 6-foot-2 forward who has signed to play
baseball at the University of Toledo next season,
averaged 7.1 points and 7.7 rebounds per game as a
sophomore. Fasone, a 6-foot guard, popped in 7.8 ppg
in 2012-13 before sitting all of last season after both
suffered season-ending football injuries last year.
Sophomore Braxton Fasone, an honorable mention
BVC pick last year, is the team’s top returning scorer
at 10.6 ppg, 4.8 rpg and 2.6 apg.
Junior forward Marcus Brand (6-2) brings back 6.5
ppg and 4.4 rpg, senior guard Adam Endicott (6-0)
notched 5.1 ppg, 2.6 rpg and 4.1 apg and senior forward Jameson Jacobs (5-11) contributed 4 ppg, and
3.1 rpg.
All four are returning letterwinners that will pro-
Bishop
D. Fasone
Ro. Adolph
vide the Black Knights with quality experience at all
positions.
Sophomore guards Riley Adolph (6-1) and Ryan
Turner (6-0), along with junior center Andrew Kelley
(6-2) and senior guard nic Torres (5-11) give Van
Buren the ability to reach deep into its bench without
a significant drop in production.
As long as they stay healthy, the Black Knights’
ability to get quality minutes from each of their players
should make them a factor in the BVC race.
BLACK KNIGHTS | GIRLS
2:30
(*) Conference game
?g
Ginnan is hoping to turn program around
VAn BUREn — In his first season as coach of Van
Buren’s girls team, Shawn Ginnan inherits a team that
has significant varsity experience.
He hopes he can help them turn that experience
into positive results on the court, improve upon last
year’s record and begin to turn the school’s long-struggling girls basketball program around.
The rebuilding process has gone well so far. numbers are up at Van Buren as Ginnan has 24 players
on the varsity and junior varsity rosters this season.
The Black Knights finished last year 4-19, including a 2-7 mark in Blanchard Valley Conference play.
Van Buren returns eight letterwinners off that
team, including a pair of all-BVC honorable mention
selections in post player Lauren Wise (5-foot-7) and
wing Rachel Wymer (5-6), a two-year letterwinner.
Also returning this year are senior point guard
nichole Miller (5-5), junior wings Lexi Hassan (5-4),
Bri Lasley (5-8) and Taylor Gilliland (5-5) and junior
post players Kylie Sturgill (5-10) and Mackenzie Edler
(5-8).
Miller, a two-year letterwinner, is the team’s top
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Ginnan
Wymer
Wise
returning scorer as she netted 10.8 points per game
while hitting 64.7 percent from the foul line.
Among newcomers, the Black Knights added senior
post player desirae Cooper (5-8), who is a good
rebounder, according to Ginnan. Sophomore wing
Brylie Rampe should also contribute.
Junior Gabbi McCracken (5-5) and Elena Beitzel (5-9) round out the varsity roster for the Black
Knights, who also have a solid 10-player freshman
class.
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appointment for an office
visit or farm call.
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VANLUE
T21
WILDCATS | BOYS
Smith back for senior year for Vanlue boys
VAnLUE — It’s time to start over at Vanlue —
again.
First-year coach nick Jacobs takes over this year
for the departed dean Birchmeier, who had a record
of 24-24 in his two years as the Wildcats’ head coach
before taking over at Cory-Rawson this season.
Jacobs, who also is Vanlue’s boys and girls track and
field coach, is the third basketball coach in four years,
following Birchmeier and Jeff Kloepfer, who is entering
his third season as head coach at Upper Scioto Valley.
Only two players who lettered last year return for
Vanlue, but a tall group of newcomers promise to provide some much-needed help and depth.
The Wildcats graduated five seniors from last year’s
squad, including honorable mention all-BVC selections
nick Hagerty and Jacob Coldren.
Senior guard Austin Smith, who lettered as a sophomore and a junior, is the returning leading scorer, with
averages of 14.6 points, 2.2 rebounds and 2.6 assists
per game last year for the Wildcats. He was a thirdteam all-BVC selection last season.
Fellow senior guard Sam Wagner averaged 6.3
Jacobs
Smith
WILDCATS
Wagner
points and 2.3 rebounds per contest last season.
Filling the holes left by last year’s departed senior
class are forwards Brody Hanna, a 5-11 senior and
Andrew Ross, a 6-2 junior.
Also expected to contribute right away will be
a solid group of freshmen. Jacob Kloepfer and Trey
Ward, who at 6-2 and 6-1 respectively, offer much
needed height at the guard spot. Caleb Bonham is
6-3 and will add depth and size for the Wildcats at
the forward spot.
WILDCATS | GIRLS
Guard duo should lead way for Wildcats
VAnLUE — Vanlue won four games last season but
finished winless in a strong Blanchard Valley Conference last season.
The Wildcats ended up with a 4-17 record, including a 0-9 mark in Blanchard Valley Conference play
a year ago.
They look to improve upon that record this season
with the return of a stronger, more experienced squad.
Vanlue returns a pair of all-BVC honorable mention selections in Haley Bonham (5-foot-9) and Kate
Clymer (5-9).
The senior guard duo combined for 17.9 points,
11.8 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game last year. Both
are in their third year as starters on the varsity team.
Bonham led the team in scoring last year with 9.5
points per game.
The Wildcats also return a pair of junior post players in Jackie Kloepfer and Chloe Kromer.
Kromer, the tallest player on the roster at 6-foot, led
the team with 7.2 rebounds per game last year, while
adding 6.7 points per game. Kloepfer (5-8) averaged
5.0 points and 5.0 rebounds per game a season ago.
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VANLUE
BOYS 2014-2015
SEASON SCHEDULE
GIRLS 2014-2015
SEASON SCHEDULE
Dec. 5
Jefferson (H)
Nov. 28 Temple Christian (A)
6:00
Dec. 6
Kalida (H)
Dec. 1
Fostoria (H)
7:00
Dec. 12 North Baltimore (H)*
Dec. 4
Cory-Rawson (H)*
Dec. 19 Cory-Rawson (A)*
7:00
Dec. 9
Ridgemont (A)
Dec. 20 Monclova (H)
5:00
Dec. 11
North Baltimore (A)*
Dec. 29 Carey (H)
Dec. 18 Arlington (H)*
Jan. 2
McComb (H)*
2:15
Jan. 9
Van Buren (A)*
Dec. 22 Leipsic (A)*
6:00
Jan. 10 Riverside (H)
Dec. 27 Maumee Valley C. D. (H) 1:00
Jan. 16
Jan. 8
Hopewell-Loudon (H)*
Jan. 23 Liberty-Benton (A)*
Jan. 30 Leipsic (A)*
Richards
Bonham
Clymer
Chelsi Hartman (5-6), a senior guard, is also a
returning letterwinner for Vanlue.
The Wildcats welcome five new members to the
varsity squad, including two freshmen.
Amanda Clymer, a 5-10 post player, should see significant playing time.
Sophomore guard Grace Wagner (5-2), junior guard
Paige Kin (5-5), junior post Alexis Franks (5-6) and
fresmna guard Madi yeater (5-1) round out Vanlue’s
10-player roster.
7:00
7:00
2:15
Jan. 13
Monclova (A)
7:00
Pandora-Gilboa (A)*
Feb. 3
Old Fort (A)
Jan. 15
Feb. 6
Jan. 22 Arcadia (A)*
Feb. 7
Ridgemont (A)
Feb. 13
Arcadia (H)*
Feb. 5
Liberty-Benton (H)*
Feb. 14
St. Wendelin (H)
Feb. 10
Lakota (A)
Feb. 18
Riverdale (A)*
Feb. 12
Feb. 14
Riverdale (H)*
Feb. 17
Perry (H)
Feb. 19
McComb (H)*
7:00
Feb. 20 Pandora-Gilboa (A)*
Feb. 21
Bluffton (A)
7:00
Feb. 27 Arlington (H)*
Jan. 29 Van Buren (H)*
6:00
2:30
7:00
(*) Conference game
(*) Conference game
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WE SUPPORT
THE WILDCATS!
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T22
L-B grad Myers fitting in well at Bowling Green
Combo guard is off to a solid start with Falcons
By SCOTT COTTOS
SPORTS EDITOR
BOWLInG GREEn — Shortly
after 11 o’clock on a Friday morning,
Bowling Green State University’s
women’s basketball team was preparing to board a bus bound for Wisconsin.
“I’ve never traveled six hours to
play a game before,” Liberty-Benton
graduate Rachel Myers said.
Like any college freshman, Myers
is experiencing a lot of firsts. But as a
basketball player for Bowling Green,
some of hers — such as a long ride to
face the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee — are more unique than those
that most college newbies encounter.
Still, as she has always managed to,
she’s made her basketball adaptations
rather seamless.
Take, for example, the first time
she entered a game as a Falcon, a
few minutes into an exhibition contest against davis
& Elkins on nov.
7 at BGSU’s Stroh
Center.
“I was a little
nervous at first,”
she said of the
moment coach Jennifer Roos told her
to check in. “But
once I got on the
floor, it all came Myers
back to me.”
The 5-foot-8 Myers has since
gotten off to a solid start in her college
career. With the Falcons winning two
of their first three games, she came off
the bench and averaged 5.7 points and
3.0 rebounds in 20 minutes per con-
test. She was good for 10 points and
five rebounds in her second contest,
an 80-59 win over Iona.
“It’s been exciting,” she said. “I’ve
had some good and some bad, but it’s
been exciting to be able to contribute.”
Roos expected her to contribute
early and often. Part of that is due to
the fact that the Falcons’ roster lists
just 12 players, with eight of them
being freshman or sophomore. Also,
though, Myers has been on the BGSU
program’s radar long enough that
she verbally committed to the school
midway through her junior season.
“She was coached by nate Irwin
(at Liberty-Benton) and he did a great
job,” Roos said. “She also played for
the dayton Hoopstars, which is a
perennial AAU powerhouse in the
state. She has had extremely good
coaching throughout both programs
and has been able to apply what she’s IQ and I’m asking her to do a lot.
learned to this level.”
“(At point guard), we watched
Myers is being asked to be ready Jillian Halfhill last year and Rachel
to play either at
Konieczki is back,
point guard or
but Rachel Myers
“In high school, I was
shooting guard.
is probably more
“In
high
mainly a point guard, but
of a combo guard.
school, I was
I was recruited as more
mainly a point
I’m asking her to
guard, but I was
play some point
of wing. I’ll do whatever I
recruited as more
guard, along with
of wing,” she said.
have to do to contribute
(redshirt fresh“I’ll do whatever I
and help the team.”
man) Kennedy
have to do to conKirkpatrick, so ...
tribute and help
RACHEL MYERS,
I’m throwing a lot
the team.”
BGSU WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Roos noted
on her plate right
that Myers being
now.”
an intelligent player helps her be an
Myers got an earlier acclimation
effective one.
to the college game when she joined
“Rachel was valedictorian of her
class,” Roos said. “She’s one of the her teammates for summer workouts.
“I was working on getting stronsmartest kids I’ve been around — not
only in a classroom setting, but she’s ger,” she said. “It’s a higher level
able to apply her knowledge on the
See MyerS, Page T23
court. (She has) a very high basketball
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Bramlage
6-8 son, with fueling his competitive
instincts early on.
“His job allows him to work from
home, so he was always around to
Continued from page t11
coach my Little League and yMCA
teams,” noah said. “Basketball was
“As much as the stereotype of the something special we both had in
dumb jock continues to grow, espe- common. I think I took after him in
cially over the years and with the scan- that.”
dals and issues that have happened
Bramlage was never one to pigeonlately, more and more there are leaders hole himself as a one-sport wonder,
out there who are turning the tide, cre- though. He played receiver and scoutating special opportunities and show- team quarterback on the football team
ing you can be well-rounded,” said as a freshman and sophomore and
Bramlage, who is both well-spoken joined the soccer team as a junior
and outspoken on the subject.
and senior.
“As much as some athletes have
That was his competitive nature
got ten a bad
coming through.
rap, there really
“I
really
“What
I
would
tell
young
are a lot of good
enjoyed football.
role models out
kids is that, whether it’s
In my opinion
there, guys who
there’s nothing
academics or sports,
are smart, welllike a football
spoken men.”
locker room and
doing things the right
Bramlage
the bond those
way always comes back
understood early
players have,”
on that his height
Bramlage said.
and rewards you in the
would attract the
“ We had a
end.”
spotlight.
great season my
“If you’re tall
sophomore year
and you don’t play
(12-1, division V
noaH bRaMlage,
basketball, people
regional finals). I
ottaWa-glandoRf PlaYeR
think it’s a waste
learned a lot about
of talent,” he said.
work ethic and the mental side of the
“If you’re tall and you do play basket- game from the seniors on that team.
ball, they’ll say your good just because Then, winning state (in basketball)
you’re tall.”
later that year, really backed up what
Bramlage credits his father, who coach McGlaughlin is always telling
played basketball at Centerville High us. He believes that, whether it’s in
School and Wright State University basketball or outside of basketball,
and stands almost eye-to-eye with his whether it’s in the classroom or any
Troike
says, ‘duke’s playing north Carolina!
Why are you calling me!’” Smith said
with a laugh. “She watches a lot of
basketball and she understands the
game really well.”
Troike said: “I try not to watch a
lot of nBA just because it’s a lot different from high school and college,
so I just try to watch college games
because I can learn a lot. I know a lot
about the game because it’s my life. I
quit other sports to play it and I want
to go to college for it. So, I’ve just done
my homework.”
Smith is the one who grades
Troike’s work on the basketball court.
He holds her to high standards and he
pushes her to meet and exceed them.
And the volume gets turned up when
she doesn’t come through.
“Kam has a good attitude, which
makes it nice,” he said. “If you can
get away with, as a coach, chipping a
little bit at your best player and they
don’t pout and stuff like that, it makes
coaching so much easier. I’ve been fortunate — all of my good players have
been able to take our style of coaching. It’s a different style and not all
other sport you might involved in, success kind of breeds success.”
Whatever the sport, whatever the
season, Bramlage was growing mentally as well as physically.
“not being afraid to branch out, I
think was important,” Bramlage said.
“I was always learning new things and
willing to think the game through.
“Soccer helped me a lot with my
footwork, and it was a whole new
experience. The thing is, I just love
to compete, no matter what sport it
is. It could be Ping-Pong or basketball,
it’s all about the competitiveness of it.”
McGlaughlin is well aware of that
drive in his senior big man.
“What stands out with noah is his
competitiveness. no matter what he
does, he wants to be the best at it,
whether it’s on the basketball court or
in the classroom,” McGlaughlin said.
“He’s very goal-oriented. He sets
a goal, then uses all of his abilities
to go after it. I think that’s led to his
success.”
While that success has earned
Bramlage accolades and awards, it,
refreshingly, hasn’t altered his persona.
“I guess being in the spotlight
is obviously a privilege,” Bramlage
said. “But at the same time it carries
a heavy responsibility because I’m just
like everyone else.
“What I would tell young kids is
that, whether it’s academics or sports,
doing things the right way always
comes back and rewards you in the
end.”
people react the same way to it. For
Troike said she adapted quickly to
our program, it seems to have worked. Smith’s coaching style.
We seem to get a lot out of our kids.
“First scrimmage during the
“Cookie (Geroski) was arguably summer after my eighth-grade year,
the best player to come through the I messed up a lot,” she said. “I did
system,” he said referring to the point something to make Aaron mad and
guard who went on to become a stand- he yelled at me. I was not expecting,
out at Capital University. “One coach like, red-faced yelling at me. I was like,
came up to me and said, ‘If I had a ‘Oh, well, he yells. So I should probably stop messing
player like that,
up.’
I sure wouldn’t
“We love her. Our team
“ I feel like
be yelling at her.’
wouldn’t be the same
that’s going to
And I said, ‘Well
happen a lot this
that ’s because
without her, not just
year just because
you’re going to
because of the points
he expects a lot
take her for how
out of me. But it’s
good she is now.
that she brings but the
been a complete
I see how good
turnaround since
she can be I want
energy and life she brings
my freshman year.
to take her to the
to our team. She’s such
It’s progressing.
next level.’
I’m getting better,
“It’s the same
an essential part of it.”
We, as a team, are
thing with Kam.
getting better.”
We can’t be satMakenzie Mcafee,
The Mohawks
isfied with her
SWHS baSketball PlaYeR
are happy to have
being good. She
needs to be better,
her on their side,
and then better and then better. And and not just for her productivity. She
that’s what we see as our job as loves basketball, and it shows.
coaches — don’t just take what she’s
“We love her,” McAfee said. “Our
willing to give us and say, ‘OK, we team wouldn’t be the same without
know you can walk on the floor and her, not just because of the points that
be one of the best players.’ you need she brings but the energy and life she
to be the best player you can be with brings to our team. She’s such an
the talent you have.”
essential part of it.”
Myers
T23
“She’s a very motivated and driven
young lady,” Irwin said. “She is a
gifted athlete, but she’s put in endless
hours, a lot of them by herself.”
Moving through the L-B program
— bigger, faster girls. And just my ahead of Myers were a pair of other
overall game — ballhandling, shoot- nCAA division I players in Amanda
ing — anything I could do to improve Hyde and Cait Craft. Hyde had an outstanding career at IUPU-Fort Wayne
any skill.”
Myers’ skill level gained the atten- and Craft is a junior member of the
tion of Liberty-Benton coach nate team at Ohio State.
Irwin before she even played a game
“I loved watching Amanda play and
for him.
I always looked up to her,” Myers said.
“I knew from the time she was in “Cait was such a good role model as a
junior high that
player and leader.”
we had something
“She’s a very motivated
S h e ’s n o w
special,” he said.
lea
r n i ng f rom
and driven young lady.”
Indeed, once
Konieczki, Bowlshe got out of
ing Green’s sophnate iRWin,
junior high, “she
omore starting
libeRtY-benton giRlS
stepped in right
point guard.
baSketball
CoaCH
away and started
“I
watch
all 99 games of
Rachel
in
every
her high school career,” Irwin said.
during her four years as an Eagle, drill and try to do what she does,”
Myers score 1,643 points to put Myers said in the preseason. “She’s a
herself in fifth place on the school’s good role model.”
Both Rachels are having success
career scoring list. As a senior, she
was named the Blanchard Valley Con- in their brown and orange uniforms.
ference player of the year and a first- For Myers, it looks like that committeam All-Ohioan after averaging 23.8 ment she made to BGSU long ago was
points. 3.9 assists, 3.2 steals and 2.3 a wise choice.
“BG seemed to be a good fit for
rebounds per game.
her,” Irwin said. “I think it still is.”
none of that came accidentally.
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