NWO 3 on 3 League – Five Takeaways from Week #2
As June progresses – HS basketball teams in Ohio are working hard to develop chemistry and improve with sights on the 2019-2020 season. There are a number of shootouts and leagues that coaches and players take advantage of. One of…
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Continue ReadingAs June progresses – HS basketball teams in Ohio are working hard to develop chemistry and improve with sights on the 2019-2020 season. There are a number of shootouts and leagues that coaches and players take advantage of. One of these leagues is the NWO 3 on 3 league. A rare non 5-on-5 setting, this 3 on 3 league – a spinoff of its sister league, the NEO 3 on 3 league – has its own share of quality teams and talent.
Week #2 of the NWO 3 on 3 league was held at Galion High School and we have 5 takeaways from that first night of games – which featured over 80 match-ups for HS/College teams from all divisions.
Seneca East may once again be the team to beat in the N10.
Seneca East won 20 games last year and they were the top team in week #2 of the NWO 3 on 3 League. Jessica Bowerman is one of the N10’s leading scorers and Emily Siesel and Bailey Hamilton are part of an outstanding supporting class. A week #2 finish of 8-0 has Seneca East at 12-3 entering week #3.
Avery Coleman’s continued development is going to be key for Lexington’s improvement.
In an era dominated by guards and post-players who would much rather be labeled as a “stretch 4” or a “face-up 5”, a true back-to-the-basket post player can make a big difference, especially at the high school level. Avery Coleman has shown flashes of dominance at Lexington. As LHS standout Jessica Brokaw takes over the program, she will be relying on Coleman to get some easy baskets around the rim, to go along with her nearly 12 rebounds a game from last season. If Lexington can get 15-16 points a night from Coleman, they have the potential to surprise some people in the OCC when Gabby Stover is healthy.
Ontario will go as far as Carleigh Pearson takes them.
Ontario has only won 3 games through the first 2 weeks of the super-competitive NWO 3 on 3 League. It’s clear that 5’7 guard Carleigh Pearson is going to have to carry the Warriors on the offensive end. The 3-sport standout can score in a number of ways. Whether she is driving hard to the rim and finishing with either hand or showing an impressive amount of range on her perimeter jumper, Pearson will always draw the opponent’s attention – she is going to need to have some big games to put Ontario in the “W” column more often than not.
Mansfield Christian has some solid young players to build around in the near future.
Mansfield Christian – a team that has struggled during the past few seasons in the Mid-Buckeye Conference – is showing signs of growth. Led by 2-year starter – athletic junior guard Elle Schmitz – Mansfield Christian has a large freshman class that enjoyed some success in junior high. Although it may not necessarily show up in the win column this year, MCS has added athleticism skill that they haven’t had in recent memory.
With Courtney Pifher graduated and headed to college – Buckeye Central still has plenty of talent.
Combo guard Taylor Ratliff – pictured above, scoring wing Claudia Pifher and long post Lexi Evak lead the way for a very talented Buckeye Central squad that shows no signs of trouble in replacing star-graduate Courtney Pifher and key contributor Elizabeth Heydinger. Buckeye Central finished week #2 with a 4-4 record, but enters the final week of the regular season at a 10-5 clip.