2019 – 20 League Preview: Inter-Valley Conference

The Inter-Valley Conference is an athletic conference spanning schools from Carroll, Coshocton, Holmes, Stark, Guernsey and Tuscarawas Counties. The high schools comprising the league include Buckeye Trail, Claymont, Conotton Valley, East Canton, Garaway, Hiland, Indian Valley, Malvern, Newcomerstown, Ridgewood, Sandy Valley, Strasburg-Franklin, Tuscarawas Central Catholic and Tusky Valley.  The IVC is split into 2 divisions for basketball – North and South, with a true league champion being crowned at the conclusion of each season at the IVC Challenge. <strong> </strong> <strong>5 Players to Watch:</strong> <strong>(schools are as of last year – unless PGH is 100% positive that a player has enrolled elsewhere)</strong> Zoe Miller – Hiland Morgan Yoder – Hiland Kallie Regula – Garaway Karlee Altimore – Sandy Valley Arora Levengood – Tusky Valley &nbsp; <strong>4 Thoughts:</strong> Berlin Hiland is absolutely loaded. Not only do last year’s IVC champions return Zoe Miller (Bowling Green commit) and Morgan Yoder (Ashland commit), but also Brynn Mullet, Krista Troyer, Kendra Shetler, Aila Miller and a host of other contributors from last year’s state Final 4 team. They should roll through the IVC this winter. Hiland lost in the state semi-finals to eventual state champion Columbus Africentric, by a score of 61-48. At this point – after Hiland moved up to DIII a few years ago – an eventual Africentric and Hiland match-up seems inevitable at some point on the tournament trail. The good news for Hiland fans – Africentric’s Jordon Horstan has graduated and moved on to the University of Tennessee. Garaway – a program that is always competitive in the IVC, as well as at the district, regional and state levels – will have a new coach when this season begins. Tracy Miller will be taking over for Dave Shutt, who stepped away after 2 decades of coaching at the varsity level on the boys and girls sides. Miller comes from Green, where he was the head coach for 9 years – finishing with a record in the brutal Federal League. The Pirates return a lot of talent, including Kallie Regula, Chloe Hershberger, Liz Mullet and others, which should make the coaching transition much easier for everyone. The IVC-North division is up for grabs, but most would say that it is likely a 3-team race. Tusky Valley, Sandy Valley and East Canton all return key contributors and although it was Tusky Valley’s division last year (the Trojans bring back quite the trio in Arora Levengood, Abbey Dillon and Ali Shane) – Sandy Valley does return Karlee Altimore, who has already scored 1000 points and is as tough of a match-up as anyone on that side of the conference. &nbsp; <strong>3 Big Games: </strong> Hiland vs Crestwood Prep (Canada) @ The Classic in The Country on January 18^th West Holmes @ Garaway on January 18^th IVC Girls Basketball Showcase @ Hiland on February 8^th &nbsp; <strong>2 Fun Facts: </strong> With 5 state championships (2000, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2017) Hiland is one of the winningest girls basketball programs in state history – regardless of division. Tusky Valley coach Matt Ward took over a program in 2002 that was in desperate need of a complete overhaul. Ward has done an admirable job and last season he won his 200^th game at the school. <strong> </strong> <strong>1 League Champion Prediction:</strong> Hiland