Dayton Division 4 Teams to Watch- Top 5

It may be a safe bet that when you look closely at the top Division 4 teams in Ohio, the top 4 teams may all come from the Miami Valley area. Minster has won the last two state titles, and last year their two closest tournament games were in the regionals...Tri Village and Fort Loramie. Both of those teams are even better this year and when you throw in Legacy Christian, it will be quite the battle to get out of the regionals. The original thought was to list the top 5 teams, but I am torn between two of them that I actually have listed the Top 6 overall. They are listed alphabetically. <strong>Fort Loramie</strong> Coach Carla Siegel has a very good issue in front of her as the season gets started. She returns every player on the roster from last years regional runner-up team, and are the favorites in the Shelby County League. It all starts with [player_tooltip player_id="89273" first="Marissa" last="Meiring"], a 5-foot-8 post who is strong, physical and can play through contact. Kenzi Hoeslcher is a versatile wing who can score inside or out, while [player_tooltip player_id="159039" first="Dana" last="Rose"] is a vastly improved player who is a multi-dimensional threat. Taylor Raterman, [player_tooltip player_id="159381" first="Ava" last="Sholtis"] and Kennedi Gephart all will be major factors in the expected success of this team. <strong>Franklin Monroe</strong> It all starts with Kentucky Wesleyan recruit [player_tooltip player_id="89341" first="Corina" last="Conley"], a multi-sport standout who has improved as much as any senior from the start of their freshman year through now. She can score from anywhere on the court, has good range, can take it to the rim and will defend. Audrey Cable is a talented guard who is back from her ACL injury, and sharpshooting Bella Cable also returns, giving the Jets many different weapons to choose from. Guard Stella Shellebarger is a solid point guard with leadership skills. <strong>Legacy Christian</strong> Three key players return from their regional team last season, including a pair of juniors who would qualify as a "dynamic duo".  [player_tooltip player_id="32575" first="Emma" last="Hess"] is back as the junior wing can play any position on the floor, while guard [player_tooltip player_id="32589" first="Kathleen" last="Ahner"], headed to Taylor University, is as hard of a worker as you will find. She is gritty and talented, can score at the rim, or bury the zone buster from beyond the arc. Maddy Combs is a solid point guard who has improved, and will make this team tough to beat again this year. <strong>Minster</strong> The two-time defending state champions lost a lot to graduation, but returns likely the best Division Four backcourt in Ohio with [player_tooltip player_id="32556" first="Ivy" last="Wolf"] and Janae Hoying. Ivy is a junior point guard who is being courted by several D1 schools. She runs the offense flawlessly and can score from anywhere. Great range, or will get to the rim and score. Janae is also back, and her stock has skyrocketed. She is deadly from beyond the arc, and continues to expand her game. They will need to have some contributions elsewhere, and you can bet this group is extremely focused to make sure that happens. <strong>Springfield Catholic Central</strong> They showed a lot of improvement throughout last season, and looks to make that next move this year. Guard Abbigail Peterson is an athletic player who can create offense for herself or her teammates. [player_tooltip player_id="92522" first="Mallory" last="Mullen"] is one of the best pure athletes in Ohio, as she continues to improve her game. Serenity Castle is a sophomore who will make a name for herself this year after a good summer. Look for others to step up at various times this year as the Irish challenge for a league title. <strong>Tri Village</strong> One word to describe this team..loaded. They lost Emma Printz to college basketball, but they return everything else, and at all positons. Their inside game is as good as anyone in Ohio with Maddie (senior) and Meghan (sophomore) Downing, then when you think you have contained them, they have kids who can score from anywhere on the perimeter with Trissa Porter, Lissa Siler, and a pair of immediate impactful freshman [player_tooltip player_id="93556" first="Rylee" last="Sagester"] and [player_tooltip player_id="93548" first="Morgan" last="Hunt"].