2020-2021 Conference Preview: Mid-Buckeye Conference

The Mid-Buckeye Conference is an athletic conference spanning schools from Ashland, Crawford, Richland and Wayne Counties. The high schools comprising the league include Central Christian, Crestline, Loudonville, Lucas, Mansfield Christian and Mansfield St. Peter’s. <strong>5 Players to Watch:</strong> <strong>(schools are as of last year – unless PGH is 100% certain that a player has enrolled elsewhere)</strong> [player_tooltip player_id="91136" first="Grace" last="Vermilya"] - 5’11 Post - Loudonville - Class of 2021 Sydney Snyder - 5’9 Forward - Loudonville - Class of 2021 Paige Race - 5’6 Guard - Loudonville - Class of 2021 Jamie Grover - 5’5 Guard - Lucas - Class of 2021 Hannah Delong - 5’7 Guard - Crestline - Class of 2021 <strong>4 Thoughts:</strong> Lucas ended Loudonville’s 3-year MBC winning streak last winter with a controversial win in The Cub Den. The Cubs have to replace a majority of the players from their co-championship team - one of the best groups in school history. They will start with the 2 Grover daughters that are left (All-Ohioan Jesse Grover graduated in 2020), guards Jamie Grover - one of the top defensive players in Northwest Ohio and her sister Shelby Grover - a super-athlete who can cause havoc on the offensive glass and in transition. Although their win-streak was ended at the hands of Lucas - the Redbirds from Loudonville got revenge in their home gym, late in the season, to become co-champs (their 4th league title in a row). Led by All-Ohio post player [player_tooltip player_id="91136" first="Grace" last="Vermilya"], Loudonville is a clear favorite to run through the league this winter. 4-year letterwinner Sydney Snyder is back from a knee injury to provide legitimate 3-point shooting from the perimeter and PG Paige Race has the ability to take over games on both ends of the floor. Mansfield St. Peter’s is in the re-building process with longtime area coach Roy Shoulders. Shoulders knows how to lead a winner at St. Peter’s, but can his team stay healthy? Decimating by injuries a season ago - Shoulders will look to outstanding young point guard Kyah Wentz to be the primary ball-handler, while carrying the scoring load. The Spartans will need some other kids to step up, because Wentz is likely to see multiple defenders each night. Mansfield Christian is one of the most experienced teams in the conference - with a number of kids gaining valuable minutes a season ago. Elle Schmitz is a 4-year letterwinner for the Flames - a standout on O and D, consistently puts pressure on defenses with her high motor. Raelyn Todd and Alexis Rippel will provide additional scoring options. <strong>3 Big Games:</strong> Mansfield Christian @ Mansfield St. Peter’s on December 12th Lucas @ Loudonville on December 12th Loudonville @ Lucas on January 23rd <strong>2 Fun Facts:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id="212894" first="Shalen" last="Guilliams"] transferred to Loudonville from Smithville after a sophomore season in which she established herself as a dead-eye shooter from anywhere on the floor. Corri Vermilya is one of the state’s top freshmen - she could join Guilliams as another newcomer who could make a huge impact immediately for the Redbirds. Mansfield St. Peter’s has made the state Final 4 an incredible 12 times. The small-school power won a state championship in 1980 and last qualified for the final weekend in 2012. <strong>1 League Champion Prediction:</strong> Loudonville