Central Buckeye Conference Preview

The Central Buckeye Conference opens this monthlong PGH Ohio look at some of the conferences around Ohio. The CBC is broken down into the Kenton Trail Division (Bellefontaine, Jonathan Alder, Kenton Ridge, London, Shawnee and Tecumseh) and the Mad River Division (Ben Logan, Graham, Indian Lake, North Union, Northwestern and Urbana). <span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: ’arial black’, sans-serif;"><strong>5 Players to Know</strong></span> [player_tooltip player_id="266972" first="Mary" last="Ferrito"], 5-8 2022, Jonathan Alder [player_tooltip player_id="269824" first="Mae" last="Mastin"], 5-5 2022, Tecumseh [player_tooltip player_id="216006" first="Gabby" last="Russell"], 5-10 2023, Tecumseh [player_tooltip player_id="270604" first="Stephanie" last="Altstaetter"], 5-10 2023, Indian Lake Abby Yukon, 5-9 2023, Graham <span style="font-family: ’arial black’, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;">4 Teams to Watch</span></strong></span> Tecumseh is traditionally at the top of the conference. [player_tooltip player_id="269824" first="Mae" last="Mastin"] returns as a playmaking point guard and the best point guard in the league <em>(feature photo above)</em>. [player_tooltip player_id="216006" first="Gabby" last="Russell"] is a complete multidimensional kid. Watch for 2023s Emma Garber and Madilynn Moore. Indian Lake has the most potential to make the biggest move after winning 12 games last season. They have two solid 2023s with Altstaetter (solid post, good hands and moves in the paint) and [player_tooltip player_id="93550" first="Allison" last="Kinney"], a 5-10 wing with handles and a good perimeter shot. They also have some good younger players. Jonathan Alder has a new coach and two key players returning to challenge for the league title. Ferrito is a very balanced player who will contend for league MVP after leading the entire league in assists last season and is the top returning scorer. Also sophomore [player_tooltip player_id="216013" first="Evan" last="Platfoot"] is an improving sophomore with excellent court skills and a solid defender. Urbana won the Mad River Division last season, and will be led by a solid senior point guard Maleah Murphy and pair of freshman expected to contribute right away; [player_tooltip player_id="319068" first="Peyton" last="Mounce"] and Lyza Forson. <span style="font-family: ’arial black’, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;">3 League Facts</span></strong></span> [player_tooltip player_id="270608" first="Makenzie" last="Chinn"], a 2023 and returning first-team all conference player at Tecumseh last season has moved to Tippecanoe. The void she leaves with the Arrows will be filled with a couple other younger players this season. The untimely death of Kenton Ridge coach Duncan Thomas a couple of weeks ago left the Cougars scrambling for a coach as practice got underway. KR was a team just under .500 last season after competing for a league title for decades. 2023 Morgan Board will return as their top offensive player as they look to get back to contention. Watch for senior post Lauren Rose who hopes to raise her game this season. A tough sister duo will be leading the way at Northwestern, as 5-8 2023 Alainee Risner and 5-8 2024 Natalee Risner combined last year to average 16 points per game and are the top two leading returning scorers for the Warriors. <span style="font-family: ’arial black’, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;">2 Games to Watch</span></strong></span> Nov. 19-  Tippecanoe at Tecumseh 7:15 Jan. 26- Indian Lake at Urbana 7:15 <span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: ’arial black’, sans-serif;"><strong>More faces to watch?</strong></span> Mounce should be the top incoming freshman in the conference, but there could be some solid freshman to keep an eye on this season.  I like Lexi Robinson, a 5-10 post 2024 from Bellefontaine who I saw this summer. Lynzee Cronkleton and Kayla Reeves will push Ben Logan to contend. Alana Kramer is a newcomer at London after moving over from Mechanicsburg, and had a good summer. <span style="font-family: ’arial black’, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Who wins the league?</span></strong></span> I think Tecumseh will be the favorites in the Kenton Trail Division, but the Mad River I think is wide open. Urbana are defending champs with new personnel, Indian Lake will push to dethrone them, but keep an eye on Northwestern.