Central Buckeye Conference Preview
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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…
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Continue ReadingThe 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).
5 Players to Know
Mary Ferrito Mary Ferrito 5'10" | CG Jonathan Alder | 2022 State OH , 5-8 2022, Jonathan Alder
Mae Mastin Mae Mastin 5'5" | PG New Carlisle Tecumseh | 2022 State OH , 5-5 2022, Tecumseh
Gabby Russell Gabby Russell 5'9" | SF Tecumseh | 2023 State OH , 5-10 2023, Tecumseh
Stephanie Altstaetter Stephanie Altstaetter 5'10" | PF Indian Lake | 2023 OH , 5-10 2023, Indian Lake
Abby Yukon, 5-9 2023, Graham
4 Teams to Watch
Tecumseh is traditionally at the top of the conference. Mae Mastin Mae Mastin 5'5" | PG New Carlisle Tecumseh | 2022 State OH returns as a playmaking point guard and the best point guard in the league (feature photo above). Gabby Russell Gabby Russell 5'9" | SF Tecumseh | 2023 State OH 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 Allison Kinney Allison Kinney 5'10" | SF Indian Lake | 2023 OH , 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 Evan Platfoot Evan Platfoot 5'8" | SF Jonathan Alder | 2024 State OH 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; Peyton Mounce Peyton Mounce 5'10" | CG Urbana | 2025 State OH and Lyza Forson.
3 League Facts
Makenzie Chinn Makenzie Chinn 5'4" | CG Tipp City Tippecanoe | 2023 OH , 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.
2 Games to Watch
Nov. 19- Tippecanoe at Tecumseh 7:15
Jan. 26- Indian Lake at Urbana 7:15
More faces to watch?
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.
Who wins the league?
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.