Mid-Buckeye Conference Preview
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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. 5 Players to Watch: (schools are…
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Continue ReadingThe 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.
5 Players to Watch:
(schools are as of last year – unless PGH is 100% certain that a player has enrolled elsewhere)
Corri Vermilya Corri Vermilya 5'8" | SG Loudonville | 2024 State OH – 5’9 Guard – Loudonville
Shalen Guilliams Shalen Guilliams 5'9" | CG Loudonville | 2022 State OH – 5’8 Guard – Loudonville
Maddie Kline – 5’9 Forward – Loudonville
Shelby Grover – 5’9 Forward – Lucas
Aubrynn Maiyer – 5’4 Guard – Mansfield Christian
4 Thoughts:
Loudonville is certainly the overwhelming favorite in the conference this winter. The Redbirds probably have the 2 best players in the league in Corri Vermilya Corri Vermilya 5'8" | SG Loudonville | 2024 State OH and Shalen Guilliams Shalen Guilliams 5'9" | CG Loudonville | 2022 State OH – a backcourt as good as any across the state for Ohio small school basketball. The 5x defending MBC champions finished 25-1 last winter, before a loss in the Regional Semi-Finals. Jalyn Johnson, Kenzie Cutlip and Maddie Kline all gained valuable experience for that squad. They will be expected to contribute much more this year.
Mansfield Christian returns 4 starters from a team that won a school-record 20 games last year. Aubrynn Maiyer will lead the way at PG. She is joined by all-league selections Alexis Rippel and Anna Sparks, as well as a high-potential post player in Kyleah Jones. Can the Flames take the next step and knock off the Redbirds? Time will tell – last season’s meetings were 80-27 and 67-33.
The Cub Den at Lucas is a tough place to play. Although the Cubs lost some outstanding players – including long-time PG Jamie Grover, they do return her sister Shelby, who gives opponents serious fits with her athleticism and motor. The young Cubs could present problems as they gain experience and come together.
Mansfield St. Peter’s – who did not have a HS program last year, is trying to re-start things this year. They will play a limited schedule against area Freshmen and JV teams – as well as a few Varsity MBC teams.
3 Big Games:
Loudonville @ Lucas on November 30th
Lucas @ Mansfield Christian on December 4th
Lucas @ Loudonville on December 28th
2 Fun Facts:
Corri Vermilya Corri Vermilya 5'8" | SG Loudonville | 2024 State OH is the top-ranked off-guard in the Class of 2024 by PGH Ohio. She scored more points, grabbed more rebounds, dished out more assists and snatched more steals than any other Freshman in the state of Ohio last winter, per MaxPreps.
Shelby Grover is already a 3-sport All-Ohioan. A 20 PPG scorer in basketball for the Cubs as a sophomore – you could argue that she is playing her 3rd-best sport during the winter months, which is pretty remarkable when you see her play at such a high level on the hardwood.
1 League Champion Prediction:
Loudonville