Western Ohio Athletic Conference Preview

The newly formed Western Ohio Athletic Conference has plenty of very solid basketball teams as the new season gets underway. This conference is a mixture between the old Cross County Conference and a couple who came over from the SWBL. Teams who make up this conference are Ansonia, Arcanum, Bradford, Dixie, Franklin Monroe, Mississinawa Valley, National Trail, Newton, Preble Shawnee, Tri County North, Tri Village and Twin Valley South. 10 Players to Watch [player_tooltip player_id="92539" first="Hailey" last="Unger"], 5-8 2022, Arcanum [player_tooltip player_id="32604" first="Madelyn" last="Fearon"], 5-9 2022, Arcanum [player_tooltip player_id="93556" first="Rylee" last="Sagester"], 5-8 2023, Tri Village [player_tooltip player_id="93548" first="Morgan" last="Hunt"], 5-11 2023, Tri Village [player_tooltip player_id="32613" first="Austy" last="Miller"], 5-7 2022, Bradford [player_tooltip player_id="270602" first="Olivia" last="Thompson"], 5-8 2023, Preble Shawnee [player_tooltip player_id="270523" first="Campbell" last="Jewell"], 5-7 2023, Preble Shawnee Sierra Brinson, 5-10 2024, Dixie Skylar Bauman, 5-8 2022, Franklin Monroe Micaiah Byrd, 5-7 2023, National Trail 5 Teams To Watch Tri Village has to be the early favorite after returning the majority of their CCC champion and regional team from last season, and they say you are at the top until someone dethrones you. They have a three major consistent options including Hunt, who has shown growth in her game, is a threat from anywhere on the court with great court awareness. Sagester (feature photo above) has already chosen Marshall University as her new home and the junior can light up a defense from well behind the arc. She also has good handles and court vision to find the best option. [player_tooltip player_id="32603" first="Meghan" last="Downing"] is a 6-3 2022 who is a force in the paint, but can also score from behind the arc. Known for her post play, it seems like every game she will drop one from long range. Torie Richards is a 5-7 2023 who has started off strong and has been a big factor early in the season. <img class="size-medium wp-image-209028 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2020/10/unger-rotated-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" />Arcanum would be another team who will compete for the crown in this conference. They return Unger (pictured left), a first-team all-Ohio guard who is going to USC Aiken. She can score from the perimeter, put the ball on the floor and create, and finish in transition. She is joined by her backcourt partner Fearon, who just committed to Ohio Dominican. The 2022 has seen her game really grow and can hurt you in many ways. [player_tooltip player_id="32607" first="Taylor" last="Gray"] is a 6-foot 2022 who was just honored for her incredible volleyball season and career, and she moves well around the basket with good hands and footwork. Preble Shawnee is a team who will rely on Jewell and Thompson to do most of their damage. Jewell is a D1 soccer commit to Michigan with great court vision, quick and athletic with the shiftiness to score on the move or from the perimeter. Thompson is another very solid guard who has a lot of weapons and can create a good shot for herself or her teammate. She can also score from the perimeter, but I have loved her body control when she gets into the paint to finish the shot. [player_tooltip player_id="218277" first="Kahlen" last="Kulms"] is 6-1 2024 who is effective on the boards with good hands and a strong frame to manage the paint. Should produce more this season after a year under her belt. Bradford is a team who should compete for top four in the conference. They return Miller who is a softball recruit to Ohio University, but is one of the biggest threats in the conference for basketball. She has the ability to create a shot, and is so athletic she is tough to contain. Has a good outside/inside game, can slash and pull up for the shot. Good handles with both hands and reads the game well. Rylee Canan is a 5-4 2022 who also can hurt an opponent with a good perimeter game from behind the arc. Quick and active on defense and for her size, does a great job on the boards. A team who could sneak up and take some big wins will be Franklin Monroe. They return Bauman who I saw in a scrimmage this season and was impressed. She is athletic and effective around the rim and around the perimeter. I love her court sense and ability to get shots off under pressure. Jaliyah Nichols is a 2023 who is athletic and not afraid to take the big shot. She seems to have good confidence heading into the season as her game continues to grow. One I really like is Olivia Sease, only a 2024 but has a good skillset and shows the ability to get her teammates involved. She plays solid defense and is active with the ball. 2025 Young Guns in the house A variety of key freshman should have a good initial season as they begin their high school careers. I really like the 2025 duo from Mississinawa Valley Taylee Woodbury and Syenna Purdin. I have seen both a few times already and they had a good summer. Woodbury is a good floor general who will get better as she settles into this faster pace of play. Purdin has good hands and can score in a variety of ways. Both players should continue to improve, [player_tooltip player_id="319030" first="Jordan" last="Ritchie"] is a 2025 from Twin Valley South who really has a lot of tools in her bag at a young age. She moves well without the ball and is in position to make a play at all times. Good shot, can handle the ball and has good range. Just needs to settle down and let the game come to her, when she does that she should really grow her game. Other 2025s to watch this season: Megan Wood, 5-9 Bradford; Nani Garcia, 5-4 Tri County North.