League Preview- Central Buckeye Conference

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Welcome to the unofficial start of the 2023-24 girls basketball season in Ohio! Yes, I know practice doesn't start for about three weeks, but Prep Girls Hoops will begin their look at various conferences around Ohio heading into the new season. This starts tonight and will carry into November before the games begin!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Teams to Beat: </strong>Urbana, Bellefontaine</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With only four teams posting a winning record last season in the CBC, it looks like Urbana may have the best shot at earning the distinction of being the top team in the conference. Time will tell how well the younger players step up around the league, but if you look at what Urbana has coming back and they are the early favorites. [player_tooltip player_id='319068' first='Peyton' last='Mounce'] returns as the top player in the league for another year as the junior has seen her game grow. North Union lost some key players to transfer and Tecumseh graduated four players who are now playing in college. Bellefontaine is another team with a lot of weapons back including a great floor leader [player_tooltip player_id='451625' first='Quinlan' last='Zedeker'], a scorer in Lexi Robinson and an effective wing who continues to improve [player_tooltip player_id='849215' first='Tiffany' last='Boop'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>5 Players to Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["319068"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Peyton was mentioned as the top player returning this season, and it is a wide margin to #2. Mounce is a scorer who can beat you either with a drive to the rim, or can connect from long range. Peyton averaged 18 points per game last year with 12.8 rebounds and nearly 6 assists per game. She has the complete package with good handles and is very athletic. u003cemu003e(feature photo above)u003c/emu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"Lexi Robinson","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"12122","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"Bellefontaine","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Lexi is a pretty consistent player with the ability to score as she was among the leading scorers in the conference last year. She finished the year at 11.8points per game with almost seven rebounds. Not really a three-point threat but around the rim she gets the job done.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["216013"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"She had a lot of responsibility last year with Jonathan Alder, doing most of the damage for the Pioneers. Evan is a big threat from behind the arc with 70 threes made last year. She is a heady player who has good experience and can take over a game if needed. Dropped 36 in a big four-point win over league for Kenton Ridge. Getting some solid D3 offers and hoping for a big senior season.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["538246"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"With four players heading off to play in college, it will be Sammy and a new cast of contributors this season at Tecumseh. All indications this summer show an improved Russell with the strong floor game and leadership to take over things with the Arrows. Solid on-ball defender, will see her role change this year as the primary scorer.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["451625"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"As hard-nosed as you will find in the conference. She plays the game to win and is a good leader from the point guard spot. Great handles and is not afraid to play in a physical game. Sees the court well and plays with poise. Look for her game to get even better this season as they compete for a league title.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65232eb0eecbf"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sleepers to Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are a handful of players who I expect to have a solid season this year. Some have been featured on PGH and others should make a notable name for themselves this season!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mia Stahler, 5-6 2025, Benjamin Logan</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='743731' first='Zoey' last='Conn'], 5-10 2027, Graham</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Natalee Risner, 5-8 2024, Northwestern</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='538750' first='Alex' last='Dixon'], 5-7 2026, Urbana</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->