5 Takeaways To The Start Of The 2019-20 Season In South Central/Eastern Ohio

As the season has been underway for the last two weeks, I have had the opportunity to see a lot of teams play. From the Manchester Tip Off Classic to the TVC Turn It Gold event, here are my 5 takeaways. - Circleville and Vinton County D2 Top teams - Wheelersburg and Ironton D3 Top Teams - Peebles is D4 Top Team - Fairfield Lady Lions the Surprise start - Few players that I feel have had impact for their teams 1. <strong>Circleville</strong> 5-0 and <strong>Vinton County</strong> 5-0 are the top 2 D2’s this year. Both teams are coming off nice runs in the last years tourney, that didn’t end where they wanted, and that has made them both hungry this season. - <strong>Circleville</strong> 5-0 has size with 2020 6’3” <strong>Meghan Davis</strong> and 2021 6’ <strong>McKenzie McConne</strong>l in the post, both can score the ball in the lane and dominate on the glass. The biggest addition is guard 2021 <strong>Jaylah Captain</strong> who will give them another outside threat and who can take players off the dribble. Circleville has size and length to make that run to the Regionals this year. - Vinton County 5-0 is a even more uptempo and high energy this year. The development of 2022 <strong>Cam Zinn</strong>, a high motor player who just does everything, gives them a four headed monster to worry about. 2021 <strong><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/morgan-bentley/">Morgan Bentley</a> </strong>looks in great shape and is picking when she takes over games, 2021 <strong><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/myriah-davis/">Myriah Davis</a></strong> is getting her legs back under her after a knee injury last season, 2022 T<strong>eagan Bartoe</strong> has developed a nice ability to take players off the dribble and get to the rim. Defensively they are quick in the passing lanes and harass the ball handler. By the end of the year they will have it down and could be the Regional Representative for the area. - Contenders <strong>Unioto 2-0</strong> 2.<strong> Wheelersburg</strong> 4-0 and <strong>Ironton</strong> 4-0 are the two best D3 Teams in the area. - <strong>Wheelersburg 4-0</strong> may be better than last years team that finished Regional Runner Up to Berlin Hiland. Their ability score offensively has improved as not only do they have three double figure scores in 21’s <b><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/kaylee-darnell/">Kaylee Darnell</a>, Ellie Kallner</b> and 2022 <strong>Alaina Keeney</strong>, who can get 20 any give night, they have some help from the bench this year. Defensively they are turning up the tempo and turning teams over and turning that into offense. - <strong>Ironton 4-0</strong>, has always been a team that is in the mix, however this year could be the year they return to the Regionals, with 2021 <strong>Samantha Lafon</strong> in the post, a strong physical player who can finish around the rim, and the return of a healthy 2020<strong> <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/lexi-arden/">Lexi Arden</a></strong>, the top 2020 in the area, a player that not only can score the ball from 3 levels with range but sees the floor and gets teammates involved. They also have a strong young group around them that by Tournament time will be tested and ready. - Contenders <strong>Eastern Brown 4-0, Fairfield 6-1, Coal Grove 4-0, Northwest 4-0, Alexander 4-2</strong> 3. D4 teams this year is <b>Peebles 4-0</b>, <b>Waterford 2-0</b>, <b>Portsmouth Notre Dame 4-0</b>. Peebles made it all the way to the Elite 8 last year and looked to have used that as fuel to turn it up this season. Waterford is in the hunt every year, even after graduation.  Portsmouth Notre Dame, even with loss of 6’4” <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/katie-dettwiller/">Katie Dettwiller</a>, is the “business as usual” team. This year however they are quicker and getting out a little more in transition. - <strong>Peebles 4-0</strong> is led by 2021 <b>Jaycey Justice,</b> who is a scoring machine, dropped 40 in a win already this year. Peebles is long, athletic and fast. The continued emergence of 2020 <strong>Tatum Arey</strong> as scorer this year will help even more They can pressure the ball full court and cut the passing lanes, their defense this year will be the key in their run back to the Regionals. - Contenders <strong>Waterford 2-0, Portsmouth Notre Dame 4-0, Manchester 3-2, Green 4-0</strong> 4.<strong> Fairfield Lady Lions</strong> (Highland County) has started the season 6-1, with the lone loss at Washington Court House by 4. The 2019-20 Lady Lions are very young, with a total of 8 players on varsity 5 sophomores and 3 freshmen, not the type of team you would expect to start like they have. Fairfield currently has two players averaging double figures, 2022’s <strong>Emma Fouch</strong> 15.4,<strong> Madison Bronner</strong> 13, three others right around 10pts <strong>Ella Newkirk, Peyton Magee</strong> and <strong>Braylin Haines</strong>. Madison Bronner has had a 20 rebound game also. This years team is doing with intensity on defense, sharing the ball on offense  and an attitude of a team that expects to win each night. 5. Impact players at the start of 2019-20 season <strong>Vinton County’s</strong> 2022 <strong>Cameron Zinn,</strong> 5’9”, W is a high motor player who just does a lot for this team, and guards the other teams best player. Just an athlete. <strong>Fairfield’s</strong> 2022 Duo <strong>Emma Fouch</strong>, 5’7” SG and <strong>Madison Bronner</strong> 5’10” F, in their second year the young ladies have picked up and leading their young team by their work ethic. Fouch is a knock down shooter on the wing and will attack the lane, Bronner is just a player who outworks the other teams post <strong>Fairland’s</strong> 2023 <b><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/tomi-hinkle/">Tomi Hinkle</a></b>, 5’7” G, Hinkle is a stat stuffer player. All over the floor and not only scores the ball but facilitates as well. One to watch over the next four years <strong>Eastern Browns </strong>2023 <strong><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/rylee-leonard/">Rylee Leonard</a></strong><strong>,</strong> 5’7” PG, is one of the top PG’s in the 2023 class in South Central/Eastern Ohio. She runs the show for Eastern Brown, which allows one of the better shooters in the area 2020 Camryon Pickerill to play SG. Quick with the ball and can score at three levels. Defensively gets after it. <strong>Peebles</strong> 2020 <b>Tatum Arey</b>, 5’8” G, has stepped up her scoring this year and is giving Peebles that viable second scoring option. Also defensively has picked it up.