20-21 League Previews- SWBL Buckeye

The Southwestern Buckeye League Buckeye Division will include Carlisle, Dixie, Middletown Madison, Milton Union, Northridge and Preble Shawnee. <span style="font-family: ’arial black’, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><strong>5 Players to Watch</strong></span> [player_tooltip player_id="211742" first="Leah" last="Butterbaugh"], 5-9 2021, Waynesville [player_tooltip player_id="159038" first="Kaylee" last="Dingee"], 5-11 2021, Carlisle (<em>pictured above)</em> [player_tooltip player_id="216008" first="Campbell" last="Jewell"], 5-6 2022, Preble Shawnee Ella Campbell, 5-10 2023, Middletown Madison Isabella Cassoni, 5-7 2022, Waynesville <span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: ’arial black’, sans-serif;"><strong>5 Sleepers</strong></span> Diamonique Story, 5-8 2021, Northridge Morgan Grudich, 5-8 2021, Milton Union Liv Thompson, 5-7 2023, Preble Shawnee Regan Lee, 5-6 2021, Middletown Madison [player_tooltip player_id="212897" first="Sidney" last="Morris"], 5-7 2022, Carlisle <span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: ’arial black’, sans-serif;">4 Thoughts</span> Waynesville is the favorite coming as the defending champion and returning their top two players. The division should be very challenging with the likes of Carlisle, Madison and Shawnee all looking to knock off the defending champs. [player_tooltip player_id="211742" first="Leah" last="Butterbaugh"] is a D1 signee and the 5-8 guard has grown her game and is a strong floor leader. Isabella Cassoni also is a deep threat with good handles. Watch for a couple of young newcomers with the emergence of freshmen Emme Greely and Caroline Stupp.  I saw them on opening night and they are talented freshman players. Madison showed a lot of balance in their opener, and if that continues they will contend all season. Ella Campbell is their top returning player as a sophomore, but seniors Regan Lee, Grace Baker and Carly McMonigle all contributed. For the first time since 2015, Carlisle had a winning record last season. They look to continue that success with the return of [player_tooltip player_id="159038" first="Kaylee" last="Dingee"], a 5-11 post, along with junior guards [player_tooltip player_id="212897" first="Sidney" last="Morris"], a 5-7 perimeter threat and Kaylee Lawson, a 5-7 guard who was third in the conference in assists last season. The Indians will compete for a league title with those three players leading the way. Talk about a super young roster. Preble Shawnee has one senior and one junior on the roster this season. Either they will go through a learning curve with nine freshman on the squad, or they will shock the world with so many young players. I like the sophomore duo of [player_tooltip player_id="216008" first="Campbell" last="Jewell"], a 5-6 athletic guard with great quickness and Liv Thompson. She had some big games last season and is coming back from injury. <span style="font-family: ’arial black’, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">3 Games to Watch</span> Monroe @ Carlisle- December 10 Waynesville @ Carlisle- December 19 Madison @ Preble Shawnee- January 23 <strong><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: ’arial black’, sans-serif;">2 Fun Facts</span></strong> Waynesville coach Tim Gabbard is back for yet another go at it. He is one of the longest tenured coaches in Ohio as he is entering his 42nd year as a head coach with the Spartans. In those years, he has accumulated 592 career wins. [player_tooltip player_id="159038" first="Kaylee" last="Dingee"] led the SWBL in three categories last season. She had the highest field goal percentage (56.5%), rebounds (9.9) and blocks (3.6). <span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: ’arial black’, sans-serif;">1 League Champion</span> I give the edge to Waynesville with a couple of other teams pushing to dethrone them. &nbsp;