BLOCKED SHOT … North Central’s Zack Hayes goes up to block a shot in a game last season versus Delta. Hayes is expected to be an important contributor this year for the Eagles. (PHOTO BY RICH HARDING, STAFF)
By: Nate Calvin
The BBC promises to be wide open this year with last year’s champion Pettisville losing BBC Player of the Year last season Graeme Jacoby to graduation.
The Stryker Panthers are widely considered the preseason favorite as the Panthers return everyone who got varsity minutes last season including leading scorer Kaleb Holsopple.
Here are the previews for each team in order of their finish in the Buckeye Border Conference last season.
1. Pettisville (Last Year: 15-9 overall, 12-0 in BBC (League Champs); Lost to Edgerton 41-39 in Division IV Sectional Final)
Head Coach: Brian Leppelmeier (5th Season)
LETTERWINNERS LOST FROM LAST YEAR: Graeme Jacoby (17.2 ppg, 9.1 rpg); Mitchell Avina (8.4 ppg, 4.1 rpg); Isaac Reynolds (1.9 ppg); Jaton Zuver; Payne Reiniche
RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: Sr.-Max Leppelmeier (9.7 ppg); Sr.-Josh Horning (2.4 ppg); So.-Cayden Jacoby (5.2 ppg)
NEWCOMERS: Fr.-Joey Ripke, Jr.-Zakkai Kaufmann, Sr.-Jake King; Sr.-Dominic Heising, Jr.-Anthony Smith, So.-Jaret Beck, Jr.-Gideon Myers, Jr. Josh Basselman, Jr.-Nate Rupp, So.-Sean Adkins
SEASON OUTLOOK: Pettisville graduated a solid group of seniors led by BBC Player of the Year and 1,000-point scorer Graeme Jacoby. Those seniors were responsible for over 50% of the Blackbird offense.
“Even with only three returning letterwinners from last season, our new group of players have been coachable during the preseason”, said Head Coach Brian Leppelmeier.
“Our challenge this season for our newcomers to the varsity level is learning and accepting the new roles for the team. “We are going to lean on the experience and leadership of our three returning starters of Max Leppelmeier, Josh Horning, and Cayden Jacoby”, concluded Leppelmeier.
ABOUT THEIR SCHEDULE: Pettisville starts the season on November 27th at Hilltop in a BBC contest.
2. Edon (9-13 overall, 8-4 in BBC; Lost to Pettisville 41-40 (OT) in Division IV Sectional Semifinal)
Head Coach: Dale Curry (1st Season)
SEASON OUTLOOK: No information submitted
ABOUT THEIR SCHEDULE: Edon has had some COVID related changes to their schedule but are currently set to open the season on December 5th at Stryker.
3. North Central (Last Year: 13-11 overall, 7-5 in BBC; Lost to Ayersville 43-41 in Division IV Sectional Final)
LETTERWINNERS LOST FROM LAST YEAR: Jack Bailey (15.3 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 3.5 apg); Landon Patten (6.6 ppg, 3.5 rpg); Levi Williams (4.8 ppg, 2.3 rpg); Alex Lehsten (5.6 ppg, 2.4 rpg); Manny Cruz (2.6 ppg, 2.0 rpg); Mikie Cummins
RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: Zack Hayes (14.8 ppg, 4.9 rpg); Colin Patten (1.0 ppg)
NEWCOMERS: So.- Landon Justice, Jr.-Mason Sanford
Head Coach: Chris Fidler (7th Season)
SEASON OUTLOOK: Zack Hayes will be the catalyst for the young Eagles as they look to fill the void left by six seniors, including leading scorer Jack Bailey.
Though undersized, coach Chris Fidler expects his team to be quick, scrappy group. “Our goal is to improve every day. We have a talented group of juniors that we will mix with our sophomores and freshman to be competitive this season”, stated Fidler.
In regards to the BBC, Fidler considers Stryker the preseason favorite with Edon and Montpelier challenging for the top spot also.
ABOUT THEIR SCHEDULE: The Eagles are slated to start their season at Stryker on November 27th.
4. Fayette (11-12 overall, 7-5 in BBC; Lost to North Central 49-39 in Division IV Sectional Semifinal)
Head Coach: Todd Mitchell (20th Season)
LETTERWINNERS LOST FROM LAST YEAR: Noah Brinegar (9.9 ppg, 3.3 rpg); Tanner Lemley (5.1 ppg, 5.0 rpg); Caden Colegrove (1.7 ppg, 1.5 rpg); Jaxsen Wentz (3.5 ppg, 2.0 rpg); Jose Aguilar (2.1 ppg, 1.5 rpg)
RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: Sr.-Tanner Wagner (9.6 ppg, 2.1 rpg); Sr.-Eli Eberly (3.8 ppg, 1.0 rpg); Sr.-Phillip Whiteside (1.7 ppg); Jr.-Elijah Lerma (8.1 ppg, 2.8 rpg)
NEWCOMERS: So.-Kaden Frenn, So-Skylar Lester
SEASON OUTLOOK: The dean of BBC coaches Todd Mitchell begins year number twenty at Fayette and safe to say it has been a year like none other already. “With the crazy times we are living in I am hopeful for a full, happy, and healthy season. Winning and losing are secondary to just allowing the kids the opportunity to play this year”, said Mitchell.
Tanner Wagner and Elijah Lerma will be looked upon to lead the Eagles offense, an offense that will rely on guard play. “This group of boys bring a great passion to the game. They are “gym rats” and do a good job of working on their own when no one is watching. Guard play and good team chemistry should be some of our strengths this year”, added the coach.
Mitchell is concerned with their lack of size which could cause matchup problems and rebounding issues.
Mitchell expects the BBC to be balanced as ever. “No one was able to have summer leagues, shootouts, or team camps this offseason so it might take a few weeks to see who’s the team to beat.”
ABOUT THEIR SCHEDULE: The Fayette schedule starts on November 27th with a trip to “The Railyard” to take on Montpelier.
5. Stryker (6-18 overall, 4-8 in BBC; Lost to Antwerp 52-41 in Division IV Sectional Final)
Head Coach: Tyler Woolace (4th Season)
LETTERWINNERS LOST FROM LAST YEAR: Noah Huffman (3.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg)
RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: Kaleb Holsopple (13.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 2.0 apg); Spencer Clingaman (8.0 ppg, 4.5 rpg); Brandon Bowers (7.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 2.0 ppg); Joe Ramon (7.0 ppg); Levi Barnum (4.0 rpg); Amos Sloan; Teyvon Harris, Payton Woolace, Devon Miller, Ryan Ruffer, Logan Liechty, Jamison Treace
SEASON OUTLOOK: Everybody who saw varsity time last year is back for coach Tyler Woolace which means expectations are high entering the season. Leading scorer Kaleb Holsopple leads a group of ten seniors that should provide plenty of depth and leadership for the Panthers.
“With how the world is right now we are truly taking every practice and game one dat at a time. If we are able to play every game this year, I believe we will see a lot of good things out of this group”, commented Woolace.
When commenting on the BBC season ahead, Woolace looks for the league to be very competitive with no clear leader out of the gate.
ABOUT THEIR SCHEDULE: Stryker will host North Central on November 27th to start the 2020-2021 campaign.
6. Montpelier (Last Year: 5-18 Overall, 4-8 in BBC; Lost to Swanton 48-41 in Division III Sectional Semifinal)
Head Coach: Justin Houk (3rd Season)
LETTERWINNERS LOST FROM LAST YEAR: Alex McCord (4.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg), Connor Yahraus, Rowen Beck, Matt Mason, Braden Saneholtz, Austin Pefley
RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: Tylor Yahraus (11.0 ppg); Garrett Walz (6.0 ppg); Thomas Jay (8.0 ppg); Blake Altafer (5.0 ppg)
NEWCOMERS: Gavin Stratton, Dylan Eitenear, David Bowman
SEASON OUTLOOK: Returning experience will be a strength of this year’s edition of the Montpelier Locos according to Head Coach Justin Houk. “Another strength will have to be our quickness. I like our core kids coming back that have a bunch of varsity experience”, said Houk, who is entering third season at Montpelier.
“We don’t have a lot of height so that will be our biggest weakness this year. I like our core group of returners mixed in with the rest of the varsity squad and we want to continue to build this program into a winner”, he added.
Houk sees the BBC being the most balanced it has been the last few years, but he does consider Edon and Stryker the preseason favorites.
ABOUT THEIR SCHEDULE: The Locos have had their first two games postponed and will now start the season at Delta on December 5th.
7. Hilltop (Last Year: 2-21 overall, 0-12 in BBC; Lost to Stryker 45-37in Division IV Sectional Semifinal)
Head Coach: Bill Williams (3rd Season)
LETTERWINNERS LOST FROM LAST YEAR: Blake Funkhouser (6.0 ppg); Jay Garrett (11.0 ppg); Griffin McEwen (9.0 ppg); Connor Schlosser (2.0 ppg)
RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: Tucker Beres (7.0 ppg); Ian Hoffman (5.0 ppg); Carson Jennings
NEWCOMERS: Brennon Carter, Lucas Jacobs, Raace Haynes
SEASON OUTLOOK: Despite low numbers and being very young third year coach Bill Williams hopes his Hilltop Cadets can improve as the season progresses. The Cadets will need to find some scorers as they lost their two leading scorers from last season to graduation. Looking to fill that role will be Tucker Beres, Ian Hoffman, and Carson Jennings, the only returning letterwinners. Williams said this group plays well together and are a close-knit team.
ABOUT THEIR SCHEDULE: The Cadets head to Pettisville on November 27th to begin the season.
Nate can be reached at publisher@thevillagereporter.com