PHOTO BY RENEA KESSLER / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
LEAGUE FAVORITES … Briggs Gallehue goes up for two of his game-high 28 points in an Edon win at North Central last season.
By: John Fryman
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
john@thevillagereporter.com
It was a major logjam in the Buckeye Border Conference boys basketball race a year ago when Edon, Montpelier, and Pettisville shared the hardware with identical 6-1 records.
When the conference campaign finally tips off on Thursday, December 18, you can expect much of the same this coming season with the Bombers, Locos, and Blackbirds all expected to battle it out for the BBC championship.
Pettisville returns one of the area’s top players in senior Jack Leppelmeier, who was the BBC Player of The Year last season, averaging 20.3 points and 7.5 rebounds per game while earning Division VII All-Ohio second team honors.
Montpelier has one of the premier underclassmen in 6-0 sophomore C.J. Fidler, who burned the nets over 20 points per game a year ago, and is joined by 6-1 senior standout Kenneth Smeltzer, who tallied ten points per game.
Edon features 6-4 senior forward Briggs Gallehue, who poured in over 20 points per game a season ago and was a first-team all-BBC pick. He is just 200 points away from reaching the 1,000-point barrier this season.
Following is a capsule preview of the BBC boys’ basketball squads.
EDON BOMBERS
Head coach: Matt Ripke (fifth season, 39-52 at Edon, 17th overall, 224-151 record).
2024-25 record: 15-9, 6-1 BBC tri-champions, Division 7 district runner-up.
Lettermen lost: Cohen Hulbert (8.9 ppg, 2.6 rpg), Max Radabaugh (5.1 ppg, 3.8 rpg), Carter Steinke, Kyler Sapp (9 ppg, 5.8 rpg), Hayden Tennant, Emilien Manel.
Lettermen returning: Briggs Gallehue (6-4, senior, forward, 16.3 ppg, 6 rpg, BBC first team), Corbin Christman (5-11, junior, forward, 9.7 ppg, 3 ppg, BBC second team), Kadin Stantz (5-9, junior, guard), Grant Reed (6-1, senior, forward).
Newcomers to watch: Eli Snyder (6-4, junior, forward), Lincoln Kiess (5-10, sophomore, guard), Micah Kessler (6-1, sophomore, forward), Gabe Trausch (6-0, sophomore, forward), Devin Hoffman (6-0, senior, forward).
Coach’s outlook: “Our returning letterwinners from last season provide us with varsity experience, along with a group of newcomers who are hungry and will be counted on to provide much-needed depth throughout the year.
“We are behind with most of our guys playing pivotal roles on the successful football playoff run. Our lack of depth, especially with our guards, will be something we need to improve as the season progresses.
“The BBC will be very competitive this year. We think our early-season schedule helps prepare us for BBC play. We hope to be in the mix come February.”
FAYETTE EAGLES
Head coach: Kyle Lindsay (second season, 2-21 record).
2024-25 record: 2-21, 1-6 BBC.
Lettermen lost: Xander Goble (10.6 ppg), Caden Leininger (5.4 ppg), Evan Beauregard.
Lettermen returning: Carter Lavinder (6-2, senior, forward), Dane Andrews (5-11, senior, forward), Wyatt Bieber (6-2, junior, forward), Kruez Lichtenwald (6-0, junior, guard), Mason Leininger (5-11, sophomore, guard).
Newcomers to watch: Ethan Lee (5-11, junior, guard), Zander Johnston (5-11, junior, forward).
Coach’s outlook: “We have returning varsity experience but lack size. Our commitment to defense will determine the success of our season.”
HILLTOP CADETS
Head coach: Connor English (fourth season, 19-50 record)
2024-25 record: 7-16, 3-4 BBC.
Lettermen lost: Cameron Schlosser (7 ppg, 5.3 rpg), Brian Guillen (1 ppg), Devin Dempsey (3 ppg), Brock Kesler (5.3 ppg), Carson Crossgrove (1.1 ppg).
Lettermen returning: Drew Bailey (6-4, senior, 7.7 ppg, 4.1 rpg), Brycen Grubbs (5-9, senior, 1.8 ppg), Austin Verdin (5-10, senior, 2.7 ppg), Micah Rossman (6-4, junior, 9 ppg, 4.7 rpg, BBC honorable mention).
Newcomers to watch: Anthony Jiannuzzi (6-3, sophomore), Riley Carter (6-0, junior), Zane Burdine (5-10, junior), Brennan Dempsey (5-10, junior), Khale Thompson (junior), Toby Hartman (5-6, senior), Scott Bowers (5-9, senior).
Coach’s outlook: “We have a lot of size returning from last year’s team, as well as a lot of varsity experience mixed in. We are looking to mix this size and experience with our players that will be seeing the varsity floor this year to find success on the court.
“We lost a large group of seniors last year. Mixing our returning letterwinners with our newcomers is going to be a road we must navigate well for success to be had this year.
“We are looking forward to working hard and showing up on game nights to play and show off all the work that we have put in to be successful on the court.”
HOLGATE TIGERS
Head coach: Anthony Jackson (fourth season, 21-70 record)
2024-25 record: 0-22, 0-7 BBC.
Lettermen lost: Jerrett Engle (3.4 ppg), Ricky Buckley (1.6 ppg).
Lettermen returning: Kaiden Giesige (5-11, senior, 5.9 ppg), Holden Hartman (5-10, senior, 5.9 ppg, Zack Boecker (5-11, junior, 8.7 ppg), Zander Distel (6-0, sophomore, 2.3 ppg), Alex Rupright (5-8, junior, 1.5 ppg).
Newcomers to watch: Wyatt Meyer (6-3, senior), Austin Medina (6-2, senior), Matt Healy (5-9, senior).
Coach’s outlook: “We have depth and a balanced scoring attack. Our size and rebounding are two big concerns. Look to improve greatly from last season. Looking to have a little older team with more senior leadership.”
MONTPELIER LOCOMOTIVES
Head coach: Nick Ramos.
2024-25 record: 17-6, 6-1 BBC tri-champions.
Lettermen lost: Joel Saneholtz (2 ppg), Miguel Avina (1.7 ppg), Tyler Ploude (2 ppg).
Lettermen returning: Hayden Sharps (6-2, senior, BBC second team, 9 ppg, 5 rpg), Kenneth Smeltzer (6-1, senior, BBC first team, 10 ppg, 5 rpg), C.J. Fidler (6-0, sophomore, BBC first team, 20 ppg, 5 rpg), Wesley Hartsock (6-3, junior, BBC second team, 11 ppg, 5 rpg), Gavin Bass (6-5, junior, 7 ppg, 4 rpg).
Newcomers to watch: Kade Stewart (junior), Owen Sommer (5-9, junior), Ryan Riggenbach (6-1, sophomore), Malachai Smeltzer (5-11, sophomore).
Coach’s outlook: “Our returning players are a big strength for us. We look to play an up-tempo style of basketball with an emphasis on team-oriented basketball.
“I look forward to a competitive BBC this year. Every team has some great players who can take over a game. It should be a very entertaining season.”
NORTH CENTRAL EAGLES
Head coach: Jalen Dancer (first season)
2024-25 record: 8-16, 2-5 BBC
Lettermen lost: Trenton Douglass (9.5 ppg), Anton Hagler (8 ppg, 5.9 ppg, BBC and District 7 honorable mention)
Lettermen returning: Talen Reinbolt (5-9, junior, guard), Jackson Poynter (6-0, junior guard, 7.5 ppg), Zach Whitley (6-0, junior, guard, 6.9 ppg), Alex St. John (5-10, junior, guard, 3.5 ppg), Logan Clark (6-0, senior, forward, 4.9 ppg), Tyler Meyers (5-11, senior, guard, 7.3 ppg)
Newcomers to watch: Aiden Meyers (6-1, freshman, guard), Briggs Fiser (5-10, sophomore, forward), Thane Martin (5-10, sophomore, forward)
Coach’s outlook: “We are a very quick and athletic team. I can play a lot of positionless basketball without having a whole lot of size. Our depth is very deep with the talent we have in our underclassmen as well.
“I have a lot of pure leadership in the gym. This is a very motivated group with six lettermen that are returning and some young newcomers to the group. I think they are determined to show a lot of people that this is one of the most special groups that has ever come through our school.
“With our combination of speed and depth at the guard positions, we feel that we can give anyone a tough game with just our defense alone. We believe everything is in front of us with our team goals that we have to get to have a chance to compete for BBC and district titles.
“The BBC should be one of the most competitive years we’ve had for a while. There is a lot of talent, experience, and great coaching across the conference. We will be prepared to get everyone’s best game each time we play, and I don’t think one through eight, there’s any teams you can overlook.
“Montpelier, Edon and Pettisville are going to be teams that we intend to battle with at the top of the conference. It’s going to be extremely fun for anyone to tune into the conference this season. There are going to be a lot of close games and some tremendous basketball that is played.”
PETTISVILLE BLACKBIRDS
Head coach: Brian Leippelmeier (10th season, 137-72 record)
2024-25 record: 18-5, 6-1 BBC tri-champions
Lettermen lost: Mason Wyse (BBC and District 7 honorable mention, 5.9 ppg); Caden Bishop (4.1 ppg)
Lettermen returning: Jack Leppelmeier (6-2, senior, 20.3 ppg, 7.5 rpg, BBC and District 7 player of the year, Northwest District first team and Division VII All-Ohio second team), Creighton Aeschliman (5-9, senior, 2.7 ppg, 2.2 rpg, District 7 honorable mention); Josh Morris (5-10, junior guard, 6.6 ppg, 2.3 rpg); Alex Galvin (5-11, sophomore, 4.5 ppg)
Newcomers to watch: Ryan Bishop (6-2, junior forward); Sam Hastings (5-10, sophomore, forward); Zander Hogrefe (freshman, guard); Kobe Hoylman (5-10, sophomore, forward); Camden Hogrefe (5-6, sophomore, guard)
Coach’s outlook: We return two primary ball handlers in Jack Leppelmeier and Creighton Aeschliman, along with returning starter Josh Morris and last year’s sixth man, Alex Galvin.
“Year in and year out, defending the paint and clearing the glass is the primary challenge. The conference will be balanced and very competitive.”
STRYKER PANTHERS
Head coach: Tyler Woolace (eighth season, 96-93 record)
2024-25 record: 11-12, 4-3 BBC
Lettermen lost: Jacob Myers (7.5 ppg), Braylen Wickerham (7 ppg), Daniel Donovan (16.3 ppg, 5.7 rpg), Owen Rupp (7.6 ppg, 3.7 rpg)
Lettermen returning: William Donovan (6-1, senior, 12.6 ppg, 6.5 rpg, BBC first team), Bradley Williams (5-9, senior, 6 ppg)
Newcomers to watch: Cody Stewart (6-2, sophomore), Eli Capps (6-1, senior), Andrew Batterson (5-11, senior), Dylan Rivas (6-1, sophomore), Dean Shindledecker (6-6, senior), Jassek Julliard (6-1, senior)
Coach’s outlook: “We have depth and inexperience. We have a lot of guys, but we only have William Donovan, who has been through a whole season battle.
“As a coach, I will need to be patient with these guys and understand that later in the season it will look much different than in the beginning. I’m really excited for the commitment I’m getting from my players.
“They are working hard every day and learning quicker than I had thought. Our goal by the end of year, we are playing our best basketball when it matters.
“The BBC will be competitive again this year, more than any other, I predict. Montpelier, Pettisville and Edon are the favorites, but the other teams in the conference are returning a lot of talent. I’m excited to see the battles every night in our conference.”