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Bethel coach Chris Enres (top) has the Bees playing above the expectations during the season's home stretch.
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It's the best part of the high school basketball season...trying to predict which area teams have the best chance for a successful run at a sectional, district, regional or even state tournament title.
Recently, we surveyed three area media represenatives, along with a couple of area basketball "junkies" for their insights on who's hot...and who's not...on the eve of this year's tournament sendoff!
Tipp City (Boys)...Division II
Definitely hot, says all five members of our jury.
"The best team defense you'll see anywhere in the state...all 88 counties," says one.
"I agree, to a point," says another. "Unfortunately, Tipp has not played against the kind of outside shooting that makes them think twice about their defensive philosophy. They do an excellent job in the post where everyone is prone to attack, but they haven't seen the kind of outside threat that makes them honor the area beyond the arc."
"I don't worry about their defense," says yet another. "They're that well coached...but I question just how much they have in their offensive tank against a Taft or Dunbar. No question about them getting out of the sectional...but then comes city ball and they don't see that in the CBC."
"I agree," concurs a fourth. "They do a great job of sharing the basketball and making the extra pass, but they don't have the kind of inside physical presence necessary to win the district. However, they're great to watch because they play the game like it should be played."
Russia (Boys)...Division IV
Altogether hot, claims the majority. There are issues, though, and there is worry about some significant "what ifs"!
"Pleiman and York are the best big 1-2 threat in the state at that level," says one Raider rank-in-file. "But as a team I question their ability to mix it up against the kind of physical play they got from Lockland last year in the district."
"I agree," says another. "Their guards are suspect against that kind of physical beating and last year the refs really let them knock and bang. I know that's a concern for Paul (Bremigan) and I hope that a year's experience makes a difference."
"I was really onboard until I saw what happened at Versailles," says a third. "That's a big game for them every year and I don't think they played it "big", even with a better team. They have to learn from that."
"They will and they're outstanding up front," adds another. "But I question if their guards can shoot enough to keep a good opponent from jamming the inside game. Hopefully, they have the game because they're a great group and no one deserves it more than Paul Bremigan."
Ft. Loramie (Girls)...Division IV
Luke-warm, says our experts...with some real concern about what matters most.
"I always like a Carla Siegel team," comes one opinion. "But this teams lacks the size she's had in the past and I haven't seen them shoot the ball as well as I would have liked."
"I agree," says another. "They seem to play as well as they have to on a given night...the loss to Jackson Center was not a confidence builder and they really struggled against Lehman two weeks ago. If Lehman doesn't miss a dozen layups they beat Loramie by 10!"
"Courtney Reed," adds a third. "Great defensive player and much improved on offense...but she has to show more overall game for them. I think they're sectional good...but I question if they have enough points on the floor to win a district."
Versailles (Boys)...Division III
Two hots and three nots from the jury...unanimous on one point.
"I like their guards," says one. "When Barga and Shardo are shooting well their inside-out game is as good as anyone has in the area."
"Yeah, but when they're not they're very beatable," says another. "If they don't make the shots their inside game is easy to defend."
"I like them because I don't think the division is that tough in front of them...at least until they get to the district," says one Tiger touter. "They have enough to get to a thrid game in my opinon because of a lack of competition. If they were down a division I think they'd have problems. They lost to Covington this year and Russia gave them fits...and Russia didn't play well that night."
"No question about the division," adds another. "I think they're well coached and until they get to some of the Cincinnati teams they're good enough to play with anyone in the district. But Shardo and Barga have to shoot it."
Covington (Girls)...Division IV
Probably not...although the jury's solid in their admiration for another good Chris Besecker team.
"When you look at Covington they're really one dimensional...they're that dependent on their perimeter shooting," says one. "No one gets more out of his personnel than Chris Besecker, but they just lack the bodies inside to play beyond the sectional."
"I agree," says another. "Their energy comes from their defense...that and the fact that Michelle Meyer is the best clutch shooter in the state of Ohio in Divison IV basketball...period."
"No question," says one more. "I love their perimeter game with Michelle. She's a gamer...and her cousin (Andrea Meyer) has really matured as a 3-point threat this year. But you have to have a more dependable inside game to threaten the district and they lack that again this year."
"I wish they had more up front...I agree," adds another Meyer admirer. "If there's one shooter that I'd want to take the shot for me to win it's Michelle. She deserves the recognition that comes from playing in a regional final. They'll play their hearts out and their defense will be solid, but I just don't think they can get there."
Bethel (Boys)...Division III
Hot...very hot...says our panel. Four out of five say the Bees are this year's area dark horse!
"I love 'em," from one who's seen them play every game for the past month. "They've figured out how to win and they're not intimidated by teams like Covington in the league. In fact, they embarrassed Covington with their team defense and intensity two weeks ago when they played...in Covington."
"That was impressive," says another. "Chris (Enres) gets my vote for the best young coach I've seen this year. Tony Phillips is the real deal because he's not a great shooter...he's a great scorer...and that's what you need in the tournament."
"They have a very winable draw coming out," says yet another vote. "Then, they have Versailles...and if I'm Versailles I'm concerned about Phillips, Muse and Strunk. Plus Watson off the bench is a very good physical sixth."
"They have every advantage for a good tourney run," adds one last voice. "No one will take them seriously and they have some serious weapons."
Tipp City (Girls)...Division II
Luke-warm...claims our pollees, based on strength of schedule.
"At 15-3, or whatever they are, they're good enough to get to the sectional final and probably beyond," says one. "Lauren Sharpe makes them that good alone. But who have they played?"
"I agree," says another. "The CBC is not good in girls basketball...not like it was and last year when they played a real physical team out Cincinnati they were just overmatched."
"It's funny," adds another. "I really haven't seen them enough to judge, but can I say this. It's still Tom's team (Rettig). He built the program and it's a shame he didn't get the opportunity to coach it this year. I love Lauren Sharpe as an athlete and a competitor...but she needs more help."
Covington (Boys)...Divison IV
Questionable...is the concensus, and it all comes down to the guards.
"They're as good as Rhoades and Canan are on a given night," the opinion from one who saw them regularly throughout the season. "I was really high on them (Covington) until I saw how little offense they had when the guards had a bad shooting night against Bethel."
"I agree," says another. "This is a veteran team with a lot of experience and they got frustrated and couldn't find another way when the shots didn't fall."
"Every team has a bad night," says a Buccs supporter. "I agree that it's in the hands of their guards, but they're very well coached and I think they'll win the sectional and give people fits in the district. But...Roades and Canan have to play well and Studebaker has been too inconsistent this year."
"They're physical...and athletic," says another, "and you have to be physical to win now beyond the regular season. The refs are going to let them smack people around and that definitely favors a team like Covington."
"You can't count on that every night...that's the problem," the opinion from another, who admits he hasn't seen Covington play. "If you're saying that their fate is in the hands of their guards that's the key. They have to shoot well and handle the ball under pressure because that's what you're going to see in a win-or-go-home situation. Pressure!"
Marion Local (Girls)...Division IV
Even with their outstanding seasonal record...the Lady Flyers were the panel's favorite darkhorse!
"What's not to like?" says one. "Hey, they have Maria Moeller who can give you something big every night and Jenna Barhorst came back healthy in the second half of their season."
"I agree," adds another. "I don't see another team in this area that matches up with their combination of size and talent. This is basically the same team that should have beaten Xenia Christian last year and didn't because they missed a bunch of free throws."
"I like them because even with their record you don't hear great expectations...like they've underachieved." says a third. "You know, people have questioned the kind of year Moeller's had and forgotten about how well they've come on as a team. That's the perfect scenario for a strong showing in the tournament."
"Their shooting consistency worries me," another says. "If you make them beat you from the perimeter they're vulnerable, but I think you can say that about every team in high school basketball. Three out of four times they'll get it done...but it only takes once in the tournament. That's what happened to them last year. Their shooting let them down in the regional."
Lehman (Boys)...Division IV
If Bethel is not the favorite area dark horse in most minds...the Cavaliers have turned some heads with their play of late.
"I didn't think much of them early because everyone talked about how good they're were going to be...and they weren't," says one critic. "They stood around and waited for Corbin to score 30...and no one's letting that happen this year."
"I agree," says another. "But the Schmitz kid has made the difference in the 2nd half. He's giving them the best point play they've had since Piatt's been there and everyone else is just falling in line."
"When they're playing well they're really scary...especially in transition," adds a third. "Their size and shooting ability is impressive. I just wonder how competitive they are as a group...outside Kyle Corbin?"
"I agree about the potential," says another. "But their wins have come against very marginal teams. They really struggled against the MAC teams on their schedule and they lost to Marion (Local) Saturday because they didn't shoot, but think about them playing a team like Covington in the Piqua sectional. That will be fun to watch."
The FanFile
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