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Buckeye Local optimistic about new season

2022-23 Basketball Preview

By MIKE HUGHES For The Times Leader CONNORVILLE—Year two begins under head coach Tom Valuska in Connorville with a little optimism. The Panthers are coming off their best season (9-14) since a 10-win campaign back in 2018. The team also returns two starters, technically three if not for injury issues a season ago. But size will definitely be an issue, both in stature of the girls that take the floor, and in terms of the number of girls that are even attempting to take the floor. “We’ve got a decent little group, but it’s a small group, just 13 girls,” Valuska said. ...

Wheeling Park features experienced, talented cast

2022-23 Basketball Preview

By BUBBA KAPRAL For The Times Leader WHEELING - Ryan Young has established a dominant program in his eight years at the Wheeling Park girls’ hoop helm. The Lady Patriots enter the 2022-23 season coming off another stellar campaign, one in which Young’s charges rolled to a 21-6 record and advanced to the Class AAA state tournament semifinals. Don’t look for any drop-off this season from the Lady Patriots as four starters return to go with numerous other seasoned performers. “I think we have a chance to be really good this season. We can learn a lot from last season and where ...

River returns solid core from 15-win squad

2022-23 Basketball Preview

By MARK DIERKES Times Leader Sports Writer HANNIBAL – It may sound like a broken record at most schools, but at River, under ultra-successful girls coach Rick Isaly, there are good vibes around practice, indicating the Lady Pilots can continue their winning ways in 2022-23. The Hannibal-based school returns six lettermen from a 15-10 record squad which advanced to the Division IV District last winter before bowing to eventual Regional qualifier Monroe Central, 61-53. Entering his 19th season at River with a pair of OVAC 2A titles to his credit, Isaly’s crew upended Beallsville ...

St. Clairsville must replace a lot of scoring

2022-23 Basketball Preview

By KIM NORTH Times Leader Sports Writer ST. CLAIRSVILLE – As Stacey Agnew enters his ninth season as head coach of the St. Clairsville girls’ basketball program, he is optimistic as to how good the Red Devils can be in 2022-23. “We lost three seniors in Shae Brookover, Alexis Thoburn and Sydney Miller,” he said. “We lost a lot of points with those three and most of our ball handling with Shae.” Brookover and Thoburn were both four-year letterwinners and Miller lettered twice. Brookover and Thoburn were both first team All-District last winter. However, St. Clairsville ...

Numbers and size are up at Buckeye Local

2022-23 Basketball Preview

By MIKE HUGHES For The Times Leader CONNORVILLE—Buckeye Local lost its leading scorer in Cameron Best and quite a bit of experience between Best, the Darrahs, Hunter (6-foot-6) and Luke (6-4), along with Ethan McHugh and Anthony Deitch off a team that finished 8-14. But while the girls team is low on numbers and on height, the boys’ program is not enduring such problems. Head coach Chris Heaton’s team is 21 players strong this season, enough for both a varsity and junior varsity roster. And while the Darrah Brothers have graduated, he still boasts some size down in the paint ...

River returns bulk of roster from 21-win squad

2022-23 Basketball Preview

By MARK DIERKES Times Leader Sports Writer Veteran River High head coach Mark Romick likes what he has returning to the floor for his 2022-23 Pilots, but there’s one excuseable drawback as the Hannibal-based crew prep for Tuesday’s season opener at Buckeye Local unless pushed back due to football. “We’ve lacked the practice time to get in (basketball) shape and become a cohesive unit,” noted Romick as the successful Pilots football team enjoyed an extended run in the D7 playoffs. “We’ll have to rely on our experience early in the season until we get our legs under ...