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Basketball Preview 2022-23

Monroe a youthful squad

By Donnie Yeager Jr For The Times Leader WOODSFIELD – The Monroe Central Seminoles enter the 2022-23 season following a spectacular campaign that saw them finish 17-8, knocking off Caldwell for the sectional title before bowing out to Hiland in the district semis in overtime. Gone from that team are a number of talented players, headed by four-year stalwart Malachi Rose-Burton, who averaged 15.4 points per contest. Also gone are Collin Kroll, who averaged just under 10 points per contest and was named District 12 1st team, Jake Swisher, who scored 8.6 PPG and was District 12 2nd ...

Cash begins 19th season with six returning lettermen

By KIM NORTH Times Leader Sports Writer BRIDGEPORT – Entering his 19th season as the head coach of the Bridgeport boys’ basketball team, Donnie Cash finally has some height on his roster. The past few years has seen the Bulldogs utilize a small roster which hurt them at the Division III level. They have dropped back down to Division IV this winter. “We are looking to improve in the preseason and in our scrimmages,” Cash said. “We have a lot back from last year and a few others that came back out. We do have some length this season and most of the kids are ...

Shadyside has holes to fill

By BUBBA KAPRAL For The Times Leader SHADYSIDE - Ed Andes has scripted countless successful seasons in his 25 years as head coach of the Shadyside boys’ basketball program. Last year’s campaign was one of the most enjoyable. Andes guided his Tigers to a 17-7 mark en route to another OVAC 2A championship, besting nemesis Wheeling Central in the title game. In addition, the Orange again advanced to the district tournament. Andes, who is approaching the coveted 400-win plateau at his alma mater, has seven OVAC crowns and 13 district berths on his resume. He has the distinction of ...

Beallsville to field a co-ed squad this winter with 10 total players

By Donnie Yeager Jr. For The Times Leader BEALLSVILLE – Beallsville High School has been steeped in tradition for most of its existence, with the Blue Devil basketball programs commonly putting together impressive records and collecting various team and individual awards despite the small size of the school. This winter, Beallsville will do something relatively unseen in the basketball landscape of the Ohio Valley: field a co-ed team. Hamstrung with low numbers, there will be a scant 10 players suiting up for the Big Blue on the hardwood; seven boys and three girls. Under Ohio ...

Numbers and size are up at Buckeye Local

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 ...

Foldi takes over the reins at Harrison Central

By MIKE HUGHES For The Times Leader CADIZ—Aaron Foldi, at least on paper, picked a great time to take over the Harrison Central boys’ baskebtall program. Foldi was hired last spring after longtime head coach Justin Clifford took the AD job at St. Clairsville, creating the opening. Harrison opted to hire Foldi, who two years ago assisted Clifford while he student taught at Harrison Central. An Indian Creek grad, Foldi played four years under Joe Dunlevy then two years collegiality for Joe Wallace at Franciscan, while also serving as an assistant to Wallace his senior ...