Adena
Westfall
Game 2
Huntington
Zane Trace
Game 3
Unioto
Piketon
Game 4
Southeastern
Paint Valley
25
10
7
14
13
14
11
13
13
27
18
8
11
18
12
10
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
38
37
25
22
24
32
23
23
Also in game one, Westfall's athleticism was very impressive. The Mustangs can play a lot of people, and all of them can produce. I love Tyler Cobb's game! He can score both inside and out, he can rebound, and he can play in the open court as well. This is a dangerous team that will give some of the young backcourts in this year's league a great deal of trouble with their defensive pressure.
In game two, Zane Trace's Kirk Maxwell and D.J. Merriman played very well. This duo was never on the floor together (Maxwell played the first quarter and Merriman played the second) and when they are they will make for a very difficult match up for their opponents. I was also impressed with the improvement of Rick Chamberlain. The junior completes a very talented frontline for the Pioneers. The question will be the guard play for Zane Trace. Dallas Cochenour is a solid shooter and Gabe Haynes is a great athlete who can score. If sophomore Joel Tripp can shoulder the ball-handling responsibilities then this becomes a complete team.
This same description fits Huntington as well. With Corey Cottrill and Drew Trusty returning for the defending champs, the question becomes guard play. Obviously, this will improve when Craig Magill gets healthy. Junior Kyle Deal also has the ability to handle the ball and score from the outside. A positive for Huntington in Friday's action was Derek Clark. The 6-4 senior showed the ability to score and rebound which gives Huntington the option of playing with a big line-up by putting Cottrill and Trusty at the three and four positions.
League favorite Piketon was in action in game three. The Redstreaks were without most of their regulars, but point guard Evan Legg played and played well. Legg, a sophomore, is an outstanding play-maker who can score and create. Classmate Keenan Brush is also a major factor in Piketon's plans. The 6-6 sophomore can defend multiple positions and is much improved on the offensive end.
Unioto has a nice sophomore point guard of their own in Brick Davis. The 6-1 floor general can score it and create for others. The Shermans have a solid shooter in Joey Conley as well as a huge frontline that includes Shane Maier (6-5, jr.), Quentin Detillion (6-5, jr.), and Alex Kimsey (6-11, sr.) - who did not play Friday due to injury.
In the final game, I was impressed with Southeastern's junior forwards Chris Hahn and Devin Willard. Hahn showed a nice touch away from the basket and Willard is a high energy guy who can score and rebound. Willard, probably SE's most talented scorer, knocked down a triple and scored on multiple post moves. Southeastern's biggest concern will probably come in the backcourt when it comes to handling the pressure of the athletic teams in the top half of this year's league.
As for Paint Valley, I thought Matt Workman played well. Workman, a 6-2 senior, scored 11 points. He was very aggressive attacking the glass as he scored seven of those points from the charity stripe. Paint Valley will also get some scoring from Josh Long in their halfcourt offense, but like SE, the black and gold could struggle handling fullcourt pressure.
Overall, I still like Piketon as the favorite with ZT to follow. Roll alone probably makes Adena the favorite for the third spot. It was hard to compare Piketon and ZT because so many Piketon kids did not play; however, we will not have to wait long because the two play head-to-head early in the year.