Can anyone take the crown? It is is going to prove awfully difficult because it always has. Jay County has been the class of the ACAC since it joined. Bluffton is making big pushes to be the top team but until someone beats Jay County, they are the favorite.
Jay County joined the conference at the start of the 2014-2015 season and are 59-2 in the ACAC in the regular season with 8 outright conference titles and one shared title (9 titles in 10 seasons). They even made a coach change to start last season after also graduating arguably the best player in program history and still went 23-2.
So who rises to the top this season?
THE FRONT RUNNER
JAY COUNTY
Why wouldn’t Jay County be at the front of the conversation, as you can read about above in the intro to this preview. Natalie Carreno will be expected to take on a leadership role as the only senior expected to contribute to the Patriots. Juniors Raylah Newton and Alexis Sibray also both add returning varsity experiences, while a big target for Patriot opponents will be Hallie Schwieterman, coming off a massive freshman season, where she averaged 12.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.7 steals per game. The next five highest scorers last season behind her all graduated.
Jay County will look to add to their depth with an array of freshmen. Elizabeth Brunswick, Raylyn Hummer, Amelia Heath, Gabi Petro and Natalie May will all join the Patriot lineup. Jay County coach Sherri McIntire says that they are eager to see how the freshmen step up and contribute from the opening game and she is optimistic about potential and growth as a team.
“With the loss of five seniors, we have had to say goodbye to significant leadership and athletic talent, but we are excited to build on the strong foundation left behind,” McIntire said. “Our biggest strength will be our athleticism and quickness.”
THE CONTENDER
BLUFFTON
Bluffton will slide right back into the top contender spot with a huge array of returning players. At the front of that is Isabella Stout, arguably the ACAC’s biggest breakout player a year ago while averaging 13.2 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. Senior guard mate Marley Drayer also returns. At center, Maryn Schreiber’s height and defensive skills give the team a solid anchor in the paint after flirting with a double double average last season at 10.6 points and 8.9 rebounds per game. The Tigers also return senior forwards Madyson Sonnigsen (6.5 ppg) and Tressa Renner. Combo Konley Ault (11.8 ppg/3.3 spg) is the only junior class returner but had a very solid season last year after coming back from injury.
Joining the returning varsity players are two new talents ready to make an impact. Sophomore Sophie Eisenhut, standing at 5’11”, brings her strong presence as a center after splitting time last year, now prepared to step into a full-time varsity role. Freshman Khloe Dick is set to play significant minutes from day one and can score at all threes according to her coach. Defensively, the Tigers hope to hold opponents under 40 points; they gave up 39.6 points/game last season.
“Lots of experience returning and now a full year running this offense and defense are big strengths for us,” coach Doug Curtis said. “We also are a very aggressive team at both ends of the floor so that plays into our offensive and defensive schemes.”
THE REST (ALPHABETICALLY)
ADAMS CENTRAL
Under first year head coach Rob Earl, Adams Central is looking to build a foundation with a solid group of returning players. Leading the charge is Ava Stafford, who not only averaged 10.4 points per game last season but also earned a spot on the 2nd team All-ACAC for her performance. Kate Fisher, another returning standout, added 6.5 points per game, bringing both scoring and experience to the court. With Ashlyn Doster, Lillee Dull, Ellie Ogg and Izzy Isch also returning, the team has a seasoned core that understands the rhythm of varsity play, setting a high standard for the new recruits.
New projected varsity additions are Sophia Ward, Myla Ellenberger, Tenley Hendricks and Lila Ringger. With a blend of experienced returners and promising new talent, the team is poised to attempt to navigate the transitions of a new coach and a couple of key losses to graduation.
“Compete, continuous growth on and off the court, and win,” said Earl of his team’s plans this season. “Accomplishing all these things, while still having fun [and] achieving these goals.”
HERITAGE
It is still a relatively young team that returns to the court for the Patriots. Senior guard Danica Fuller (5.8 ppg) leads the team alongside sophomore guards Trinitee Brown (6.6 ppg/2.6 rpg) and Olivia Lybarger, both solid on defense and becoming more skilled at creating scoring opportunities. Audra Bickel, a sophomore forward, brings a reliable presence under the basket. Kaydence Wallace rounds out the returning lineup.
Joining the team from the junior varsity, forward Addison Meyer, also standing at 5’10”, adds height and skill to the frontcourt to complement Bickel. Audrey Meyer and Elise Hissong, both sophomores will join to add some depth.
“We return a young squad but look to build upon last season. Although we still have a lot of growing to do, we hope our continued improvement and consistency on both ends of the floor will lead to being more competitive,” said coach Nicole Sisson.
SOUTH ADAMS
South Adams starts their season looking to replace a 1,000-plus point scorer in OTH All-Area player Macy Pries, but they do so with some nice familiarity as Brett Freeman returns to the Starfire sideline after three seasons away but with 117 career wins at the school. Junior Laney Trausch leads a short list of South Adams returners after averaging 9.2 points and 6.5 rebounds per game last season; back too is senior Bekah Patterson. While Patterson will be expected to have a good defensive presence, Trausch is going to be looked at to control the interior.
It will be Freeman’s goal to regrow the program that finished last season with just eight players total on the high school level and that starts with a lot of new faces on the varsity level. Not only that, it means that initially, South Adams will expect up to ten freshmen to contend for time: Ana Lehman, Charlee Bollenbacher, Lucy Schwartz, Adalyn Smith, Shaylee Sprunger, Mariana Tenorio, Kenly Geels, Kendall Minger, Hadassah McKinley and Makayla Meckstroth. Lehman and Bollenbacher will be expected to be ball handlers for the Starfires immediately.
“This will be a big learning season for most of these girls due to the lack of experience. They are a great group of kids that will work hard to get better throughout the season,” Freeman said.
SOUTHERN WELLS
The Raiders will be another team in the ACAC making a change on the sideline this season with former Southern Wells boys coach Kyle Penrod taking the lead. Ashlie Needler, who averaged 10.6 points and 9.0 rebounds per game last year is back and that is a big starting point. Alongside her is senior center Kenzie Paxson (6.7 ppg/6.4 rpg), and senior forward Colleena Reeves (5.8 ppg/4.4 rpg). Juniors Gracie Reeves and Kyah Thomas, along with sophomores Kaylea Coffel, Aubree Meyer and Erika Beavans eround out the returning lineup.
The team is also excited to welcome a group of talented newcomers who bring fresh potential to the court. Freshmen guards Kaylee Davis and forward Cadence Watkins join, while sophomore forward Remi Holmes, at 5’11”, is up from the junior varsity. Senior guard Callie Ripperger, who is returning to the game after not playing last season, is also joining the squad.
“I think we will have a winning record and be one of the favorites to win our sectional. Good returning seniors will see their numbers go up due to an increased pace of play and better guard play due to younger teammates having another year of experience and incoming freshmen bringing talent,” Penrod said.
WOODLAN
Woodlan won 18 games last season under first year coach David Randall, who had previously coached boys basketball at the school. Senior guards Brooke Kneubuhler (9.8 ppg), Reagan Widenhoefer (5.5 ppg) and Alix Jacquay all return to form a quick backcourt lineup. In the forward position, Alyssa Anderson (11.6 ppg/10.4 rpg) leads the way into her junior year after bring a massive double double threat last season and the only player in the area to return after averaging a double double last year. Makenna Smith, Karina Peppler and Mariah Thullner add balance, as does 5-foot-11 sophomore Makenna Goble.
Adding to the roster are several new faces who are projected to make an impact. Juniors Kyra Elwood and Emma McDaniel and sophomores Layla Hodson and Addie Klotz come with junior varsity experience, while freshmen Savannah Scheumann and Kaitlyn Sterling are expected to contribute. Woodlan will rely on both returners and newcomers for solid rebounding and defensive strengths to continue what was laid out as a foundation last season.
“We have most of our team back and we fell that we can contend for a conference and sectional championship. We will need to shoot the ball better than we did last year and we will need to be bought in on defense. We are looking to a strong senior class for leadership as we try to take the next step,” said Randall.
BOUNCE’S NECC PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
1. Jay County
2. Bluffton
3. Woodlan
4. Adams Central
5. Southern Wells
6. South Adams
7. Heritage
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