PREDICTED CHAMPION: ADAMS CENTRAL
The Flying Jets are coming off a loss that pushed them back to second in the conference, but at 6-3 still are tied for the best overall mark amongst ACAC teams.
Every time you look, Trace Maller is scoring 22 or 25 or 27 and it doesn’t seem like many teams can stop him. He scored 27 in their most recent game, even though it was a loss to conference foe Jay County. Combined with Braylend Reber, they have been a force scoring the ball and have the length to alter a lot defensively.
Junior Lawson Deathe has been solid for the Flying Jets as they search for more depth behind their top two. He registered four steals in the loss to Jay County and adds a decent perimeter scoring threat, as does Cade Van de Weg, who knocked down a couple of triples and had 12 points to open the 2025 year in a win over Bellmont.
Coach Aaron McClure may be the first one to admit that he would like more scoring depth, but that doesn’t change that Adams Central is putting together a really good first half of the season and are in the drivers seat to three peat as ACAC Tournament champions.
TOP CONTENDER: WOODLAN
This spot was kind of reserved for Bluffton until last weekend’s win for the Warriors where Trey Yoder, Mason Moore and Oliver Adams all shined in a 56-40 win. It was Woodlan’s third win in their last four outings.
Woodlan has two guys flirting with double double averages and that is rare. Yoder leads the team at 15.8 points and 9.1 rebounds per contest, but Adams is right there with him with averages of 13.5 and 7. Very few teams have anything for a program that can run two guys out there that can be so effective around the rim.
While Moore, Drew Fleek and Jordan Halsey round out Woodlan’s traditional starting five, the ability of Keaton Delagrange and Ashtin Jacquay to contribute has made Woodlan deeper on both ends of the floor in a conference where not many teams have a ton of depth behind their first five.
BEST FIRST ROUND GAME: BLUFFTON vs. WOODLAN
So it is on the girls side, so it is on the boys side.
The teams just met, Woodlan got the win and gave Bluffton their first loss of the ACAC schedule. So what changes between that game over the past weekend and at Tuesday rematch in the same location as Woodlan plays host yet again?
Bluffton had good games out of Declan Greiser and Nolan Lambert in their 56-40 loss last weekend but Woodlan countered big with 22 points and nine rebounds from Trey Yoder and a smattering of additional assistance including eight points each from Mason Moore and Oliver Adams.
A rematch is expected to be better, because of course Bluffton coach Craig Teagle is going to make adjustments.
THE UPSET TO WATCH FOR
Heritage over Adams Central, Semi Finals
This won’t be an easy task for the Patriots. But as of the beginning of the tournament they do sit as the only team to not lose to an ACAC opponent and at 3-0 are the tops of the conference regular season halfway through their ACAC schedule.
When the Patriots last played, in a 30 point win over Southern Wells, they had a very balanced and deep scoring attack. Its not often Heritage scorers 80, but did so behind 20 points from Landon Lybarger, 14 from LanTae Cassell and 10 each from Taurean Brown and Lucas Taylor.
As much as Heritage comes in on a cloud 9 with a big win, Adams Central lost potential control of the regular season last week with a loss to Jay County. And in that loss, that scoring depth that Heritage has to be proud of right now for themselves, was a hurter for the Flying Jets despite 27 from Trace Maller and 14 from Braylend Reber in the loss to Jay County.
Yes, we think that AC is the favorite, but this potential Friday semi-final meeting is going to be interesting.
PLAYERS TO MAKE NOISE
Mason Moore, Woodlan
One of the main reasons that Woodlan is a contender in this tournament is the scrappy play of Moore, who has established good leadership qualities this season. Moore is a sniper when he gets hot shooting the ball and is averaging 7.5 points per game. Moore has seven games of multiple triples hit and is tied with Trey Yoder as Woodlan’s leader in three point makes.
Landon Lybarger, Heritage
Lybarger is coming off a 20 point game in Heritage’s most recent win and leads the Patriots at 16 points per game; he has not scored single digits all season. Lybarger shoots 41 percent from deep and has hit four or five threes on three occasions in Heritage’s nine games.
Trace Maller, Adams Central
Maller is the best scorer in the ACAC and it is not even close. Maller MAY be the best scorer in the area as we are at that kind of unofficial halfway point of the boys season and that is more impressive. He is looking not only to get AC their third straight title, but to claim a little tournament MVP crown. And with the way he has scored against EVERYONE this season, it will be hard to stop him even if you can slow him.
Kaleb Green, Bluffton
Green has had an up and down season, but has the potential to break out in any single game and it makes him dangerous in a week like this. He can be tough on the interior as a scorer and his rebounding ability certainly helps him get second chance opportunities, but he can also shoot a little bit so you can’t just protect the paint. He is also a good rim protector, including four blocks against Garrett earlier this season.
FULL BRACKET
Click Here to see Bounce’s full opening round predictions
Tuesday
Adams Central at Southern Wells, after girls game (7:30-8 pm tip)
Jay County at South Adams, after girls game (7:30-8 pm tip)
Bluffton at Woodlan, after girls game (7:30-8 pm tip)
Friday (host team will follow Tuesday girls winners)
Heritage vs. Adams Central/Southern Wells winner
Jay County/South Adams winner vs. Bluffton/Woodlan winner
Saturday
Championship, 6 pm at South Adams
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