2023-24 preview: Underclassmen to lead area boys basketball squads

The boys basketball season tips off this weekend, and here's a look at the three county teams entering the season:

Coshocton

Coach: James Herman, 25 years overall

Season preview: New coaches, faces litter high school girls basketball squads

Last year's results: 11-13 record, finished the season winning 5 of 8 games, including a road upset of sixth seed Bellaire in the tournament.

Players graduated/losses: Zane Bryant, Camden Swigert

Returning letterwinners: Senior Bentley Cunningham; Senior Antwone Johns; Senior Coby Moore (10.7 points, 1.8 blocks); Junior Colton Conkle (averaged 18.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 3.8 steals); Junior Logan Lonsberry; Sophomore JJ Herman.

Key Newcomers: Seniors, 6-3 Aiden Braxton and 6-0 Gage Wright; Juniors, 6-5 Alex Taylor and 6-0 Blayden Workman -- This group of newcomers brings size, athleticism, and immediate depth

Quote: "They finished last season playing some very good basketball and created a buzz in the Coshocton community. The young men are working extremely hard and enjoying an exciting brand of basketball. While the season progresses, they will gain confidence and benefit from a brotherhood developing in Coshocton. The Redskins hope to be competitive in a tough Muskingum Valley League. The MVL had 5 teams in the district finals last season and expects to be full of knockdown, drag out battles every night. Therefore, the race to win either MVL Division should be an exciting one. New Lex is the team to beat in the Small School Division, but the Redskins hope to turn a few heads as the season progresses. The great competition on a nightly basis in the MVL prepares teams for that all important third season of the year: the OHSAA playoffs"

River View

Coach: Dale Jennings, 1st year

Last year's results: 8-15

Player losses: Owen Emig, Brody Border, Preston Yoder, Brody Shrimplin, Robbie Chandler, Scottie Guilliams.

Returning letterwinners: Junior forward Laired Williamson (Special Mention East District 6.4 points, 4 rebounds 1.7 steals, 1.4 assists), Sophomore center/forward Layton Massie (7.5 points, 6.7 rebounds), Junior Cael Summers.

Key Newcomers: Sophomore guard/forward Parker Andrews, Junior point guard Hayden Walters, Sophomore guard/forward Carter Wesney, Sophomore guard Reid Johnson.

Quote: "This team's strength will be its athleticism and flexibility with most of the top 8 players being lettermen coming off of a regional soccer team. One of our weaknesses will be our inexperience and learning a new system. We will depend heavily on newcomers to the varsity program, Parker Andrews, Carter Wesney and junior point guard Hayden Walters, who would have lettered last year if not for an injury. We will bring back returning starter in Laired Williamson and Layton Massie, who started half of last season. Our versatility and athleticism should allow us the time to develop and build a good team chemistry."

Ridgewood

Coach: Troy Dolick, 6th year

Last year's results: 4-19

Player losses: Kauelen Smith (3 year letter winner. 2nd Team IVC, Eastern District and District 5, averaged 13 points and 7 rebounds per game); Carter Fry (Averaged 12 points and 9 rebounds); Trent Warden (Averaged 3 points and 3 steals)

Returning letterwinners: Sophomore 6-0 guard Chris Matthews (Averaged 9 points, Honorable mention IVC); Sophomore 6-3 post Logan Ridenbaugh (Averaged 4 points, Honorable mention East District); Sophomore 5-10 guard Jackson Cabot (Averaged 4 points); Junior 6-2 Wing Grant Lahmers (Averaged 5 points); Junior 6-2 wing Kole Robinson; Sophomore 6-0 guard Jace McQueen

Key newcomers: Seniors Collin Ladrach (6-0 Post) and Carter Stanton (6-1 Wing); Junior 6-5 Post Carter Kelley; Sophomores Krishar McCormick (5-11 Wing), Braylon Williams (6-3 Wing) and Connor Croy (5-11 Guard) and Freshmen Parker Snyder (6-0 Post) and Andrew Kinsey (5-6 Guard).

Quote: "We will be an extremely young team this year, and our two seniors, Carter Stanton and Collin Ladrach, have been great leaders and role models throughout practices. We’ll mostly be led on the court with a couple of juniors and six sophomores. We expect our juniors to lead us as well with Grant Lahmers and Kole Robinson being key factors. Grant stepped up in football as the quarterback this year and we’re expecting him to be that same type of leader on the basketball court. Even though we’re young, a lot of these boys already have a lot of experience since four of our sophomores lettered as freshmen so they’ve been battle tested already which will help them coming into this year. They were thrown to the wolves last year, and we were really impressed with how they handled themselves. Chris and Logan are returning starters and Jackson will fill a big role in handling the point guard duties. We also expect sophomores Krishar McCormick and Braylon Williams to both contribute. Our schedule will be difficult competing in the loaded IVC this year, but I do know this group of boys will compete every single night and by the end of the season, I expect us to be playing our best basketball."

This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: Coshocton, Ridgewood, River View boys basketball preview