Boys Basketball Capsules: A look at all 11 teams in the Marion area for 2023-24

The 2023-24 boys basketball season tips off Friday around the state. To get ready for the beginning of the year, the Marion Star is taking a capsule look at the area's varsity teams and how they look entering the season.

Cardington Pirates

• Conference: Knox Morrow Athletic Conference.

• Last Year: 8-15, 3-9.

• Coach: Jason Rice (second season, 8-15).

• Assistants: Scott Hardwick, Blake Miller, Elisha Browley.

• Roster: A.J. Hall (Sr., guard, letter), Merek McClure (Sr., C, letter), Isaiah Ward (Sr., forward/center), A.J. Brehm (Jr., G, letter), Kalin Briggs (Jr., G, letter), Denton Garrison (Jr,, G), Warren Garrison (Jr., G, letter), Samuel Jones (Jr., G), Brayden Lackey (Jr., C, letter), Zay Nippert (Jr., G), Logan Reynolds (Jr., G), Journey Williamson (Jr., G/F, letter).

• Notebook: The Pirates will be fast and athletic ... They return loads of experience, which will help in executing on offense and defense ... This is the second year with Rice so there will be continuity which was lacking in the program in recent years with coaching turnover ... Cardington needs to be more efficient on offense ... They lost four to graduation ... They are learning how to finish games in the fourth quarter, which is something the Pirates struggled with a year ago.

• Comment: "Our mindset going into this year has been working on how to finish in those situations and come out on top at the end of the game," Rice said.

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Elgin Comets

• Conference: Northwest Central Conference.

• Last Year: 14-10, 6-3.

• Coach: Layne McElroy (first season).

• Assistants: Cole Nicolosi, Colin Rife.

• Roster: Stephen Castillo-Carey (Sr., 5-10, G, 9.8 points per game, honorable mention NWCC, HM District 11, letter), Jacob Brown (Sr., 5-11, F, letter), Donaven Stith (Sr., 6-0, F), Ronnie Newman (Sr., 6-0, F), Nash Lust (Jr., 5-8, G), Malachi Frye (Jr., 6-0, G), Landon Shepard (Jr., 6-2, F), Barrett Helms (Jr., 5-9, G), Nate Freshour (So., 5-10, F), Peyton Zempter (So., 5-9, G).

• Notebook: McElroy, an Elgin grad and the junior varsity coach, moved up to replace Bill Clem as the head coach ... Clem was the longest-tenured boys basketball coach in school history ... The Comets will be a whole new team after the graduation of Carson Rife, Harrison Sager, Isaac Dillon, Breckin Dugan and Darrin Zier ... Elgin will lean on its perimeter play and shooting ... It will be a tough group that will play defense ... They lack size and depth.

• Comment: "With an inexperienced team, we are looking to develop experience and depth while competing early in the season, We expect to be a scrappy and tough group," McElroy said.

Gilead Christian Eagles

• Conference: Independent Christian Schools of Ohio Athletic Conference, East Division.

• Last Year: 7-14, 6-12.

• Coach: Jay Baldridge (fourth season, 19-46).

• Assistants: Nick Eanes, Chad Persinger, Kyle Anderson.

• Roster: Talan Blankenship (Jr., 6-1, G, 12.5 ppg, letter, All-ICSO), Denim Myers (Sr., 6-4, post, 5.8 rebounds per game, letter), Diesel Myers (Jr., 6-2, G, 2.2 assists per game, letter, All-ICSO), Aden Wagner (Jr., 5-7, G, letter), Seth Bertram (Jr., 6-1, F, letter), Kirby Roles (Sr., 6-1, F, letter), Brayden Hunter (Sr., 5-8, G, letter), Jadenn Strickler (So., 5-9, G), Joe Bossard (So., 6-0, F), Gage Beacom (Fr., 5-7, G), Max Keller (Fr., 5-10, G), Nathan Bossard (Fr., 6-2, P), William Saunders (So., 6-1, P), Jackson Keller (So., 6-3, F), Trent Ferguson (Fr., 5-11, F).

• Notebook: The Eagles now have experienced upperclassmen who have been through the program as well as younger players who have grown up through the elementary school program with Gilead Christian ... They have a lot of depth ... They are athletic enough to run and play aggressive on defense ... They must replace Caleb Hunter who set the school record for career assists ... They lost some size inside ... The younger players will be counted on to compete right away.

• Comment: "We want to take a shot at finishing first in our division and make a run in the postseason. We expect to be in a lot of ballgames this year," Baldridge said.

Highland Scots

• Conference: Mid Ohio Athletic Conference.

• Last Year: 7-16, 1-13.

• Coach: Ryan Stover (first season).

• Assistants: Jared McPeak, Garrett Fitzpatrick.

• Roster: Toby Rogers, Cooper Young, Owen Winkelfoos, Brayden Benedict, Jace Brooks, Kadyn Reichenbach, Aron West, Gavin Zamer, Ben Evans, Ranger Steck, Jak'ai Wilson, Dane Nauman, Bryan Mullins.

• Notebook: Stover is a Highland grad and takes over as the head coach after a stint as the head coach at Galion ... The Scots have just three letter winners in Nauman, Steck and West ... The team is long and athletic ... They've shown competitiveness and unity.

• Comment: "We are looking to be very competitive in every game with such a strong conference," Stover said. "A lot of new faces are playing varsity so youth will have to grow."

Marion Harding Presidents

• Conference: Mid Ohio Athletic Conference.

• Last Year: 14-8, 10-4.

• Coach: Jamie Pearson (third season, 27-17; ninth overall, 110-59).

• Assistants: Don Worstell, Scott Murphy, Curtis Manley, Tyrell Grant.

• Returnees: Marquis Long Jr. (Sr., 6-1, G, 16.8 ppg, first-team MOAC, first-team District 11, HM All-Ohio in Division I, two letters), Braylyn Dyer (Sr., 6-1, G, 8.1 ppg, letter), Alex Stokes (Sr., 6-3, F, 2.4 ppg, two letters), Trey Cady (Sr., 6-7, F, 4.8 ppg, letter), Logan Thrapp (Jr., 5-11, G, 8 ppg, two letters), Parker Iden (Jr., 5-11, G, 1 ppg, letter), Boston Pearson (So., 6-5, F, letter).

• Notebook: The Presidents will make a holiday trip to Florida to play three games ... Their strength is with their four senior returnees ... They will have strong guard play ... The Prexies lack depth ... Jeff Jones, who was the MOAC's second leading rebounder, and starting guard Jayden Jones graduated, while Leden Jones and Marcus Hemphill transferred to Buckeye Valley.

• Comment: According to Pearson, Harding wants to finish in the upper half of the MOAC standings with Shelby, River Valley and Pleasant likely to be in the mix.

Mount Gilead Indians

• Conference: Knox Morrow Athletic Conference.

• Last Year: 11-12, 7-5.

• Coach: Nathan Davis (first season).

• Assistants: Gary Bartlett, Travis Perry, Nic Pomeroy.

• Roster: Rowan Fitzpatrick (Jr., 5-9, G, letter, 5.2 ppg, 73 assists, 28 steals, 53 rebounds), Cameron Vickers (Jr., 6-1, F, letter, 2.3 ppg, 67 rebounds), Cole Fricke (So., 5-11, G, letter, 21 rebounds), Carson Trainer (Jr., 6-1, F, letter, 1.5 ppg, 35 rebounds), Gage Baker (So., 6-2, F, letter), Hayden Somerlot (So., 5-7, G), Mitch Sayers (Sr., 6-5, F), Jacob Wilt (So., 5-7, G), Hayden Pangborn (Jr., 5-10, F), Hunter Lister (So., 6-0, G).

• Notebook: Davis is in his first season as the head boys basketball coach at Mount Gilead ... He has served as a girls head coach in his career ... The Indians must replace All-Ohio guard Matthew Bland who averaged 20 points per game and was the KMAC Player of the Year, plus all-leaguers and double-digit scorers Aaron Gannon and Carter Kennon ... They are extremely young this season and don't have a lot of experience ... The Indians will push the ball on offense.

• Comment: "The team will need to handle the ups and downs that come with being young and lacking varsity experience. We will need to learn to move forward and become better every day of the season," Davis said.

Northmor Golden Knights

• Conference: Knox Morrow Athletic Conference.

• Last Year: 15-10, 8-4, Division IV district runners-up.

• Coach: Blade Tackett (fourth season, 31-40).

• Assistants: Justin Mattix, John Donner, Mark Wiseman.

• Roster: Grant Bentley (Sr., 6-3, 17.9 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 1 apg, two-time first-team KMAC, first-team Central District, two-time All-Ohio), Jax Wenger (Jr., 6-2, 14 ppg, 4 rpg, 5.2 apg, first-team KMAC, second-team Central District, HM All-Ohio), Hunter Fulk (Sr., 5-10, 8.2 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 1.9 apg), Drew Hammond (Sr., 6-3, 3.1 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 1 apg), Bryson Keirns (Sr., 6-2, 2.2 ppg, 1.5 rpg), Isaac Black (Sr., 6-1, 1.9 ppg, 1.6 rpg), A.J. Bower (Jr., 6-0, letter), Bo Landin (Jr., 6-0, letter), Logan Caudill (Sr., 5-8, letter).

• Notebook: The Golden Knights bring back a wealth of experience and talent from last year's district finalist, which is the furthest a Northmor basketball team has gone in the postseason ... There is buy-in from every player ... They are selfless and unified and concerned only on team success ... They will not concern themselves with things they cannot control ... They only lost all-league post player Maxton Lower to graduation.

• Comment: "Expectations are high for this team. Every year our goal is to compete at a high level in conference games as well as continue our playoff success from last season," Tackett said.

North Union Wildcats

• Conference: Central Buckeye Conference Mad River Division.

• Last Year: 11-13, 5-5.

• Coach: Ryan Grose (second season, 11-13; 12th overall, 122-166).

• Assistants: Mitch Loomis, Steve Allen.

• Roster: Max Parish (Sr., 6-3, F, 17 ppg, 6 rpg, 3.3 spg, first-team CBC, HM All-Ohio in Division III), Nolan Draper (Sr., 6-0, G, 8.4 ppg, 2.1 apg, SM CBC), Miles Hall (Jr., 6-3, G, 10.8 ppg, 3.7 rpg, second-team CBC), Tyler Krebehenne (Jr., 5-9, G, 6.7 ppg, 1.5 apg), Rylan Keever (Sr., 6-0, F, 1.8 ppg, 1.5 rpg), Mason Bright (Sr., 6-1, G), Tyler Huff (Sr., 5-11, G), Eli Hudson (Sr., 6-5, F), Wyatt Davis (Jr., 6-2, F), Eli Bennett (Jr., 6-1, F), Nickolas Hajjar (Fr., 5-10, G).

• Notebook: The Wildcats return their top three scorers and six seniors ... They have added depth ... North Union will have the ability to play big or small as well as full-court press or control the pace of the game with half-court defense ... This is their second year in Grose's system so they should be adjusted ... They need to be more consistent and better handle adversity ... They lost three to graduation including starter Richie Bolander.

• Comment: "Each year we expect to compete for a CBC title and a district title," Grose said.

Pleasant Spartans

• Conference: Mid Ohio Athletic Conference.

• Last Year: 12-11, 7-7.

• Coach: Ben Snively (11th season, 143-98; 19th overall, 233-183).

• Assistants: Bob Smith, Paul Kuzio, Ty Williams, Jacob Harter.

• Roster: Trey Booker (G, 20 ppg, 2 apg, first-team MOAC and District 11, HM All-Ohio in Division III), Nick Blubaugh (F, 6 ppg, 4 rpg), Carson King (SG, 8 ppg), Wiley Smith (G, 8 ppg, 3 apg), J.T. Snively (G), Jack Grooms (C), Jackson Kitts (G), Owen Lowry (F), Lathan McCants (G), Jace Trachtenberg (F), Brennan Ringer (F), Evan Sickmiller (F).

• Notebook: The Spartans brings back a lot of experience with many multi-time letter winners ... They have depth and shooting ... The defense will be solid ... Defensive rebounding is an issue, but they hope their young big men can develop, which will help on the boards ... They graduated three from a year ago in RIley Shaffer, Carver Kline and Devon Horn.

• Comment: "With our experience, our goal will be to win more than we did a season ago. We have to beat some of the team we are not supposed to beat. We play in a difficult league and being consistent night-in and night-out will be key. With our experience, we need to get more players closer to double digits each game. Coming together as a team is our No. 1 goal and expectation," Snively said.

Ridgedale Rockets

• Conference: Northwest Central Conference.

• Last Year: 3-20, 0-8.

• Coach: Michael Mathey (fifth season, 17-76; eighth overall, 28-125).

• Assistants: Hunter Hooper, Kyle Mathey, Sam Leach, Michael Burns.

• Roster: Landon Murphy (Sr., 5-10, letter), Devin Buckley (Sr., 5-9), Nathan Thiel (Sr., 6-0, letter), Wayne Flemming (Jr., 5-9), Brayden Townsend (Jr., 6-2, letter), Carlos Malone (Jr., 6-1), Evan Ricketts (So., 6-3, letter), Brogan Weston (So., 5-10), Vince Shuster (So., 5-9), Eric Gottfried (So., 5-11), Kayden Kraviec (So., 6-1), Michael Deas (So., 6-0), Isaac Lust (So., 5-8).

• Notebook: The Rockets have good size and four experienced returnees ... Scoring and handling pressure remain concerns for Ridgedale ... Sophomore J.J. Slaughterbeck is out for the season with a knee injury ... Gage Gleespen and Jakob Gibson graduated, and two others decided not to play this year ... Ridgedale is expected to be markedly improved.

• Comment: "I think we have a good shot to compete for the league," Mathey said.

River Valley Vikings

• Conference: Mid Ohio Athletic Conference.

• Last Year: 19-6, 12-2, Division II district runners-up.

• Coach: Rodney Brown (fifth season, 58-36; 12th overall, 127-129).

• Assistants: Scott Crawford, Drew Sickmiller, Brian Spires, Josh Loyer, Ethan Bell.

• Roster: Carson Smith (Sr., 6-4, G, 15.8 ppg, 49% 2-pt, 34% 3-pt, 66% FT, 4.2 rpg, 2.7 apg, 2 spg, 1 bpg, first-team MOAC and District 11, second-team Central District, HM All-Ohio, two-time All-Ohioan, three letters), Chase Ebert (Jr., 6-0, G, 8.2 ppg, 53% 2-pt, 33% 3-pt, 73% FT, 2.8 rpg, 5.9 apg, 2 spg, second-team MOAC and District 11, two letters), Ayden Kenney (Sr., 6-3, F, 4 ppg, 49% 2-pt, 21% 3-pt, 69% FT, 3.4 rpg, 1 apg, two letters), Sawyer Weston (Jr., 6-2, G, 2.7 ppg, 49% 2-pt, 75% FT, 1.4 rpg, 1 apg, letter), Xavier Hensel (Sr., 5-9, G, 1 ppg, 100% FT, letter), Chase Smith (So., 6-1, G), Owen Osting (Jr., 6-4, F), Hudson Pollock (Jr., 6-2, G), Luke Axline (Jr., 6-0, G), Eyan Axline (Jr., 6-0, G), Carter Logan (So., 6-5, C), Eli Snyder (So., 5-10, G).

• Notebook: The Vikings bring back several experienced players ... Guard play will be a strength as they have several who can handle the ball and shoot ... The Vikes take pride in getting stops on defense ... They have a team-first attitude, plus toughness and a desire to win ... Rebounding is a concern ... They won't be as big as a year ago, so the guards need to help on the boards ... They need to find chemistry between the veterans and the varsity newcomers ... All-Ohio post player Carson Myers, who was the Marion Star Player of the Year, graduated along with Blake and Brock Mosher, Allen Holtz, Mason Miracle and Grant Butler.

• Comment: "Our goals are to always play hard, tough, intense and aggressive each night," Brown said. "(We want) to be in the race for a MOAC title and to make it back to districts. The returning players from last year know how it felt to get that far and come up short."

Compiled by Rob McCurdy, rmccurdy@gannett.com, 419-610-0998, X formerly Twitter @McMotorsport, Instagram @rob_mccurdy_star

This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Get a peek at all the area's boys basketball teams for 2023-24