8 1/2 weeks & Counting until the 2025-26 Hoops Season Tips Off !!!

[Hookshot]

Who are the best independents in Southeast Ohio?

Correct me on this information if I'm wrong ...BUT I believe the Twin State League no longer exists from last season - Warren, Marietta, Fort Frye & Point Pleasant ... I guess my answer to the independent question from Hookshot - Did the 3 Ohio teams - Warren/Marietta/Fort Frye join new leagues or did they become "Independents"? IF they became "Independents" - Marietta is going to be outstanding in basketball this season - they will debut in Pfloyd's Elite 8 top 5 when the preseason rankings come our Oct 31st ... Warren will struggle early as 100% of their offense is being replaced with JV/Freshmen team players from last season (be it the freshmen and JV's went 39-0) ... BUT look out for the Warriors after January 1st as the coaching staff will have players "figuring out" how to play at the varsity level, players will "figure out" how to score at the varsity level, players will "figure out" how to play D at the varsity level ... Warren out of the box will play a talented Logan team and top Southern Ohio SOC3 Portsmouth West team at Warrens the Warrior Clash at the Coliseum the 28, 29th of November ...

I am not aware of Fort Frye, Warren or Marietta joining another league. Agreed, Warren has a lot of basketball players who are ready to prove themselves on the varsity level. Marietta will have a very different team than the past three years -- but I think this year's team will be harder to beat than the 2023-24 squad that went 22-3 and finished 9th in the final state poll. Injuries could obviously affect that expectation, but we'll see.

[BuckeyeBlood]

oh and portsmouth gonna be very solid. Returned a lot from last year and return Adkins from injury. Im telling you that kid is a stud!!! Pair him w Connie Thomas and you got a heck of a 1-2 tandem and a loaded freshman class w atleast 2 of them ready to contribute varsity right now

Adkins a stud based off of what? Did not play last year and put up small numbers at Burg. He is athletic but I just don't see him being that good to put Portsmouth over the top. I think the freshman will struggle due to speed and strength of the game. Being successful in the summer is good but let's just face it, it's summer ball. I think the Trojans will finish .500 this season or a little above with a 1st round tournament exit.

these freshmen will not struggle.

[Hoopster98]

We shall see. I hope the best for them. I think once the season gets going then they will be fine but to start the season they will have some growing pains. Physical part of the game is what I think they will struggle with the most.

[SHACFan]

Eastern will be the favorite in the SHAC big school until proven otherwise, same can be said about Fairfield in the small. I do think this will be a very competitive and balanced league, I do not see too many games where many teams who can just roll out the balls and win on paper.

[OldHooper]

SOC 1 - ND
SOC 2 - Eastern Pike
SOC 3 - Waverly
FAC - Chillicothe
SHAC Big School Div - Eastern Brown
SHAC Small School Div - Fairfield
OVC - Peak
SVC - ZT
MSL - Fairfield Union
MVL - New Lexington (Uneducated guess)
TVC Ohio - Meigs
TVC Hocking - Southern

[OldHooper]

SOC III
Minford: A lot of new faces for Minford this season after graduating one of the best senior classes to ever play at Minford along with Coach Shoemaker retiring. This will be a group that will defend every night and will get better as the season progresses. The big question for them is who will step every night and be their consistent scorer? Reeder, Donahoe, Johnson, Glenn or someone else? A potential tournament run in D5 again?

South Webster: Like Minford they also graduated some great players. I was really disappointed to hear about Beau Stephens injury as I though that he was going to have a monster of a senior season. SW has Barnard, McClintic, Bennett and a highly talented freshman group led by Large that will play big time minutes this season. Has to be a favorite in D7 for another trip to OU.

Valley: Surprised a lot of people last year with a good run that included an upset of previously undefeated Chesapeake @ Peake. I look for this group to contend every night with a junior group of Dunham, Conaway, Lundy, Clark and Bender with Copen as the only senior on the team to go along with a well-rounded and talented sophomore class that includes Franke, Stuart, Howard and Keller. If they can stay healthy, they will be a force in D6 along with West.

Waverly: Super talented young team with a new energetic coach. This team led by Kage Alexander will be a force every night along with shooting by Hurt and athletic presence of the twins and Russell. Don’t sleep on the freshman Keesee as he is legit as well. Another D4 tournament run looks very likely.

West: This is one of the most talented teams in the area along with Burg and Waverly. Led by McIntire(Wolfenbarker) and Kegley, this team will get up and down the floor and pressure the rim offensively. Super athletic with good size and a great shooter in Adkins. Their 1-3-1 with great size in Miller as well will be a force every night. D6 powerhouse.

Wheelersburg: This will be a team that could be led in scoring by a different player each game. Rucker, McGraw and Bivens are the regular names that everyone knows but I also believe that Doerr and Xavier Miller will have monster seasons as well. Their only weakness will be a deep run in the football playoffs. Once they rid themselves of their football legs, this team will make a deep D5 tournament run.

jjmd24: Great rundown...SOC III is gonna be sick this season! Not many big men in the league this season, but mostly fast/athletic teams. Look for alot of games in 60s-70s.

And like burgpirater said, Minford not going to be the automatic W many people expecting. They still got some athletes, but going to have to play a different style of basketball than what we've seen last few seasons.

Right now, I'd say:

1. Burg
2. West
3. SW
4. Valley
5. Waverly
6. Minford

5 of 6 teams all capable of winning District Championships.*

Webster ahead of Valley & Waverly - come on now! Valley & Waverly both made a District Final and return everyone. Also both adding some depth.

I don’t think burg walks with this thing by any means.

1. Waverly/Burg 7-3
2. West/Valley 6-4
3. SW 4-6
4. Minford

There are some exciting players throughout the conference. The division is back with some vengeance after sending two teams to the State and 5 teams to District Finals. SOCIII clearly does not rebuild. It is loaded

[DragonDad]

In OVC I think Fairland will be fun to watch (new coach is heavy 3s and running the floor) but Chesapeake returns their top 4 scorers from an Elite 8 team that was a bucket from final 4. Their JV was really good so should be primed for a run.

[84Dragon]

I think Fairland will be fun to watch , I just dont think it will result in a lot of wins.
Chesapeake should be the favorite , Portsmouth will be pretty good also

[FalconFever02]

In OVC I think Fairland will be fun to watch (new coach is heavy 3s and running the floor) but Chesapeake returns their top 4 scorers from an Elite 8 team that was a bucket from final 4. Their JV was really good so should be primed for a run.

Bucket away?

[84Dragon]

In OVC I think Fairland will be fun to watch (new coach is heavy 3s and running the floor) but Chesapeake returns their top 4 scorers from an Elite 8 team that was a bucket from final 4. Their JV was really good so should be primed for a run.

Bucket away?

Those 15 point buckets are hard to come by