HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL RETURNS

Compiled by Dave Walsh THE INSIDER writer.

Fairland High School will have a new lineup in boys basketball in 2018-19.

The group of players which helped the Dragons rule the Ohio Valley Conference, Ohio sectional and district tournaments the past three years has moved on.

Luke Thomas, Kollin VanHorn, Ty Staten, Keedrick Cunningham, Isaiah Howell are playing on the college level now. Chance Short was a factor for two years before transferring.

Not all faces on this Fairland team are new. Instead many of them are going from part-time to full-time.

“It was a heck of a run,” Dragons coach Nathan Speed said about the four years with those players who won won three OVC titles, three sectional titles, two district crowns and reached the Ohio State Tournament in Division III in 2017. “Good timing. I was fortunate enough to be part of it. Guys who are seniors now practiced against those guys every day. They know what it takes. They’re focused and ready to go. I think it’ll be that next level. Who’s going to step up.”

The top seven Dragons starting the regular season include Jacob Polcyn, Aiden Porter, Joel Lambiotte, Matt Mondlak, Austin Gartin, Ian Chinn and Clayton Thomas. Lambiotte, Mondlak and Chinn are seniors.

“These seniors are competitors. We’ll surprise some people in that aspect,” Speed said. “A lot will depend on how quickly the younger guys learn. Game situations are different. The young guys have to grow up quick.”

Fairland won its opener at South Webster, 51-38.

Gallia Academy, which features 7-foot center Zach Loveday, is viewed as the team to beat in the OVC. Speed said don’t count out Ironton either.

“Gallia’s tough,” Speed said. “If Ironton stays healthy they can compete. Our schedule is tough again. When the seniors we lost were young, they had to grow up fast. That’s what has to happen now.” Here is the outlook for the remainder of Tri-State teams.

West Virginia HUNTINGTON: The Highlanders have a new coach in Ty Holmes, who takes over from Ron Hess. Huntington reached the Class AAA State Tournament last season and lost to eventual champion George Washington in the first round.

CABELL MIDLAND: The Knights have a young impact player in freshman Chandler Schmidt, a transfer from Huntington St. Joe. He had 23 points in Cabell Midland’s opening win over Grace Christian. Isaiah Collins also is scoring threat for the Knights.

SPRING VALLEY: Graeson Malashevich and Caleb Fowler are back for the Timberwolves along with Doug Nester. Malashevich and Nester got a late start since the football team reached the Class AAA state title game in Wheeling on Dec. 1.

HUNTINGTON ST. JOE: Hunter Eplin, Noah Bolton and Bronson Parker are the sparks for the Irish.

WAYNE: Colt Adams and Nick Bryant led the Pioneers in scoring in their game at Logan.

GRACE CHRISTIAN: Isaac Perry is expected to be the top point producer.

COVENANT: Covenant started off with a 78-44 win over Ohio Valley Christian.

TOLSIA: Senior Jacob Mollett returns after averaging 11 points a game last season. He has good range and can rack up assists, too. William Spaulding and newcomers Peyton Watts and Braxton Watts will provide depth.

LINCOLN COUNTY: Hunter Hill, Tanner Walls and Kadin Beckelheimer are top scoring threats for Lincoln County.

POINT PLEASANT: The Big Blacks try to rebound from a 3-18 campaign a year ago under coach Josh Willams.

HANNAN: Dalton Coleman went over 1,000 points for his career in a win over Ohio Valley Christian to make coach/dad Shawn Coleman proud. He’s the eighth Hannan player to surpass 1,000 career points.

Ohio

IRONTON: Plenty of experience back for coach Mark LaFon’s Fighting Tigers led by Charlie Large, Ethan Wilson and Reid Carrico. Large had 28 points and Carrico 25 in season-opening win over Spring Valley.

CHESAPEAKE: Four starters back for Panthers led by sophomore Eli Archer, who had solid freshman year, and Austin Jackson.

SOUTH POINT: Pointers have two standouts back in Tayshawn Fox and post player Austin Webb. Fox, back from a knee injury suffered last season, had 17 in the opening game at Cabell Midland.

GALLIA ACADEMY: The Blue Devils feature one of the region’s top players/ college prospects in 7-foot junior Zach Loveday. Ohio State, Purdue, Xavier, Ohio University and Louisville are schools on Loveday’s recruiting radar. He had 35 points in a 63-61 loss to Columbus Africentric in Portsmouth.

ROCK HILL: Kadin France netted 17 points and grabbed 15 rebounds in the Redmen’s win at Wellston.

COAL GROVE: Aaron Music is a threat to score and on the boards for the Hornets. Casey Borders returns, too, but they have some key positions to fill.

PORTSMOUTH: Leading scorer Matthew Fraulini returns and 6-3 Miles Shipp transfers in from Notre Dame. Trojans lost four starters. Watch for Danny Lattimore, Myquel McKinley, Devin McLaurin and Michael Duncan.

WHEELERSBURG: The Pirates feature one of the area’s top inside players in 6-foot-6 Tanner Holden. The son of former Marshall University standout Rodney Holden already has signed a letter of intent to play college basketball at Wright State. He averaged 18 points and 11 rebounds per game last season. J.J. Truitt is another player to watch.

IRONTON ST. JOE: The Flyers have a new home in the Parish Life Center gym and new coach in Chris Barnes. Ryan Payne hit for 20 points in win at Symmes Valley. Keep an eye on J.C. Damron as well.

SYMMES VALLEY: Jack Leith netted 30 points for the Vikings in their opener against South Gallia. Luke Leith had 13 points in loss to Ironton St. Joe.

GREEN: Tayte Carver hit for 25 in win over Clay and Gage Sampson added 13. Watch for Tanner Kimbler, too.

OAK HILL: 6-5 Mason Darby runs the show for coach Norm Persin’s Oaks. 6-4 Chase Hammond key player, too, on the inside. Persin will work to have the team at its best by tournament time.

SOUTH GALLIA: Rebels opponents have to focus on Nick Hicks, Braxton Hardy and Eli Ellis.

Kentucky ASHLAND: The Tomcats have a new head coach in Jason Mays. Players to watch include left-hander Devaunte Robinson, Hunter Mays, Ethan Hudson and Justin Bradley. Freshman Cole Villers, who started as an eighth-grader, suffered a knee injury over the summer and hopes to be back by mid-January.

BOYD COUNTY: The Lions look to develop new contributors this season as the senior class that featured MVP Gunner Short led them to the 16th Region title and spot in the Sweet 16. Senior Talbott Taylor can score inside or perimeter. Blake Stewart, who made some noise in the Sweet 16 last season, is back, too.

RUSSELL: The Red Devils have a makeover to do. Tristan Miller leads the way at shooting guard. Brady Bell, 6-foot-3 freshman, could be impact player.

GREENUP COUNTY: Robert Amis is the new head coach of the Musketeers, who lost seven players from a year ago. Brady Nelson and Brady Burchett must step up and eyes are on 7th-grader Zander Carter.

FAIRVIEW: Noah King, 6-foot-3, is one of five returning seniors. Junior Terrick Smith shot 41.2 percent from 3-point range last season.

RACELAND: Guard Kirk Pence and perimeter player Greg Mershon are two key players for the Rams this season. They also get help from Kyle Adkins, a transfer from Ironton.

ROSE HILL CHRISTIAN: Juniors Kenny Wilburn, Trey Phelps and Stephen Barker are the leaders for the Royals.