Mid-Season Outlook: GMC Conference
The Greater Miami Conference is always one of the more competitive conferences in the Cincinnati Region. With three schools ranked in the top 5 of the latest Cincinnati Enquirer Division I poll, there is no shortage of talent or good teams in this conference. Here is Prep Hoops mid-season report and final conference standings for the GMC. Conference records are indicated in the parenthesis.
Standings:
Oak Hills 4-1 (3-0)
Mason 4-1 (2-1)
Lakota East 2-2 (2-1)
Middletown 2-2 (2-1)
Sycamore 3-4 (2-1)
Fairfield 5-1 (1-1)
Lakota West 2-3 (1-2)
Hamilton 1-5 (1-2)
Princeton 3-3 (0-2)
Colerain 0-5 (0-3)
For many this looks to be a two school race between Oak Hills and Mason, but Lakota East should not be discounted from this conversation with Fairfield not that far behind. Oak Hills holds the edge over Mason with a 6 point victory on December 16th on the road with their next meeting coming at Oak Hills on January 27th. Neither Mason nor Oak Hills has played Lakota East yet, a team lead by junior G Jarrett Cox and his 21.5ppg average. Cox is the type of player who can put a team on his back offensively and when you have a player like that on your side you always have a chance to win the ballgame. While Fairfield has gotten off to a very strong start, I am not sure that they have the depth to play with Oak Hills, Mason or Lakota East. Also keep an eye for Princeton during the second half of the season and leading up to the state playoffs. The Vikings were with the OHSAA ruling that caused star junior Darius Bazley to sit out the first 11 games due to transfer rules. But during this time Darweshi Hunter has played well averaging 17.5ppg for the season. Dominic Pierce is also starting to hit his stride averaging 19ppg over his last two ballgames. With Hunter and Pierce playing well when Bazley does come back Princeton could go a run toward the upper half of the GMC standings.
Predicted Standings:
Oak Hills
Mason
Lakota East
Fairfield
Princeton
Middletown
Sycamore
Lakota West
Hamilton
Colerain