Mid-State League Preview

<p>&nbsp;</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Buckeye Division</strong></span></p> <p>This might be the weakest division of the entire league as there really isn’t many teams here that I could see making it deep into March. Best team on paper appears to be Bloom-Carroll who has a really good senior duo back in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1195115" first="Evan" last="Dozer"]</strong> and <strong>Jared Rose</strong>. Liberty Union is right there behind the Bulldogs as they too bring back two seniors from a 14 win team. Amanda-Clearcreek has a really solid player back in <strong>Clayton Rhyne </strong>(Sr) but is there enough back for the Aces to really challenge Bloom-Carroll or Liberty Union? Logan Elm was the best team in the division last year but graduated most of their key players. Circleville has 2 of their top 4 back from a 3 win team. Fairfield Union, Teays Valley, and Hamilton Township just don’t have enough back to be challenging the top of the division.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Cardinal Division</strong></span></p> <p>There’s no denying Harvest Prep is the top team in this division hands down. They’ve got a great backcourt in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1090148" first="Nyelle" last="Shaheed"]</strong> (Jr) and <strong>LA Pratt</strong> (Sr) and have more athleticism than anyone else in the division. In terms of next best, Wellington School likely takes the spot with senior <strong>Chase Oullette</strong> returning with his tremendous length for the Jaguars. Berne Union was a District Runner-Up a season ago, but lose Brock Unger from that team. Rosecrans had a late start last year and was above .500, but I don’t know if they have the talent to hang with Harvest Prep and the top half of the division. Same with Millersport as they lose leading scorer Mason Purvis.  Grove City Christian has promise but obviously they were a very young team with their top two returning guys being sophomores (<strong>Caleb Ransom</strong> and <strong>Seth Vaughn</strong>). Fisher Catholic was 10-7 last year but who is back for them? Fairfield Christian and Corning Miller just don’t have the depth or personnel to win in the division.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Ohio Division</strong></span></p> <p>The Ohio Division just might be the deepest division in the entire league as the top 3 in this division just might be able to contend with Harvest Prep as the top program in the league overall. Picking a clear cut favorite is hard but I’ll say who has a legitimate chance first. Buckeye Valley has to get it done this year. They have a solid core of seniors in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="921750" first="Troy" last="Scowden"], [player_tooltip player_id="902099" first="Dylan" last="Thompson"], </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1145717" first="Owen" last="Osborne"]. </strong>Is that enough though?  Worthington Christian is the defending Division III State Runner-Up, but graduate nearly all their top end talent from a season ago. Returning is sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1222350" first="Sam" last="Johnson"]</strong> and adding freshman <strong>Michael Redd Jr</strong>. The talent with this youth is still really good, but can that underclassmen talent beat a senior heavy Barons team? Whitehall graduated a ton too, but they add <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="992512" first="Seck" last="Zongo"]</strong> and <strong>KJ Satterfield</strong> both juniors and both from Oak Hills. If both are eligible the entire year, the Rams could give the younger Worthington Christian some battles while matching up well with Buckeye Valley. Bishop Ready has two talented juniors back in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="922603" first="Kaleb" last="Schaffer"]</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1201835" first="Luke" last="Ruth"]</strong>. They may be a year away though from being the top team in the division. Grandview Heights was in the Regional Semifinals a season ago and they bring back their two best players including <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1139737" first="Aiden" last="Leslie"]</strong> (Sr). The Bobcats can’t be slept on even though they are a Division IV team. Bexley and Columbus Academy are both bringing back 2 of their top 3, but I’m just not sure if that returning talent is going to matchup well with the overwhelming talent across the board in the entire division.</p>