OHSAA Division IV Preseason Top 5

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The OHSAA season tips off December 1st and we'll be giving our readers all the info they need to know to prepare for the start of the 2023-24 season. In each Division, we'll be breaking down the top teams that we think have a chance to make it all the way to Dayton. In this article, we start in Division IV where a lot of familiar faces start at the top.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">1. Richmond Heights</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The unquestioned top team in the state in Division IV, the Spartans are playing a schedule with national prep powerhouses after going unbeaten in 2022-23 and finishing with their second consecutive state championship. They return their entire starting five of [player_tooltip player_id='1432006' first='De'Erick' last='Barber'], [player_tooltip player_id='1432020' first='Demarris' last='Winters Jr'], [player_tooltip player_id='1432015' first='Dorian' last='Jones'], [player_tooltip player_id='1352459' first='Hosea' last='Steele'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1679931' first='Jeremy' last='Wilson']. The Spartans also added transfer [player_tooltip player_id='1705953' first='Tj' last='Crumble'] to further bolster their frontcourt. The Spartans are prohibitive favorites to lift another state championship this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2. Russia</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the state semifinals, Russia didn't back down from Richmond Heights and gave them all they could handle for a majority of the game. They return lots of key pieces from last years squad and players like [player_tooltip player_id='2138693' first='Hayden' last='Quinter'], [player_tooltip player_id='2385576' first='Braylon' last='Cordonnier'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2385573' first='Benjamin' last='York'] returning, expect Russia to be a tough out once again this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">3. Marion Local</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another team that's made deep playoff runs yearly with even a couple state titles this century, Marion Local will be a tough out once again. Led by two bigs in [player_tooltip player_id='1404789' first='Jack' last='Knapke'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1432036' first='Austin' last='Niekamp'], the guard play will determine how far Marion Local goes this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">4. Patrick Henry</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A team Marion Local ended their season, I think Patrick Henry could have a chance to get revenge this March. With [player_tooltip player_id='1837240' first='Lincoln' last='Creager'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1837251' first='Mack' last='Hieber'] leading the way, they have more experience than they had in a district title winning season last year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">5. Troy Christian</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After a great 2022-23 year, Troy Christian is back with star senior duo of [player_tooltip player_id='1467911' first='Parker' last='Penrod'] and Frank Rupnik. One of the oldest teams in the state, five of their six leading scorers last year were Juniors. With all that talent returning, expect even more from Troy Christian this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->