D.L.B

  Tonight at Logan High School, two of the best small school basketball teams met for a trip to the semifinals. Waterford and Hiland. The crowd was large and vocal at times. The referees were inconsistent at times, making it hard to watch. The opening quarter would see three ties and two lead changes, but from there, it was all Waterford and Kendall Sury. Sury was as solid as any player I have watched all season. She finished with 26 points. I believe she missed five shots all night. Most of her scoring was done inside, where she looked unstoppable. Waterford led 10-6 after one. The second quarter would see Waterford outscore Hiland 14-8. The best way to describe the play of Hiland in the quarter and the rest of the game was that all but two of their players seemed afraid to shoot the rock. Joplin Yoder (13 points and six boards) and Trish Troyer (15 points and 5 boards) would account for 28 of the 34 points that Hiland would score. Waterford would outscore Hiland 14-8 in the third...

  Kha’Z Simon Licking Heights High School Small Forward, Power Forward, Center 2026 6’8, 190 Awards won or earned: Honorable mention in LCL, District champion What makes being a student-athlete at Licking Heights so special? The improvement I have seen in my game since freshman year: I’m a lot more athletic and developed and have a chance in college basketball. What is the toughest aspect of being a student-athlete at Licking Heights? The competition in my sport is that everyone on my team is good enough to play minutes, so it makes me work even harder, getting better every day. How long have you played basketball, and who or what got you started? I started playing basketball my freshman year. I used to play soccer, and the basketball coach at my old school asked me to play. What is your favorite and least favorite drill to do at practice? I don’t have a favorite drill. I dislike any drill; everything is needed for me to get better. What has been the biggest moment for you during t...

  Last night at Mt. Vernon Nazarene University, the #1 seeded Patriot Prep Academy Eagles (17-6) battled the #9 seed Newark Catholic Green Wave (7-17). According to the game preview, the Eagles had eight seniors on their roster, while Newark Catholic had just two. The Eagles also had a nice size advantage, and they were the much quicker of the two teams. The crowd on the Green Wave side was loud and vocal, including the student section off to the side under the basket on the top level. The Prep crowd was smallish and loud and, during the opening half, very upset with the refs. Two fans standing directly behind me went as far as to say the referees were cheating. When things started going well for the Eagles, their fans seldom complained. For the game, in the first half, Newark Catholic was able to control all aspects. They used a slow-me-down type of offense with crisp, clean passes that allowed easy and open shots, and they boxed out well to help take away the Eagles height advant...

  Bryce Lyttle West Clermont High School TE 2028 6’2, 230 What were your goals for the 2024 season? Dominating the competition. What is the toughest part of practice? Nothing. I love all of it. What is your favorite part of practice? Competition days. Where on the field do you believe you are best suited to play? I feel like I would be a great fit at a middle linebacker position. W hat is the strongest part of your game? I believe the strongest part of my game is my confidence to go against anyone ahead of me and be ready to take them. Which part of your game must you improve on the most? One thing I would like to do better is cut out unhealthy food. Turf or grass? Turf 100% Which type of weather is the worst to play in? None. I love playing football in all weather. As an athlete, what has been your biggest moment in any sport at any age? My best moment was when I got the opportunity to start varsity football my freshman year of high school. What has been your most embarrassing mom...

  Using the rosters from MaxPreps and Hudl* Tonight in girls tournament play, the Green Bobcats (22-1) battled the Hiland Hawks (21-4). Hiland would lead 21-12 at the end of one quarter. Early on, it was easy to see that the Hawks were going to try and win this one by nailing down the three. Overall, the Hawks would hit 11-28 from beyond the arc. The Hawks led 35-22 at the half. For Green, they had just two players score in the half. After three, Hiland led 47-30. At one point this was a 37-30 game, then Hiland went on a 15-0 run to all but end this one. As the game went on from my perspective, it appeared all but two of the Green players were afraid to shoot the ball. Overall, Green would have just three players score, with only two scoring from the field. The final would be 57-35 Hiland. Leading the Hawks with a double-double was Joplin Yoder (15 points and 13 boards). Macy Mullet, Ellie Habeger, and Evie Mast scored 10 apiece. For the Bobcats, Abbie Knapp is listed as a freshman...

  Dylan Daube Newark Catholic Point guard 2026 6’0 165 Awards won or earned: LCL Cardinal 2nd team, 1st team all district 11 Who or what got you started playing basketball? As a kid I played pretty much every sport, but basketball was the sport that clicked for me. I fell in love with the game, and it became my escape and my passion. How long have you been playing? I’ve been playing basketball my whole life. Which part of your game do you feel you need to work on the most? I need to keep perfecting my shot and improve my range. Which part of your game do you feel is the strongest? I would say my court vision and IQ are two of my biggest strengths as a player. What makes you a good teammate? I’m always looking to make the right play, even if that means passing up a shot to get a teammate an open look. Basketball is a team game, and when everyone works together, we all succeed. What is the best part of being a member of the Newark Catholic basketball team? I love being a member of th...

    Daniel Goodson Union Local OL-DL-OLB  2025 6’ 195 lbs Awards won or earned:Second Team East District, All Valley Honorable Mention, First Team Buckeye 8, First Team OVAC, Rick Bailey Heart and Hustle What were your feelings as you walked off the field for the last time as a member of the Union Local Football Team? I remember thinking to myself WoW it's been a long time coming, but I’m not ready for it,this can’t be my last time playing with all my brothers. It never really set in, that things were going to be over until I took that first step off of the field, it was a  very Surreal feeling. I still can’t believe it is over. What are you going to miss the most from playing high school football? The Friday feeling - There was nothing like waking up at 6am,putting your jersey on and going to school with your boys. The feelings throughout the day as the hours were counting down,there was nothing like it. Then heading to the locker room, locking in to play your tail ...

  Michael “Mikemike’” Daniels Bishop Ready HS PG SG 2027 Height and Weight: 5’9, 135 Awards won or earned: CBL 2nd team How long have you played basketball, and who or what got you started? Age 4 Marion Franklin Rec Center What were your goals for your team for the 2024-2025 season? Win the CBL, which we did not, and cut down nets at Districts. What were your personal goals for the season? Earn CBL 1st or 2nd team What has been the highlight of the season? 1st Franklin Heights game. Neighborhood rivalry, I knew a few players from the team. It was very competitive. What has been the toughest part of the season? Losing our 1st game vs. Columbus Academy in double OT, we had a couple of chances to seal the win and didn’t execute like we were supposed to. Who has been the best player that you have faced in a game? Theo Falkenhain from Academy. Very smart, high-IQ player. Which team has been the best team that you have faced this season, along with the thing that made them so good? Colu...

  Justus Miles Whitehall High School DE/FB 2025 5’10, 208 Awards won or earned: Honorable mention/outstanding defensive linemen What was the highest point of the 2024 season? Making it to the district championships What was the lowest point of the 2024 season? Starting off the season slow Who was the best player that you faced in a game during the 2024 season, along with the team he played for? The best player I faced in the 2024 season would have to be Peyton Falzone and Nazareth. What were your feelings as you walked off the field for the last time as a member of the Whitehall football team? It was a bittersweet moment, but good things must come to an end. What makes you a good teammate? I’m reliable. If you are invited to play in any of the all-star games, will you? Explain. Yes, I will play if invited to any games to end my high school career with a win. What was the high point of your high school football career? The highest point was probably junior year against Southern Lehi...

  Ridgewood came into their tourney game setting at 11-11 while Barnsville came in just 8-14. The two teams seemed to be very close in talent, which would show as the game went on. Neither team throughout could put the other away, with the biggest lead being just seven points for the Shamrocks up until the final margin of eight. The first quarter ended with the visiting Shamrocks up 12-10. Neither team seemed to be able to get into an offensive rhythm as the defenses forced several near misses. In the second quarter, Barnsville held check leading 19-17. For Barnsville, Casey Carpenter was the workhorse, scoring 9 of his 13 points in the half. He also added a total of 9 rebounds. For Ridgewood, Jackson Cabot had 9 of his 11 points in the half. The third quarter would see Ridgewood maintain their lead at 28-26. Both teams had the lead at times, but the Shamrocks did just enough to take the lead heading into the final frame. The final frame was tough on both teams, with Barnsville pul...