Fort Jennings’ Hannah Grote (left) and Kalida’s Camille Hovest compete for a rebound during a 2022 Division IV sectional semifinal. Both return this year with Hovest having been selected honorable mention all-Putnam County League last season.
PCL
Columbus Grove
Division: IV
Coach: Brian Schroeder (10th season)
2021-22 overall record: 18-7
2021-22 conference record 6-2 NWC (tied for second); 6-1 PCL (tied for first)
2022 postseason finish: Lost 49-43 to Toledo Christian in regional semifinals
Returning 2021-22 varsity letter winners: Jaylen Sautter (Sr.), Sage Clement (Sr.), Brynn Fortman (Sr.), Lauryn Auchmuty (Soph.)
Others on varsity roster: Abby Stechschulte (Jr.), Nicole Nesby (Fr.), Elyse Fortman (Fr.), Jade Siefker (Jr.), Ruth Myers (Fr.), Kendal Palte (Fr.)
Coach’s analysis: We lost four seniors from last year’s team. They accouunted for 50% of our offensive production as well as our leaders on the court. Especially missed will be Kenzie King (four-year starter), and Savanah Ridenour (three-year starter). We will need to have multiple players step up on offense and defense as well as fill the leadership void left by all four seniors. In addition, this team will need to hang its hat on defense and consistently play with physicality and toughness to make up for its lack of size inside. As long as we continue to work hard and improve each week, we hope to compete in both leagues. Crestview and Delphos Jefferson appear to be the favorites in the NWC with several other teams capable of winning it as well. The PCL will be very competitive and has many teams capable of winning the league.
Continental
Division: IV
Coach: Kirk Knowles (fifth season)
2021-22 overall record: 2-17
2021-22 league record: 0-7 (eighth)
2022 postseason finish: Lost 65-30 to Bluffton in sectional semifinals
Returning 2021-22 varsity letter winners: Reese Knowles (Sr.), Bryn Tegenkamp (Sr.), Olivia Logan (Sr.), Macie Cordes (Sr.), Tori Searfoss (Jr.), Cheyenne Rose (Sr.)
Others on varsity roster: Becca Stark (Soph.), Makenzie Shock (Fr.), Mallorie Barnhart (Fr.), Addison Dudgeon (Soph.), Destiny Pier (Jr.), Ella Siefer (Fr.), Ashlyn Dudgeon (Soph.), Mackenzie Niese (Fr.), Corrine Sprauge (Soph.), Olivia Crossgrove (Fr.)
Coach’s analysis: Looking for improvement after going through a rebuilding year. A very senior laden team that hopes to turn the corner and lead us to a more competitive season. We hope to keep improving as year goes on and get a victory or two come tournament time. We will look to be in the middle of the pack in PCL and compete every night.
Fort Jennings
Division: IV
Coach: Sean O’Connor (second season)
2021-22 overall record: 3-20
2021-22 league record: 1-6 (seventh)
2022 postseason finish: Lost 35-15 to Kalida in sectional semifinals
Returning 2021-22 varsity letter winners: Carley Von Sossan (Sr.), Rachel Von Sossan (Sr.), Reagan Ricker (Sr.), Lydia Dickman (Jr.), Hannah Grote (Jr.), Abigail Browning (Jr.), Autumn Calvelage (Soph.), Maggie Pothast (Soph.)
Others on varsity roster: Morgan Siefker (Soph.), Madison Ricker (Jr.), Christina Hubert (Sr.), Tenly Sarka (Fr.), Bailey Hile (Fr.), Piper Osenga (Soph.)
Coach’s analysis: Fast paced team with plenty of ball handlers at any given time and will push the pace. We will have multiple defenses to make our opponents feel uncomfortable.
Kalida
Division: IV
Coach: Adam Huber (13th season)
2021-22 overall record: 13-12
2021-22 league record: 4-3 (tied for fourth)
2022 postseason finish: Lost 49-33 to Columbus Grove in district semifinals
Returning 2021-22 varsity letter winners: Brooke Erhart (Sr.), Camille Hovest (Sr.), Livia Recker (Sr.), Andrea Burgei (Jr.), Whitney Unverferth (Jr.), Camryn Recker (Jr.), Meredith Bockrath (Soph.)
Others on varsity roster: Avrie Unverferth (Soph.), Ady Miller (Soph.), Allie Kuhlman (Soph.), Madison Unverferth (Soph.), Olivia Meyer (Soph.), Malia Romes (Fr.), Claire Narker (Fr.), Izzy Recker (Fr.)
Coach’s analysis: With a more experienced group coming back, we are expecting to be competitve in every game we play with a chance to win. Our schedule, especially early, doesn’t allow us to ease into anything but we know that all those difficult teams only makes us better and prepares us for the end of the season. We know that if we commit to excellence and winning each day that by the end of the season we will be playing our best basketball with a chance to make some noise.
Leipsic
Division: IV
Coach: Gary Kreinbrink (37th season)
2021-22 overall record: 19-6
2021-22 conference record 4-4 NWC (tied for fifth); 5-2 PCL (third)
2022 postseason finish: Lost 36-32 to Miller City in district semifinals
Returning 2021-22 varsity letter winners: Whitney Langhals (Sr.), Ava Henry (Jr.), Kyrsten Martinez (Sr.), Marisa Hermiller (Sr.), Abby Haselman (Sr.), Sydney Schroeder (Sr.), Leah Kirkendall (Jr.)
Others on varsity roster: Kaytlynn Schroeder (Jr.), Brooklyn Cunningham (Soph.)
Coach’s analysis: We have a good number of players returning off a 19 win season in 2021-22. We have good depth and our veteran experience should be beneficial for us this year. We have five seniors that will offer us leadership and help guide us as we progress through two leagues. We have great kids with great attitudes. Lack of size. We will have to have a team effort rebounding the ball and good communication skills on the defensive side of the floor.
Miller City
Division: IV
Coach: Ross Heuerman (seventh season)
2021-22 overall record: 17-7
2021-22 league record: 6-1 (tied for first)
2022 postseason finish: Lost 58-41 to Columbus Grove in district finals
Returning 2021-22 varsity letter winners: Tori Wenzinger (Sr.), Grace Pfau (Sr.), Nicolette Inkrott (Sr.), Carley Hermiller (Sr.), Liz Otto (Sr.), Ava Ruck (Jr.), Isabel Reyna (Jr.), Hailey Warnimont (Soph.)
Others on varsity roster: Maddie Erford (Jr.), Chelsea Erford (Jr.), Jordan Schnipke (Jr.), Andrea Pfau (Soph.), Lou Michel (Soph.), Kiera Ruhe (Fr.), Elizabeth Erford (Fr.), Isabella Pittman (Fr.)
Coach’s analysis: We have a lot of girls back with quality varsity minutes. The experience of those girls and the combination of new girls stepping in makes us a deeper team than we’ve been in the past. We play of tough schedule, but are hoping to put ourselves in contention for the PCL. Our biggest challenges this season will be trying to replace the stats of Abi Lammers (last year’s PCL and District 8 player of the year) and overcoming preseason injuries.
Ottoville
Division: IV
Coach: Vaughn Horstman (first season)
2021-22 overall record: 11-14
2021-22 league record: 4-3 (tied for fourth)
2022 postseason finish: Lost 35-31 to Lincolnview in district semifinals
Returning 2021-22 varsity letter winners: Skylar Turnwald (Sr.), Elise Kramer (Sr.), Becca Turnwald (Sr.), Erica Thorbahn (Soph.), Carly Thorbahn (Soph.), Jessa Burgei (Jr.), Isabelle Furley (Jr.)
Others on varsity roster: Kathryn Sehlhorst (Jr.), Lexie Honigford (Jr.), Madison Hoersten (Jr.), Jocelyn Langhals (Soph.), Paige Turnwald (Soph.), Morgan Hoersten (Soph.), Abby Hohlbein (Soph.)
Coach’s analysis: We lost a great leader from last year in Shayla German, but the three seniors coming in will be called upon to lead us through the highs and lows of the season. With only 16 girls some will be splitting time between JV and varsity. Our very competitive schedule will be very tough for us early and will get us ready for the postseason tournament. We are very young so we will need to learn on a game by game basis. We look to play an uptempo game to counter act our lack of size. The PCL will be very competitive with Columbus Grove, Kalida, Miller City and Leipsic fighting for league honors.
Pandora-Gilboa
Division: IV
Coach: John R. Murray (second season)
2021-22 overall record: 8-15
2021-22 league record: 2-5 PCL (sixth); 2-7 BVC (eighth)
2022 postseason finish: Lost 49-29 to Arlington in sectional semifinals
Returning 2021-22 varsity letter winners: Aliyah Wise (Sr.), Peyton Diller (Soph.), Maddie Rutschilling (Soph.), Lauren Teders (Soph.)
Others on varsity roster: Paige Ferguson (Soph.), Ava Huffman (Fr.), Nevaeha Mangas (Fr.), Savannah Knueven (Fr.), Ciel Wise (Soph.), Keelin Miller (Fr.), Claire Stall (Fr.), Corrin Luginbill (Fr.), Devin Draper (Soph.), Grace Torres (Sr.)
Coach’s analysis: I’d like to first thank last year’s seniors for what they did for the program. We will miss Lacie Fenstermaker’s scoring and rebounding, Tori Duling’s on the ball defense and shooting, and Taelor Miller’s overall athleticism. Our team this year will once again be a very young team with 12 of our 14 players either freshman or sophomores. I’m very happy with the effort they gave over the summer to improve. Six of them played travel basketball. We have a lot of players who genuinely love the game and understand the work involved in getting better. I think our strength this year is our ability to push the ball up the floor in transition. We will attempt to do that whenever possible. Because of the age and experience of these players, I believe this team will improve as the season moves on.
