Spencerville’s Josh Henline puts up a shot against Kalida’s Drew Fersch last season. Henline returns for the Bearcats after being named first team all-Northwest Conference in 2021-22.
Richard Parrish | The Lima News
Ada
Division: IV
Coach: Vincent Halliday (second season)
2021-22 overall record: 4-19
2021-22 league record: 0-8 (ninth)
2022 postseason finish: Lost 73-55 to St. Henry in sectional semifinals
Returning 2021-22 varsity letter winners: Carter Conley (Sr.), Spencer Wall (Sr.), Ethan Murphy (Sr.), Grant Preston (Sr.), Jaden Leal (Sr.), Jacob Sutherly (Sr.), Gage Hoffer (Sr.), Casen Jones (Sr.)
Others on varsity roster: Jayden Bankston (Sr.), Brody Erickson (Soph.), Gabe Blankenship (Sr.), Carson Gossard (Jr.)
Coach’s analysis: We certainly feel much better about ourselves compared to last year. We have worked hard over the summer to improve ourselves. We expect to be more competitive nightly.
Allen East
Division: III
Coach: Gabe Young (third season)
2021-22 overall record: 14-10
2021-22 league record: 3-5 (tied for sixth)
2022 postseason finish: Lost 66-60 to Liberty-Benton in sectional finals
Returning 2021-22 varsity letter winners: Jacob Hershberger (Sr.), Keaton Lehman (Sr.), Keaton Miller (Sr.), Carson Clum (Jr.)
Others likely to make varsity roster: Caleb Hopkins (Sr.), Brady Shea (Sr.), Trey Hensley (Jr.), Ethan Young (Soph.), Braelyn Schultz (Soph.), Donny Kennedy (Jr.)
Coach’s analysis: We return four starters from last season and will lean on them for leadership. Really solid group of seniors and our younger guys are catching on. We have the group that will very competitive each week and have had some success at the end of last year. I feel we let a couple of games get away from us that we should of got. We will have to be more focused as a program and not let that happen this year.
Bluffton
Division: III
Coach: Todd Boblitt (17th season)
2021-22 overall record: 21-3
2021-22 league record: 7-1 (tied for first)
2022 postseason finish: Lost 45-42 to Wayne Trace in district semifinals
Returning 2021-22 varsity letter winners: Carson Soper (Sr.), Marek Donaldson (Soph.), Kaden Lora (Jr.)
Others on varsity roster: Luke Ginther (Fr.), Wade Ginther (Jr.), Terron Boblitt (Soph.), Landen Worcester (Soph.), Kerry Wright (Jr.), Branson Hilty (Soph.), John-Paul Yoder (Jr.),
Coach’s analysis: We have a group that has invested a lot of time in their individual skill development. This group truly enjoys the sport. They are a pleasure to work with.
Columbus Grove
Division: III
Coach: Chris Sautter (seventh season)
2021-22 overall record: 17-8
2021-22 league record: 4-3 PCL (tied for third), 5-3 NWC (fourth)
2022 postseason finish: Lost 64-45 to Ottoville in Division IV district finals
Returning 2021-22 varsity letter winners: Bo Birnesser, Zach Reynolds, Tadd Koch
Others on varsity roster: Landon Best (Fr.), Trenton Barraza (Soph.), Kylan Mayes (Soph), Kyle Hopkins (Soph.), Evan Sautter (Jr.), Keegan Bame (Jr.)
Coach’s analysis: We are looking to replace four starters and 80% of our scoring lost to graduation and injury. We will be young and inexperienced, but we have guys that are willing to work to get better and will compete night in and night out against the high quality teams we have on our schedule. We hope to be playing our best basketball going into tournament time.
Crestview
Division: IV
Coach: Doug Etzler (fourth season)
2021-22 overall record: 16-7
2021-22 league record: 7-1 (tied for first)
2022 postseason finish: Lost 60-50 to Ottoville in district semifinals
Returning 2021-22 varsity letter winners: Gavin Etzler (Sr.), Mitch Temple (Sr.), Carson Hunter (Sr.), Nate Lichtle (Sr.), Wren Sheets (Soph.), Nasir Easterling (Sr.), Wesyn Ludwig (Sr.)
Others on varsity roster: Tommy Heffner (Soph.), Dru Nielsen (Sr.), Kellin Putman (Jr.), Isaac Kline (Jr.), Jaret Harting (Jr.), Connor Sheets (Jr.)
Coach’s analysis: Looking forward to having good experience returning, with five players returning with starting experience from last year. Good mix of lengthy guards and solid size inside. Also plan on having good depth this season as we have added several players from a JV team that finished 19-2 last season.
Delphos Jefferson
Division: IV
Coach: Jordan Jettinghoff (seventh season)
2021-22 overall record: 6-17
2021-22 league record: 1-7 (eighth)
2022 postseason finish: Lost 51-35 to Liberty-Benton in sectional semifinals
Returning 2021-22 varsity letter winners: Trent Teman (Sr.), Levi Rode (Sr.), Andrew Miller (Sr.), Caden Carder (Sr.), Cody Bailey (Sr.), Lucas Grothaus (Sr.), Isaac Gallmeier (Jr.), Karder Agner (Soph.)
Others on varsity roster: Alijah Petty (Jr.), Mason Wiltsie (Soph.), Vincent Murray (Jr.)
Coach’s analysis: Coming off a successful football season and returning nine varsity players, the coaching staff is excited and hopeful for a strong season. I want our guys to build off that football success and be hungry for more success to come. We’ll need to be strong defensively and take care of the ball to see positive results on Friday and Saturday nights.
Leipsic
Division: IV
Coach: Devin Mangas (first season)
2021-22 overall record: 14-9
2021-22 league record: 4-3 PCL (tied for third); 4-4 NWC (fifth)
2022 postseason finish: Lost 41-31 in overtime to Kalida in sectional finals
Returning 2021-22 varsity letter winners: Paul Maag (Sr.), Caleb Ellerbrock (Sr.), Trent Siefker (Jr.), Quin Schroeder (Jr.), Estevan Carrillo (Jr.),
Others on varsity roster: Hayden Hiegel (Sr.), Jake Scheckelhoff (Jr.), Mason Rader (Jr.), Ty Lammers (Soph.), Jayce Brecht (Soph.), Connor Guevara (Jr.), Nick Schroeder (Soph.), Diego Lomeli (Jr.), Tavis Bejarano (Soph.).
Coach’s analysis: Competitive, give ourselves a chance to win every game we play by using our length and athleticism on defense.
Lincolnview
Division: IV
Coach: Brett Hammons (11th season)
2021-22 overall record: 5-18
2021-22 league record: 3-5 (tied for sixth)
2022 postseason finish: Lost 53-43 to Delphos St. John’s in sectional semifinals
Returning 2021-22 varsity letter winners: Kohen Cox (Sr.), Cal Evans (Jr.)
Others on varsity roster: Wyatt Friedrich (Sr.), Gage Thomas (Sr.), Austin Bockrath (Jr.), Reide Jackson (Jr.), Kreston Tow (Soph.), Chayse Overholt (Fr.), Holden Price (Fr.), Steven Smith (Jr.), Jared Jessee (Jr.), Bennett Kill (Soph.), Luke Heffelfinger (Sr.)
Coach’s analysis: We lost our five starters and our first guy off the bench from last year. We have two players back that gave varsity minutes. The players coming up from JV have some skill and all of these guys will continue to improve. We have to continue to get better in all aspects of the game. If we can continue to get our players to develop, play with consistency on both ends of the floor, and compete every possession, I feel like we can give ourselves a good chance of winning.
Spencerville
Division: III
Coach: Kevin Sensabaugh (21st season)
2021-22 overall record: 21-4
2021-22 league record: 6-2 (third)
2022 postseason finish: Lost 49-31 to Marion Local in Division IV district finals
Returning 2021-22 varsity letter winners: Josh Henline (Sr.), Dylan Smith (Sr.), Carter Sudhoff (Jr.), Dylan Cook (Sr.), Evan Osting (Jr.), Blake Sommers (Soph.)
Others on varsity roster: Michael Woods (Jr.), Isaiah Stewart (Jr.), Carder Orr (Soph.), Brody Sommers (Soph.), Owen Sensabaugh (Fr.)
Coach’s analysis: We are really looking forward to this year. We have a lot of experience returning. Seniors Josh Henline, Dylan Smith, and Dylan Cook make up an awesome senior class. Senior Josh Henline returns as our leading scorer the last three seasons. Senior point guard Dylan Smith returns as well as our second leading scorer. Senior Dylan Cook returns after seeing significant minutes off the bench last year. Junior Evan Osting came off the bench last year and played important minutes. Junior Carder Sudhoff started almost every game last year and gives us size in the middle. We will rely heavily on their experience to make us a good team.
Reach The Lima News sports department at 567-242-0451.
