Lima Senior’s Anthony Mosley blocks the shot attempt of Mansfield’s Malachi Johnson during a game last season. Mosley returns this season.
Richard Parrish | The Lima News
Here are the previews for Lima Central Catholic, Lima Senior and Lima area Midwest Athletic Conference teams.
Lima Central Catholic
Division: III
Coach: Frank Kill (13th season)
2021-22 overall record: 11-11
2022 postseason finish: Lost 47-44 to Allen East in sectional semifinals
Returning 2021-22 varsity letter winners: Ethan Frankhouser (Sr.), Payne Cutlip (Sr.), Billy Bourk (Jr.), Carson Parker (Jr.), Matthew Quatman (Soph.), Sal Guagenti (Sr.)
Others on varsity roster: Jacob Lauck (Sr.), Parker Judy (Jr.), Angelo Collins (Soph.), Willie Foster (Fr.), Justin Bauman (Sr.), Christian Marks (Sr.), Michael Taflinger (Sr.), Cole Gross (Sr.)
Coach’s analysis: The Thunderbirds are looking to build off last year’s success, bringing back several seniors and a core of juniors. Due to injuries the T-Birds will look to replace DeMarr Foster and Jacob Venturella who would have had key roles on this year’s roster. DeMarr’s little brother Willie has shown great signs as a freshman, but the team will lean on the experience of Carson Parker and Billy Bourk who started every game last year as sophomores. Sophomores Angelo Collins and Matthew Quatman will have big roles as well. The T-Birds will look to push tempo full court on both ends. They will look to fuel their offense by putting their defensive pressure 94 feet. Coach Kill is looking forward to this year because of the group of young men who love being around each other.
Lima Senior
Division: I
Coach: Quincey Simpson (ninth season)
2021-22 overall record: 26-2
2021-22 league record: 13-1 (first)
2022 postseason finish: Lost 74-58 to Cleveland St. Ignatius in regional finals
Returning 2021-22 varsity letter winners: Brandon Moore (Sr.), Anthony Mosley (Sr.), Amarion Glenn (Sr.), Jagger Hutchins (Soph.)
Others likely to make varsity roster: Je’Kel Cotton (Soph.), Amari Addy (Fr.), Isaiah Wilson (Jr.), Zion Jackson (Sr.), Kelly Shurelds (Sr.), Khalig Wash (Soph.), Jay Walton (Jr.), Antonio Fahle (Soph.), Sincere Harrison (Jr.), Kaden Hampton (Jr.)
Coach’s analysis: With losing 10 players from last year’s team, this will be an opportunity for a lot of guys to touch the floor. There is some really good talent but not a lot of experience. I believe this group could go up or down, depending on how well we respond to adversity moments.
MAC
Coldwater
Division: III
Coach: Nick Fisher (seventh season)
2021-22 overall record: 4-18
2021-22 league record: 3-6 (eighth)
2022 postseason finish: Lost 63-40 to Ottawa-Glandorf in sectional finals
Returning 2021-22 varsity letter winners: Marcel Blasingame (Sr.), Evan Harlamert (Sr.), Justin Kaup (Sr.), Blade Buschur (Sr.), Curtis Duerr (Sr.), John Muhlenkamp (Sr.), Luke Schwieterman (Jr.)
Others likely to make varsity roster: Brady Lefeld (Soph.), Mason Welsch (Soph.), Cody Depweg (Soph.), Baylen Blockberger (Soph.), Owen Kunk (Soph.), Will Barry (Soph.), Peyton Seitz (Jr.), Miles Pottkotter (Soph.)
Coach’s analysis: We look to rebound off a tough season in 2021-22. We have both experience and youth looking to be playing our best basketball by the end of the season.
Delphos St. John’s
Division: IV
Coach: Aaron Elwer (16th season)
2021-22 overall record: 11-13
2021-22 league record: 5-4 (fourth)
2022 postseason finish: Lost 38-34 to Columbus Grove in sectional finals
Returning 2021-22 varsity letter winners: Landen Grothaus (Sr.), Nolan Schwinnen (Sr.), Jack Gerker (Sr.), Ethan Druckemiller (Sr.), Austin Moenter (Jr.), Aaron Moenter (Jr.)
Others on varsity roster: Peyton Stabler (Sr.), Gavin Holdgreve (Sr.), Collin Feathers (Jr.), Grant Ulm (Jr.), Cohen Martz (Jr.), Joel Schrader (Jr.), TJ Werts (Soph.), Drew Boggs (Soph.), Cameron Elwer (Fr.)
Coach’s analysis: With our six returners from last year we feel we have great experience and leadership returning. Early in our season we will have a high level of competition to fill out our varsity roster. We will have a great mix of experience and some young talent that will make us highly competitive throughout the season. Our players have high expectations for this year and as long as we can stay healthy and get better each day we feel we have a chance to have a very successful season.
Fort Recovery
Division: IV
Coach: Bob Leverette (first season)
2021-22 overall record: 15-9
2021-22 league record: 4-5 (tied for fifth)
2022 postseason finish: Lost 66-54 to Perry in sectional finals
Returning 2021-22 varsity letter winners: Daniel Patch (Sr.), Landon Post (Sr.), Cale Rammel (Sr.), Troy Homan (Jr.)
Others on varsity roster: Riggs Tobe (Jr.), Reece Guggenbiller (Jr.), Alex Dues (Jr.), Briggs Overman (Soph.), Rex Leverette (Jr.), Eli Lennartz (Soph.), Wyatt Grover (Sr.)
Coach’s analysis: Get better as the season goes. Hopefully peaking at tourney time to make a nice tourney run. Compete in the MAC for a league championship.
Marion Local
Division: IV
Coach: Kurt Goettemoeller (12th season)
2021-22 overall record: 22-5
2021-22 league record: 8-1 (tied for first)
2022 postseason finish: Lost 41-23 to Antwerp in regional semifinals
Returning 2021-22 varsity letter winners: Jack Knapke (Jr.), Tate Hess (Sr.), Jadyn Mescher (Sr.), Austin Niekamp (Soph.)
Others on varsity roster: Ryan Homan (Soph.), Luke Pohlman (Sr.), Aidan Eifert (Sr.), Mitchell Ranly (Jr.), Kyle Otte (Jr.), Brandon Eyink (Sr.), Carter Jones (Jr.), Marcus Rethman (Jr.), Kyle Ungruhn (Soph.)
Coach’s analysis: We return four letter winners off of last year’s regional team but graduated four seniors who did a great job leading our team. Our ability to maximize our potential will be commensurate with the quality of leadership provided by our seniors and returning letter winners. We have a challenging non conference schedule to go along with a difficult league slate. We are hoping to be playing our best ball when it matters most.
Minster
Division: IV
Coach: Michael McClurg (seventh season)
2021-22 overall record: 6-18
2021-22 league record: 1-8 (ninth)
2022 postseason finish: Lost 44-37 to Marion Local in sectional finals
Returning 2021-22 varsity letter winners: Brogan Stephey (Soph.), James Niemeyer (Soph.)
Others on varsity roster: Ian Homan (Soph.), Andy Poeppelman (Sr.), Kole Richard (Soph.), Dillon Watercutter (Sr.), Logan Kohne (Sr.), Kaleb Sharp (Jr.), Cole Albers (Fr.), Andrew Ketner (Fr.), Cole McClurg (Fr.), Noah Schwieterman (Fr.), Evan Prenger (Soph.)
Coach’s analysis: We are looking to grow game by game to be really tough to deal with late in the season.
New Bremen
Division: IV
Coach: Cory Stephens (fourth season)
2021-22 overall record: 17-5
2021-22 league record: 8-1 (tied for first)
2022 postseason finish: Lost 61-55 to St. Henry in sectional finals
Returning 2021-22 varsity letter winners: David Homan (Sr.), Dylan Bambauer (Sr.), Aaron Thieman (Jr.)
Others on varsity roster: Kai Eastham (Jr.), Carter Elking (Sr.), Gavin Schrader (Sr.), Hayden Zeller (Jr.), Ben Sailer (Sr.), Cooper Scheib (Sr.), Alex Homan (Sr.), Evan Eyink (Sr.),
Coach’s analysis: Our goal for this season is to compete and get better every day. If we do this, then it should lead to us playing our best basketball at the end of the season.
New Knoxville
Division: IV
Coach: Carson Manger (second season)
2021-22 overall record: 1-21
2021-22 league record: 0-9 (10th)
2022 postseason finish: Lost 57-22 to Marion Local in sectional semifinals
Returning 2021-22 varsity letter winners: Ty Lammers (Jr.), Jay Waterman (Jr.), Andrew Leffel (Jr.), Troy Dwenger (Jr.), Jay Schroeder (Soph.)
Others on varsity roster: Preston Rutschilling (Soph.), Noah Holland (Soph.), Kaleb Putman (Jr.)
Coach’s analysis: Build a strong culture get 1% better each day. Execute the game plan every night.
Parkway
Division: III
Coach: Doug Hughes (13th season)
2021-22 overall record: 8-15
2021-22 league record: 4-5 (tied for fifth)
2022 postseason finish: Lost 35-19 to Fort Recovery in D-IV sectional semifinals
Key returners: Fletcher Smith (Jr.), Trent Rollins (Jr.)
Others on varsity roster: Devon Crouch (Jr.), Landen May (Jr.), Trevor Stearns (Soph.), Caiden Berry (Jr.), Brayden Bruns (Soph.), Xavier Samples (Soph.), Bryce Stearns (Sr.), Wyatt Carpenter (Soph.)
Coach’s analysis: In order for us to be successful we must be able to defend, rebound and take care of the basketball. This is a very young and hungry group. The JV team finished with a record of 16-6 last year and many of those players are out to prove they can be successful at the varsity level. Our players work hard each day in practice and understand our core values of unity, enthusiasm and toughness.
St. Henry
Division: IV
Coach: Eric Rosenbeck (14th season)
2021-22 overall record: 14-11
2021-22 league record: 4-5 (tied for fifth)
2022 postseason finish: Lost 56-43 to Marion Local in district semifinals
Returning 2021-22 varsity letter winners: John Hartings (Sr.), Evan Bowers (Jr.), Luke Beyke (Jr.)
Others on varsity roster: Logan Link (Jr.), Curtis Puthoff (Jr.), Nicholas Bertke (Jr.), Christopher Bertke (Jr.), Hayden Boeckman (Jr.), Caden Bergman (Jr.), Devin Delzeith (Jr.), Eli Broering (Soph.), Dominic Schwartz (Jr.)
Coach’s analysis: We have an opportunity to have a strong season if we can improve our discipline, mental toughness, team togetherness and consistency in all aspects of the game of basketball. We have to stay humble and hungry from November all the way through March. We need to be ready to play all 22 games to the very best of our ability in order to be successful. When we slow the game down, we move the ball very well. If we apply the fundamentals that we do in practice daily to game nights, we can be very successful. We need to stay humble and coachable at all points throughout the season. Our defense, defensive rebounding, offensive rebounding, understanding of the offense and ability to take care of the basketball all need to be improved. We are way too inconsistent in every aspect of the game. We need to clean up the fundamentals of basketball and embrace the grind if we have any chance of meeting the goals we have set for ourselves.
Reach The Lima News sports department at 567-242-0451.
