“They know what it looks like to win the league,” Carlisle coach Don Ridinger said. “They saw the hard work that led to it and the excitement when it happened. Now they need to reproduce that for themselves.”
BOYS BASKETBALL SEASON PREVIEWS
Carlisle got off to a 5-4 start, including its lone divisional loss to Preble Shawnee, before closing the season on a 12-2 run.
The Indians will be missing some familiar faces from the title run in Adam Goodpaster, Seth Butler, Logan Baker, Steve Summer and Caleb Boy, but the cupboard is far from empty.
Justin Flor, a 6-foot-7 senior, returns after averaging close to a double-double in being named SWBL Buckeye Player of the year, District 15 Underclassman of the Year and Division III All-Ohio honorable mention.
Flor averaged 15.1 points and 9.3 rebounds per game and will once again have senior point guard Jake Moore (5-10) feeding him the ball.
Moore averaged 3.9 assists a game to go along with 3.7 rebounds and 6.8 points last year.
GIRLS BASKETBALL SEASON PREVIEWS
The rest of the cast, however, will be filled with new faces.
Senior guard Elijah Erisman (5-10) transferred in from Dayton Christian after averaging 2.9 points per game in 16 games last season
Senior Brayden Kidder (6-3) and juniors Joe Gay (6-1), Dane Flatter (6-0), Logan Gross (6-2), Zach Jewell (6-2) and Austin Redavide (6-0) have moved up to the varsity from the JV team.
Sophomores Cash Ridinger (5-10) and John Shepherd (6-2) are expected to see more time on the varsity floor, while 6-4 freshman Nolan Burney could also make an impact.
“We want to compete night in and night out,” Don Ridinger said. “We have a good group of athletes to build around Justin and Jake. We have gotten better with every practice and with every scrimmage. As long as we continue to improve, we will be able to compete with most teams.”
GIRLS BASKETBALL SEASON PREVIEWS
Ridinger looks for Madison and Preble Shawnee to challenge for the Buckeye championship, but he believes his group can be in the mix to defend its title.
The Indians will open the season at home against Buckeye rival Waynesville on Dec. 1. Carlisle faces an early crucial stretch in the division, visiting Shawnee on Dec. 12 and hosting Madison on Dec. 15.
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