Licking County boys basketball teams climbing to contention in 2023

On Nov 29, 2022

NEWARK — With the Licking County League boys basketball races appearing to be wide open, experienced teams looking to take the final step to the top have an opportunity to emerge during the 2022-23 season.

Granville and Licking Heights shared the Buckeye Division title last winter and have the talent to be in the mix again. The heavy graduation losses suffered by Cardinal Division champion Heath could open the door for the talented U.S. 62 trio of Johnstown, Northridge and Utica.

Granville

The young Blue Aces grabbed a piece of that LCL-Buckeye title last season. The talented guard trio of seniors Dylan Niedermeyer and Rex Rader and junior Dante Varrasso now are hoping to lead them into Division II district title contention. Juniors Colt Shaw and Alex Engle provide length and athleticism in the front court.

0	Dante Varrasso	Jr.
2	Jakob Culver	Fr.
3	Jase Becker	Jr.
4	Dylan Niedermeyer	Sr.
5	Alex Engle	Jr.
11	Bobby Otter	Sr.
12	Colt Shaw	Jr.
14	Christian Curry	Jr.
22	Rex Rader	Sr.
24	Carson Murphy	So.
33	Cayden Strasser	Fr.
34	Dylan Layne	So.

Coach: Chris Powell

Granville Christian

The Lions will lean on lone senior Eli Cooper and junior Andrew Benvie to the carry the load after graduating much of their scoring. Sophomore Zack Leija will provide size inside with Cooper, and the Lions will look for secondary playmakers to emerge to support Benvie.

3	Gavin Pound	So.
4	Landen Pound	Jr.
5	Joshua Benvie	Fr.
10	Bentley Johnson	So.
11	Andrew Benvie	Jr.
12	Justin Longshore	Fr.
15	Luke Holt	Jr.
20	Zachary Stump	Jr.
22	A.J. Lear	Fr.
23	Gabriel Perez	So.
24	Zac Leija	So.
30	Eli Cooper	Sr.
34	Cade Hamilton	So.
40	Drew Dennis	Fr.

Coach: Caleb Patton

Heath

The Bulldogs will be perimeter-oriented after graduating the tremendous size that took them to LCL-Cardinal and Division II district titles. Junior Grayson Shumate is a 3-point shooter and will join classmate Will Robertson and sophomore Preston DeVito as the primary playmakers. Senior Xavier Matthews and junior Zachary Imbody provide length in the paint for the Bulldogs, who dropped to Division III during the offseason.

0	Preston DeVito	So.
1	Jaxon Duston	So.
2	Grayson Shumate	Jr.
3	Will Robertson	Jr.
4	Brayden Bayles	Jr.
5	Ben Mason	Jr.
11	Josh Jones	So.
12	Xavier Matthews	Sr.
13	Jordan Kaminsky	Fr.
20	Carter Wiley	So.
22	Tucker See	Jr.
24	Zachary Imbody	Jr.
35	Carter Mason	Fr.
42	Mason Sforza	So.

Coach: Devin Fulk

Johnstown

Returning all of its firepower from last season, Johnstown has an inside-outside combination of senior Cody Siegfried in the paint and classmates Drew Brett and Caleb Schneider capable of putting the Johnnies in contention for LCL-Cardinal and Division II district titles after bumping up during the offseason. Juniors Brady Barb and Kyle Siegfried also have the ability to catch fire from the outside and swing momentum.

1	Landon Deering	Jr.
3	Cole Boroff	Sr.
5	Caleb Schneider	Sr.
10	Clayton Gearhart	Jr.
12	Hunter Groves	Sr.
14	Kyle Siegfried	Jr.
20	Drew Brett	Sr.
22	Brady Barb	Jr.
24	Anthony Zirille	Jr.
33	Cody Siegfried	Sr.
34	Clay Bruning	Sr.
50	McKaden Thomas	Jr.

Coach: Max Shawver

Lakewood

Senior Carson Watts on the wing and junior Adam Crawford and sophomore Colton Ferry handling the ball give the Lancers an opportunity to be a dynamic offense after struggling mightily last season. They are young with just two seniors and will rely on sophomore Stephen Slocum to provide size inside and junior Luke Pierce and sophomore Troy Martindale to play solid defense.

0	Mason Sprankle	Jr.
1	Adam Crawford	Jr.
2	River Davis	Fr.
3	Giacomo Oswald	Jr.
4	Hunter Crawford	So.
5	Garrett Hardway	Fr.
10	Jacob Whiteman	Sr.
11	Nate Lee	Jr.
12	Colton Ferry	So.
13	Troy Martindale	So.
21	Brendon Thorp	Jr.
22	Luke Pierce	Jr.
23	Carson Watts	Sr.
34	Stephen Slocum	So.

Coach: Dan Shackleford

Liberty Christian

The Eagles again will be fun to watch in transition with senior Evan Adair running the point and classmate Josh Onabanjo flying down the outside. Junior Kaden Minier is a third scoring threat on the perimeter, but the Eagles will need young players to emerge to compete for a Mid-Ohio Christian Athletic League title.

00	Joel Mollohan
2	Evan Adair
5	Kaden Minier
10	Josh Onabanjo
12	Caleb Reichert
13	Carson Crabtree
15	Luke Mollohan
21	Evan Dupler
33	Hunter Zell

Coach: Brandon Geiger

Licking Heights

Senior Jayden Griffith is the top returning scorer, but the Hornets will need promising players to take advantage of opportunities if they are going to defend their piece of the LCL-Buckeye title. Sophomores Amadou Ceesay and Boubacar Conde have scoring potential on the perimeter and juniors Joel Buskar and Gama Lovinsky and freshman Nate Lovinsky give the Hornets three big bodies to utilize in the paint.