Boys basketball is ready for tip-off.
As always, the boys basketball season in Allen County promises to be a competitive one. It all starts with the Elida Tip Off Classic, featuring Elida, Bath, Shawnee and Lima Central Catholic high schools.
Vince Koza, sports marketing director with Childers Media Group, emceed an annual program Monday previewing the high school boys basketball season.
Many coaches said their teams are still not in basketball shape, especially those whose high schools saw football teams go deep in the playoffs.
One of the most successful programs from last year, Perry High School, is rebuilding a bit, head coach Matt Taylor said. Last year the team went 24-4 and for the first time in school history, went to the state tournament. The team has lost five seniors from that group and is now “a work in progress,” Taylor said.
Last year’s Northwest Conference champions, Spencerville, is also replacing a lot of experienced players, head coach Kevin Sensabaugh said. And they’re just getting started with meaningful practices because of the football team’s deep run.
At Elida, the team returns many seasoned players, head coach Denny Thompson said. They have eight seniors, four with significant varsity experience. While conventional wisdom has the Bulldogs as the team to beat in the Western Buckeye League, Thompson still believes the conference championship goes through Ottawa-Glandorf.
