Russia and Jackson Center boys tip off SCAL

Russia versus Jackson Center was a thriller last season in November and March

Shelby County Athletic League boys basketball tips off the 2023-2024 season this Friday night and opening the schedule is a battle of last year's league co-champions. Both Russia and Jackson Center were tied atop the 2022-2023 standings at 11-1. You might recall the Raiders beat the Tigers at their home opener the Friday following Thanksgiving in a nail biter 42-41. Later, the Tigers thumped the Raiders at their habitat on January 6th by the score of 65-53. After splitting their series, the two rivals played a rubber match at the regional final on March 10th in Kettering Fairmont's Trent Arena. It was a thrilling defensive battle that culminated with Russia handing Jackson Center just their second defeat of the entire season 27-25. Between the Tiger's bookend losses were 26 wins that resulted in a final record of 26-2. Russia advanced to the state tournament and bowed out in the semifinals versus Richmond Heights to wrap up their record at 25-4. 

JC's Reed Platfoot is one to watch

This Friday will begin a new era for Jackson Center. For starters, former head coach Scott Elchert retired after a school record 375 wins in 23 years at the helm. Highlighting his resume were state tournament appearances in 2012 and 2016, as well as five trips to the regional final in the last ten seasons. Taking over the reins is Aaron Klopfenstein, who's a familiar face with Tiger fans. Klopfenstein was coached by Elchert in 2009 and 2010, in addition to being on his staff the last five years. 

Maybe the new coach's biggest challenge will be replacing eight graduates in Jace Mullenhour, Nolan Fark, Camdyn Reese, Grant Elchert, Bryson Roberts, Kellen Reichert, Trevor Huber and Landon Reese. However, the well isn't exactly dry as last year's roster included five underclassman in Lucas Hartle, Xavier Lowe, Reed Platfoot, Lucas Heitkamp and Cooper Hartle. Finding that new chemistry might require some experimenting, but scheduling only one game on opening weekend and playing it at home is ideal for Coach Klopfenstein's program. Unfortunately, that matchup is against the Russia Raiders.

Anyone that doesn't have Russia circled as one of the potential top Division IV teams in Ohio is probably connected to head coach Spencer Cordonnier's program. As last season's interim head coach, Cordonnier handled an emotional situation with a father-like approach after the preseason passing of head coach Dave Borchers. The Raiders enjoyed all their success with hard work and perhaps an even-tempered attitude while never forgetting Coach Borchers throughout the campaign. 

The 2023-2024 Russia Raiders

It's often said the talent pool at small schools sometimes comes in waves. If that's true, the tsunami Shelby County saw coming slammed tiny Russia in 2022 and the water hasn't receded yet. There's another saying that success breeds success. After a Russia state baseball championship in the spring of 2022, many of those same boys were 2023 state basketball semifinalist and 2023 state baseball runner-up. By the way, the Russia golf team advanced to the state tournament this fall for the first time in school history and four of those players are on this winter's basketball team.

Heading into this weekend, the biggest departures Raider Nation should be concerned about are four-year starters Xavier Phlipot and Zane Shappie. Along with the graduations of Ross Fiessinger and Colby Monnin, there's certainly a leadership component that fans don't witness in the locker room and at daily practice. However, Coach Cordonnier is blessed to have lots of additional experience and talent back beginning with seniors Hayden Quinter, Brayden Monnin and Felix Francis. The junior class is also stacked and includes Braylon Cordonnier, Vince Borchers, Benjamin York, Zeb Schulze, Jaxon Grogean, Dominic Francis and Landon Pleiman. That roster no doubt has plenty of capable leaders to watch for as the season develops.

For interested folks unable to make the trip to Jackson Center on Friday, you can listen live to the action on ScoresBroadcast.com or watch on NKTelco Sports PPV. Russia will also be back on the court Saturday at St. Henry with the audio broadcast on WCSM.

Last year's season opener between the Raiders and Tigers started with a prayer

Experience Shelby County history

Rich Wallace and his wife Susan

Lots of folks in Shelby County are familiar with Richard Wallace of Sidney. Rich is a partner in the law firm of Elsass, Wallace, Evans & Co. He began practicing law in 1975 after serving in the U.S. Navy and completing law school. In 1978 he joined the firm with founding member and the late Eugene P. Elsass (1930-2007). 

In addition, Rich devotes many hours of service to the Shelby County community and is active in many not-for-profit activities including the Shelby County Historical Society, Sidney First United Methodist Church, Samaritan Works, Inc, and authoring the "Out of the Past" column in the Sidney Daily News. In the opinion of many, he's also one of the most informed historians in West Central Ohio. 

Back in late September, Rich visited the Village of Russia and met with a group of patrons for Friday morning breakfast at The Russia Inn. He wanted to update those interested on the Shelby County Historical Society, Shelby County Museum and The Wallace Family Learning & Innovation Center, all three of which Rich serves on the Board of Directors. Rich also extended an invitation for a road trip from Russia to Sidney to tour all three organizations.

On November 2nd, the Russia group made the journey and were treated to an enjoyable presentation of Shelby County history. Afterward they wrapped up with lunch at the famous The Spot Restaurant. Below is information on how you might also experience tales of Shelby County and the benefits of becoming a Historical Society member.

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State Cross Country Numbers & Notes

The 95th annual boys and 46th annual girls OHSAA State Cross Country Championships are this Saturday at Fotress Obetz. Division III girls open the meet at 10:00 with D-III boys at 10:45 and awards at 11:15. Following that is D-II at 12:00 and 12:45 with awards at 1:15. D-I races are last at 2:00 and 2:45 with awards at 3:15. Below is a Fish Report preview for local fans interested in what to watch in the small school D-III races. 

The girls battle includes 20 teams and 51 individuals for a total of 188 runners. Anyone doing the math should know that three of those teams include only six runners, rather than the maximum of seven. Minster is the two-time defending team state champions. They've also won six of the last seven titles with a total of 15 gold trophies in program history. Last year the Wildcats topped runner-up Ft. Loramie by the score of 63-119. This year head coach Jessie Magoto's team is ranked #1 in the final state poll of the season with all 12 first place votes. At last weekend's loaded 23-team Northwest Regional Championships in Tiffin, Minster won with three girls finishing under 19 minutes. Senior Chaney Cedarleaf was 2nd-place in 18:33, sophomore Maria Niekamp was 5th in 18:45 and senior Maggie Hemmelgarn was 8th in 18:57.  

Fans of the Midwest Athletic Conference might also enjoy hearing that Minster isn't the only girls team that will represent their conference. Ft. Recovery punched their tickets at Tiffin with a 6th-place team finish. Topping the Indians this Saturday should be senior Natalie Brunswick who ran a 19:26 for 19th-place.

The smaller Southwest meet qualified three teams and eight individuals this year

Malia Miller

Two traditional area powerhouses from the 11-team Southwest Regional Championships are advancing to Obetz with West Liberty-Salem and Ft. Loramie. The Big Orange beat the Redskins last Saturday on the levee bank of the Great Miami River at Troy. West Liberty head coach Ann Vogel won a state title three years ago in 2020 and is anchored this season by sophomore Malia Miller, who finished runner-up at the regional clocking a 19:09. Not far behind was Malia's classmate Breece Gullet in 9th with a 19:40 and senior Ashley Yoder in 19th with a 20:08. 

Ft. Loramie girls & boys head coach Dennis Prenger was an assistant back in 2002 when the Lady Redskins won their only state championship in program history. He was later head coach when the boys program won state titles in 2016 and 2018. Last Saturday Coach Prenger had two girls break 20:00 with sophomore Camille Borchers leading the way in 7th-place with a 19:37 and junior Ariel Heitkamp in 14th with a 19:55. Emerging freshman Carly Holthaus also looked promising after cutting 31 seconds off her district time to finish 21st in 20:30. 

Qualifying for state as individual runners were four veteran stars and one rookie. At the head of the class is none other than 2022 state champion Paige Steinke from Anna. Paige topped the podium in Obetz last year with a blazing 17:46. Over the past two weekends the senior has coasted to wins in 18:47 and 18:50. Also from the Shelby County Athletic League, two teammates from Botkins that pushed each other the last three seasons will do it again one more time. Junior Alaina Mann was 3rd-place in Troy with a 19:10.4 and senior Brittany Arnold was 4th in 19:10.5. Alaina's first-ever state meet was last year and she made a splash with a 12th-place finish. For Brittany, the three-time SCAL Runner of the Year will cap a career that includes four individual appearances at the state meet with her previous finishes all in the top 20. Troy Christian freshman Elisabeth Waltz will make her state debut after finishing 11th on her hometown course in 19:43. Finally, Versailles senior Meredith Barga was smiling wide last Saturday in Troy after grabbing the last individual qualifying spot to state, finishing 12th in 19:47. Meredith's final high school race this weekend marks back-to-back appearances for her. 

SCAL honorees Brittany Arnold, Paige Steinke, Alaina Mann, Ariel Heitkamp & Camille Borchers were all under 20:00 minutes at the regional meet (Picture via X)

Seniors John Young & Parker Schnippel

After the dust (or mud) settles following the girls race, it's the boys turn. Division III is comprised of 20 teams and 48 individuals for 188 total runners to match the girls number. 20% of those 20 teams will hail from the Midwest Athletic Conference. Qualifying last weekend from the 22-team Northwest Regional is 4th-place New Bremen, 5th Minster and 6th Marion Local. Qualifying from the 12-team Southwest Regional is 2nd-place Versailles. While cross country isn't what most folks think about with MAC boys sports, the conference does have one state championship won by Ft. Recovery back in 1996. Leading each of their teams this Saturday should be New Bremen senior Zach Wiedeman, Versailles sophomore Tony Moorman, Minster senior Ryan Halpin and Marion Local sophomore Trey Goettemoeller. Lastly, one other MAC individual qualifier to keep an eye on is Ft. Recovery senior Trevor Heitkamp. (We'd also like to note that Coldwater junior Mason Ayers will be running as an individual in the D-II race)

The Shelby County Athletic League is sending just one team to Obetz and it's no surprise it's the Botkins Trojans. Head coach Ryan Gutman has a well oiled machine in northern Shelby County with his fifth straight boys team heading to state. Junior Carson Brown, senior Parker Schnippel and junior Collin Doseck are the top Trojans and all 1st-team all-league honorees. Joining the Botkins boys on Saturday will be two-time SCAL Runner of the Year, John Young from Anna. John was the top talent from the league a week ago in Troy finishing 8th overall in 16:20.

We can't forget about about our neighbors from the Western Ohio Athletic Conference and they'll have two individual representatives. Both of those runners happen to come from Ansonia, as senior Matthew Lee finished in 10th-place with a 16:36 and freshman Bennett Lehman qualified in 13th with a 16:51. 

Finally, if you're wondering about boys teams or individuals that can win it all? Keep your eye on West Liberty-Salem from the Ohio Heritage Conference led by junior Asher Knox. Head coach Mike Louden's Tigers dominated the Troy Regional. The program also still carries a lot of pride after their four consecutive state titles from 1976-1979 when the Big Orange nickname was invented. As for individual contenders, nobody was hotter in October than Covington senior Asher Long who blazed a 15:46 on the slow levee bank at Troy last Saturday. The course record of 15:32 set in 2011 by a kid named Sam Prakel wasn't that far out of reach and might have been in jeopardy had Asher been challenged at all. By the way, Sam Prakel went on to win state the following week. Should Asher do the same, he'd become the second runner from Covington to win the individual title joining Ron Leach who did it for the Buccaneers in 1970.

Asher Long distanced himself from the competition early at last Saturday's regional

Address: 2015 Recreation Trl, Obetz, OH 43207

Tickets: https://www.ohsaa.org/tickets

Map: Parking & Course

Start Line: Girls ~ Boys

Watch: https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/ohsaa/gam2a325c743b

Results: http://milesplit.live/meets/520483