Basketball Preview 2016

Andes, Shadyside Starting Over

By SETH STASKEY SHADYSIDE — The Shadyside Tigers have undergone a roster overhaul. That’s expected in prep sports, but losing an entire starting cast isn’t usually the norm. Shadyside is the exception to the norm, evidently. After a 16-9 season in which the Tigers qualified for the OVAC Tournament and advanced to the Ohio Division IV district, veteran coach Ed Andes finds himself with the task of preparing an entirely new team for the season that lies ahead. “We’re just trying to figure out who’s going to be part of the varsity team,” Andes said. ...

Gentile in Charge Of Tigers Girls

By SETH STASKEY SHADYSIDE — Saying the Shadyside girls’ basketball team was on a roller coaster ride in 2015-16 wouldn’t be an exaggeration. A lot of young players with a mid-season coaching change left a lot of what if question surrounding the Tigers. Serge Gentile — a Shadyside grad — was hired in March as the Tigers head coach, replacing Laken Gibson, who wore the interim tag once Jim Miller was terminated. “We’ve not talked at all about last year,” Gentile said. “There’s no need to look into the past other than the on-court experience that ...

River Must Replace Caretti

By KIM NORTH HANNIBAL — It’s not often that a small school in a rural area has an NCAA Division I basketball player come around. That was such the case the last four years at River. Now, coach Rick Isaly and his staff are preparing for life without 6-foot Ohio State freshman Jensen Caretti. “You can’t replace Jensen,” Isaly admitted, “but you’ve got to do what you can with the kids you have.” In addition to Caretti, who scored three points in the Buckeyes’ season-opener, also lost to graduation were Brielle Williams, Abby Caldwell and Haley ...

Isaly, Seniors Will Lead Pilots

By KIM NORTH HANNIBAL — Coming off a highly successful football season, River is looking to carry that momentum over to the basketball floor. The Pilots were perfect in 10 regular-season grid contests, earned the top seed in Division VI, Region 23 and captured the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference Class 2A championship before falling to Columbus Bishop Ready in the playoffs. Several key components return from last season’s squad, including junior guard Lukas Isaly. The 5-foot-11 dynamo earned Division III second team all-Ohio honors last season when he averaged 22 points ...

Jarrett Back on Devils Bench

By RICK THORP BEALLSVILLE — After a brief hiatus, Rick Jarrett is back on the bench at Beallsville High School. Jarrett, who’s coached in a variety of capacities during the past few decades for the Blue Devils, is making his debut as head boys’ basketball coach. ‘‘I kinda thought maybe it’s time I stepped up and tried high school again,’’ he said with a laugh. Following stops at Muskingum University and Crooksville High School, Jarrett served as his brother Rick’s assistant on the girls’ varsity staff for 12 years before assuming the head role for ...

Small Roster, High Expectations

By RICK THORP BEALLSVILLE — While the roster may be small, expectations are high surrounding the Beallsville High girls’ basketball team this winter. Second-year coach Tori Jarrett has nine players in the fold and plans on squeezing every ounce of ability out of them. ‘‘I was hoping we’d have some higher numbers this year,’’ the former Blue Devils standout said, ‘‘but, I guess, you have to take what you get.’’ Don’t misunderstand her. While Jarrett would definitely love to have more numbers to work, she’s extremely pleased with the quality ...