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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 a game for head coach Mark Romick's team. He was special mention as a freshman when he scored at a 20-point-a-game clip. He has also earned all-OVAC first team and all-Eastern District laurels as a freshman and sophomore.
Joining him are six seniors in 6-2 Jordan Doty; 5-10 Isaac Curtis; 6-1 Parker Caretti; 5-10 Wyatt Reynolds; 6-2 Mason Ladyga; and 5-8 Michael Collins. All but Reynolds saw extensive time last season, with Doty, Curtis, Caretti and Collins all playing two varsity seasons.
All four possess good outside shots and ballhandling skills. Ladyga enjoyed a superb football season as a two-way lineman and could be a force in the middle with his physical play.
Juniors on the team are 6-2 Drew Dietz; 6-2 Cody Hupp; and 6-footers Daniel Norcujo, Dillon Grimes and Payton VanCamp.
Dietz is coming off a fine football season in which he excelled as a defensive end and tight end. He saw some varsity time last season and is considered a banger on the inside.
Lost to graduation were Joey Flannery, Brandon Smith, Blaze Amos, Ben Riley and Michael Dierkes.
Assisting Romick are Dean Caldwell, Gard Curtis and Scott Piatt.