OVC 2019-20
Posted: Tue Jun 18, 2019 11:57 am
THE FOLLOWING POST WAS WRITTEN IN JUNE......THERE IS AN UPDATED POST BELOW.
The Ohio Valley Conference in 2019-2020 will have a different look in some aspects, with quite a few teams having graduated significant players, while others return quite a few.
Fairland should be the favorite going into the season, with the outstanding SO PG Porter leading the team. Even though the Dragons lost a couple of starters to graduation, they have a solid group coming back, with the pedigree of having won the title last season. FHS will be gunning for their 5th straight OVC title.
South Point could be the Dragons main challenger, especially with the transfer losses suffered by Chesapeake. Forward Austin Webb and PG Chase Gunther will give the Pointers a very good punch offensively, and several others return to give them a solid starting unit.
Chesapeake probably got hurt more than anyone with transfers out, losing a very good post player in Eli Archer and starter Tylan Hutchinson. Still, the Panthers have enough left on their roster to be very competitive. The key player losses, though, will make it really tough for CHS to win the conference.
Coal Grove also lost significant players, most notably outstanding PG Aaron Music, who may have been the best all around player in the OVC last season. Corey Borders returns for the Hornets, and his perimeter prowess will make him one of the better shooters in the conference. The Hornets seem to always find a way to be in the top half of the OVC.
Gallia Academy lost 4 starters to graduation, but based on seeing their JV team last season, the Blue Devils will put a respectable squad on the court. GAHS will have to pull off some surprises to move out of the middle of the pack.
Ironton lost most of the scoring from last season, in the form of SG Charlie Large (19 PPG) and PG Ethan Wilson. Also lost starter Ahren Barnes. New coach PJ Fitch will inherit a Fighting Tiger squad that will have to find enough offense to be considered a contender in 2019-2020. JR Reid Carrico gives IHS one of the best post players in the conference.
Portsmouth lost starters Myquel McKinley and Danny Lattimore, with the end result being that the Trojans could field the youngest starting 5 in the conference. Sophomores Amare Johnson and Daryionne Bryant could be the frontrunners to fill those 2 spots. SR guard Matthew Fraulini is one of the best players in all the SE district, and JR Miles Shipp and SO Drew Roe will return with a year of starting experience.
Rock Hill lost its PG and post player, but this is one year that the Redmen have a good chance to move up in the OVC standings. RHHS is another team that will be offensively challenged, and if they can find enough scoring, could change the fortunes of the program.
Overall, I think the conference won't be as strong as last season, but since it is June it is too early to call that a fact. The early storyline will be......can anyone dethrone Fairland and their conference dynasty? Who will be the main challengers? Who will surprise and who will disappoint? Whatever the answers, it should be another fun season of hoops in the OVC.
The Ohio Valley Conference in 2019-2020 will have a different look in some aspects, with quite a few teams having graduated significant players, while others return quite a few.
Fairland should be the favorite going into the season, with the outstanding SO PG Porter leading the team. Even though the Dragons lost a couple of starters to graduation, they have a solid group coming back, with the pedigree of having won the title last season. FHS will be gunning for their 5th straight OVC title.
South Point could be the Dragons main challenger, especially with the transfer losses suffered by Chesapeake. Forward Austin Webb and PG Chase Gunther will give the Pointers a very good punch offensively, and several others return to give them a solid starting unit.
Chesapeake probably got hurt more than anyone with transfers out, losing a very good post player in Eli Archer and starter Tylan Hutchinson. Still, the Panthers have enough left on their roster to be very competitive. The key player losses, though, will make it really tough for CHS to win the conference.
Coal Grove also lost significant players, most notably outstanding PG Aaron Music, who may have been the best all around player in the OVC last season. Corey Borders returns for the Hornets, and his perimeter prowess will make him one of the better shooters in the conference. The Hornets seem to always find a way to be in the top half of the OVC.
Gallia Academy lost 4 starters to graduation, but based on seeing their JV team last season, the Blue Devils will put a respectable squad on the court. GAHS will have to pull off some surprises to move out of the middle of the pack.
Ironton lost most of the scoring from last season, in the form of SG Charlie Large (19 PPG) and PG Ethan Wilson. Also lost starter Ahren Barnes. New coach PJ Fitch will inherit a Fighting Tiger squad that will have to find enough offense to be considered a contender in 2019-2020. JR Reid Carrico gives IHS one of the best post players in the conference.
Portsmouth lost starters Myquel McKinley and Danny Lattimore, with the end result being that the Trojans could field the youngest starting 5 in the conference. Sophomores Amare Johnson and Daryionne Bryant could be the frontrunners to fill those 2 spots. SR guard Matthew Fraulini is one of the best players in all the SE district, and JR Miles Shipp and SO Drew Roe will return with a year of starting experience.
Rock Hill lost its PG and post player, but this is one year that the Redmen have a good chance to move up in the OVC standings. RHHS is another team that will be offensively challenged, and if they can find enough scoring, could change the fortunes of the program.
Overall, I think the conference won't be as strong as last season, but since it is June it is too early to call that a fact. The early storyline will be......can anyone dethrone Fairland and their conference dynasty? Who will be the main challengers? Who will surprise and who will disappoint? Whatever the answers, it should be another fun season of hoops in the OVC.
