Battle in the 740

[retiredbballref67!]

The Battle in the 740 returns to Shawnee State University in less than 9 days on December 13 and 14, 2025

13 games with 26 different teams with 4 Girls team and 22 Boys teams wiil play in the event.

This is the fifth season of The Battle Series events and third event at Shawnee State University

With three events this season we will host 80 plus teams in our events.

The schedule for this years event is as follows:

December 13 at 11am Reedville Eastern vs Symmes Valley
December 13 at 12:30pm Northwest vs Piketon
December 13 at 2pm has Racine Southern vs Portsmouth
December 13 at 3:30pm Africentric vs Huntington High, W VA
December 13 at 5pm Leesburg Fairfield vs Lucasville Valley
December 13 at 6:30 Chesapeake vs Harvest Prep
December 13 @ 8pm Chillicothe vs Fairland

December 14 noon Portsmouth West vs Hillsboro
December 14 1:30pm Rock Hill vs Huntington Ross
December 14 3pm Bishop Hartley Girls vs Federal Hocking Girls
December 14 at 4:30pm Unioto Girls vs Wheelersburg Girls
December 14 at 6pm Wheelersburg vs Unioto
December 14 at 7:30pm Ashland Paul Blazer vs Licking Heights

Thirteen games---- twenty six teams with numerous Cheer Teams in a great atmosphere.

Food trucks available for food along with a concession stand

Battle Series event information and ticket information is available at www.thebattleseries.com

[JeepNation26]

Will any of these games be live streamed??

[danicalifornia]

Saturday at 11 will feature two of the more interesting small schools in the Southeast District with Eastern Meigs and Symmes Valley clashing to open play at the Battle in the 740.

Eastern Meigs has started off 0-4, but all against quality opponents. The Eagles return 6'5 senior Colton Lloyd, who averaged 21 points per game as a junior on course to a Special Mention All Ohio. The Eagles went 14-9 a season ago and have hopes of making a deep tournament run in 2026.

Symmes Valley is off to a 2-0 start and have hammered their first two opponents. The Vikings went 15-7 a season ago and are led by sophomore Bronx Carpenter, who averaged 11.9 points per game as a freshman.

[danicalifornia]

Saturday's second contest will feature one of the top big men in the area and some outstanding athletes on both sides.

Piketon returns 6'5 senior Bo Henry, who averaged 13.3 points per game on 58% from the field for the Redstreaks a season ago. Luke Gullion and Jace Ritchie give the Streaks an interesting backcourt that can be dangerous if they get going.

Northwest is out to a 2-0 start and features a variety of athletes, including Jake Brown and Aidden Armbrister, who can provide matchup problems across the board. The Mohawks have 4 games scheduled for this week, so their depth will be tested by tip-off time on Saturday.

[danicalifornia]

At 2:00 on Saturday, we will see a matchup of two young teams with high expectations and storied histories.

Southern went 17-7 a season ago, returns 5'9 senior point guard Andre Chandler, who averaged 19.1 points per game as a junior for the Tornadoes. Southern also features the return of 6'5 junior Reed Briniger, who averaged 18.3 points per game for Meigs a season ago. With the combination of Briniger and Chandler, the Tornadoe have their highest expectations in quite some time.

Portsmouth is coming off of a 7-15 season in which they dealt with an insane amount of injuries and adversity. Now, with a full offseason, expectations are much higher for the Trojans this season. A large part of that is due to the healthy returns of Logan Adkins and Connie Thomas. With a healthy senior backcourt and some talented freshmen, the Trojans are excited for the 25-26 season.

[danicalifornia]

The 3:30 game on Saturday will feature some outstanding talent from outside of the SE District.

Africentric is coming off of a 22-3 season and the Nubians return most of their roster from a district runner-up finish a season ago. Huntington High is coming off a rare down season, finishing 10-13 a season ago, but typically the Highlanders feature high end talent and should be fun to watch.

[danicalifornia]

At 5:00 on Saturday will feature a fun matchup between Fairfield and Valley.

Fairfield will be led by a pair of junior guards, in Brody Smith and Griffin Friend. Smith is one of the top shooters in the SE district, while Friend is a high level point guard that will give the Lions a chance any time they line up.

Valley returns four starters from last season's district runner up finish in Division VI, including senior point guard Christian Copen. Copen has elite floor vision and has several outstanding junior teammates that are projected to be near the top of a loaded SOC 3 this winter.

[danicalifornia]

6:30 on Saturday features a pair of team that aspire to reach the Final Four this March

The Harvest Prep Warriors are coming off of a rare down season, going 12-11 a season ago, but senior Ephraim Campbell brings a ton of experience, including starting in the state championship game as a sophomore. Harvest Prep lost their season opener, 66-60, against one of the best of the Southeast in Miami Trace.

Chesapeake reached last season's regional championship game in Division V and brings back four starters from a season ago. 6'2 junior Maddox Kazee was 3rd team All Ohio after averaging 18.5 points per game for the Panthers. Kazee leads an outstanding and balanced Chesapeake attack in what will surely be one of their stiffest tests of the regular season.

[danicalifornia]

The main event of Saturday night will feature two teams who play at a fast pace and are filled with athletes.

Caydon Cox and Cooper Stoneking lead a 2-0 Chillicothe team filled with length and defensive prowess. The Cavailers are holding opponents to 32 points per game to open the season, with Cox and Stoneking being the key pieces of an improved offensive attack from a season ago.

Fairland returns two starters from a 21-2 team, with Trevor Lochow and Cliff Fransen being the centerpieces for a new era in Fairland basketball. The Dragons are off to a 2-0 start and play FAST. Lochow runs the show for the Dragons, who will face their toughest test of the season in Saturday's nightcap.

[danicalifornia]

Outstanding guard play will get the day started on Sunday's matchup between West and Hillsboro

Hillsboro's Jack Howland is a three level scorer who is elite at getting to the free throw line. Howland scored 31 in the Indians' season opening loss to North Adams, but will surely be one of the top players in this season's event.

West has expectations of a league championship and has the squad to do it this season, led by senior wing Will Kegley. Kegley averaged 17 points per game last season on his way to being named Honorable Mention All Ohio.

[danicalifornia]

Sunday's second game will feature a pair of teams that are looking at turnaround seasons, led by outstanding junior guards.

Rock Hill went 7-16 last year, but Rylan Barker and the Redmen have gotten out to a quick start in 25-26. Barker had an outstanding opener, with 22 points and 8 assists in a dominating victory over Ironton St. Joseph. Kelan Davidson averaged a double-double for the Redmen as a sophomore and just missed a triple double in the season opener.

Huntington is out to a 4-1 start after finishing 8-15 last season. Junior Frankie Hirsch led the Huntsmen with 16 points a game as a sophomore and has the Township filled with high expectations this winter. Look for Kalvin Manson to be a tough matchup for the Redmen on the glass.

[danicalifornia]

The first of two girls games will feature some high end talent

Hartley's Pinky Burnett averaged 19.6 points per game as a freshman on an 18-6 Hawk team and they will take on the Federal Hocking Lancers led by junior Brenlee Cottrill.

The second of two girls games will have two of the top teams in the SE district.

Unioto is led by Dayton commit Milee Smith, along with sophomore Keyairah Beard, while Wheelersburg has outstanding athletes, keyed by sophomore Ava Artrip.

Should be a couple of fun girls games in the middle of Sunday afternoon.

[danicalifornia]

The 6:00 game on Sunday will have a pair of outstanding point guards, along with a lot of multi-sport athletes having a chance to showcase their talents.

Wheelersburg will be just barely a week out of football season after reaching the Division V state championship game and are led by senior point guard Braylon Rucker.

Unioto only returns one starter from last season's district championship team, but that one starter in returning district player of the year, Blake Fitch. The senior point guard has been outstanding for the Shermans throughout his career.

Both teams are filled with athletes and this should be a fun uptempo matchup.

[danicalifornia]

Sunday's main event will feature a pair of really talented big schools with high end expectations for this season

Ashland Blazer went 26-8 last season and was the star of last season's event, but with high roster turnover, the Tomcats will have to rely on some fresh faces for this season to have similar success from a year ago. Elijah Neel had 27 in the Tomcats season opening win over Paintsville and Blazer played a trio of freshmen big minutes as well.

Licking Heights went 20-5 last season and now the Hornets will look to build off of last season's success.

[pfloyd]

Great info on your game by game opponent rundowns !!! Pfloyd will be at SSU all day Saturday… excellent lineup of games both days - nice job daniC !!!

[art_vandelay]

Sunday's main event will feature a pair of really talented big schools with high end expectations for this season

Ashland Blazer went 26-8 last season and was the star of last season's event, but with high roster turnover, the Tomcats will have to rely on some fresh faces for this season to have similar success from a year ago. Elijah Neel had 27 in the Tomcats season opening win over Paintsville and Blazer played a trio of freshmen big minutes as well.

Licking Heights went 20-5 last season and now the Hornets will look to build off of last season's success.

Neel is going to be a fun watch next 4 years. 6’3” PG already throwing down dunks as a freshman…crazy!*

[JJMD24]

Sunday's main event will feature a pair of really talented big schools with high end expectations for this season

Ashland Blazer went 26-8 last season and was the star of last season's event, but with high roster turnover, the Tomcats will have to rely on some fresh faces for this season to have similar success from a year ago. Elijah Neel had 27 in the Tomcats season opening win over Paintsville and Blazer played a trio of freshmen big minutes as well.

Licking Heights went 20-5 last season and now the Hornets will look to build off of last season's success.

Neel is going to be a fun watch next 4 years. 6’3” PG already throwing down dunks as a freshman…crazy!*

Neel is a junior.

[740Gridiron]

I didn't know Neel could dunk now; I knew he could shoot it and was a bucket getter. And yeah, I thought he was a junior; freshman didn't sound right lol.

[art_vandelay]

Sunday's main event will feature a pair of really talented big schools with high end expectations for this season

Ashland Blazer went 26-8 last season and was the star of last season's event, but with high roster turnover, the Tomcats will have to rely on some fresh faces for this season to have similar success from a year ago. Elijah Neel had 27 in the Tomcats season opening win over Paintsville and Blazer played a trio of freshmen big minutes as well.

Licking Heights went 20-5 last season and now the Hornets will look to build off of last season's success.

Neel is going to be a fun watch next 4 years. 6’3” PG already throwing down dunks as a freshman…crazy!*

Neel is a junior.

My bad…was thinking of Alijah Owens for Ashland. 6’3” freshman from Huntington who already getting varsity minutes for the Tomcats.

Search him on tik tok and you’ll see what I’m talking about. Got their first names confused*

[740Gridiron]

Neel is going to be a fun watch next 4 years. 6’3” PG already throwing down dunks as a freshman…crazy!*

Neel is a junior.

My bad…was thinking of Alijah Owens for Ashland. 6’3” freshman from Huntington who already getting varsity minutes for the Tomcats.

Search him on tik tok and you’ll see what I’m talking about. Got their first names confused*

Yeah, I just saw that, kid is tough. I was confused when you said Elijah Neel could dunk because I don't think he can get up like that. I know he's a heck of a shooter and a very smart player.