North Union’s Preston Crabtree (top photo) and Marysville’s Jack Christian (bottom photo) aim for the basket in file photos from the 2018-19 campaign. Both played vital roles for their respective teams during the season and figure to do so again next winter.
(Journal-Tribune photos by Sam Dillon and Tim Miller)
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Let’s look back on the local boys hoop season
The Ohio High School Athletic Association crowned boys basketball state champions on Saturday and brought the 2018-19 campaign to a close.
With the season now in the books, I thought I’d take a look back at Union County’s boys hoop squads.
The best season, win-wise, was turned in by the Panthers of Fairbanks.
FHS, under the direction for fourth-year head coach Justin George, posted its first 20-victory season in more than two decades.
The Panthers won 20 of their 23 games and captured their second Ohio Heritage Conference North Division championship in the past three years.
Fairbanks earned its successful season based primarily on the work of a number of seniors.
Cross Hackathorne, who earned All-Ohio honorable mention status for Division III, led the team in scoring with 13 points per game.
Additional fourth-year men who saw plenty of playing time included Jacob Nicol, Tyler Beem, Mason Smith and Seth Standley.
The seniors provided the bulk of the offensive firepower and as such, the Panthers will need to conduct a rebuilding project if they want to match this year’s success next winter.
The senior class is going to be greatly missed.
There are several good athletes coming back next year.
However, in my opinion the team will have to be constructed around 6-4 post player Braylon Green.
The sophomore put together a very good campaign during his first varsity stint, averaging 10 points and nine rebounds per game.
Fairbanks may not have as many standout shooters from the perimeter next year, so I feel the offense is going to have to run through Green in the low post.
A team that I think is going to be very, very good in 2019-20 is North Union.
The Wildcats were what you could call a “tough-luck” squad this past season as they lost a number of games in overtime or on buzzer-beating shots.
I imagine those difficult outcomes drove folks in Wildcat Nation crazy, but when you think about it, those setbacks just may serve as a solid foundation for next year.
Those types of games can provide valuable lessons the team can use in learning how to close more contests.
That, plus the fact NU (13-11) loses no seniors from this year’s outfit, gives me a lot of confidence the program is going to make a good deal of noise in the Central Buckeye Conference and the D-III tournament in 2019-20.
Preston Crabtree averaged 13 points per game and appeared to be the catalyst of the team.
He was joined in double figures by Connor Terrill and Harley Day, both of whom scored 11 points per game.
Watch out for the Wildcats next winter.
Marysville’s boys posted an 8-15 record and will be losing key seniors Bodie Eberhart and Phillip Hughes.
The Monarchs play a difficult schedule every year against Ohio Capital Conference Central Division opponents such as Dublin Coffman, Upper Arlington and Hilliard Davidson.
They will face that type of schedule for one more season before the OCC realigns its divisions for 2020-21.
MHS will miss Eberhart’s outside shooting and drives to the basket, along with Hughes’ ability in the low post.
I was impressed late in the season with the play of underclassman post player Garrett Taylor.
Hopefully, he will take up the void that will come with Hughes’ graduation.
Jack Christian, who will be a junior next year, is already a two-year varsity letterman.
The perimeter scoring game should be in good hands with him.
Joey Duke, although small in stature, improved as a point guard as the season went along. He can also hit the three-ball.
With this past year of experience, he will hopefully continue to hone his skills and help the Monarchs climb the ladder of success.