Lets get some discussion going here with everyone but the falcons gearing up for hoops. I expect a very deep league this year with 4 teams capable of winning the league IMO and two more with the ability to be anyone any night.

1. Hillsdale - excellent size with moore and licata and zack fulk at guard
2.Dalton - still not a true center but lots of speed, athleticism, depth with boak, hackett, lint, zeek, etc
3.Northwestern - mckean is really good. Since alberts has been there, they just keep on rolling
4. Norwayne - the cats played everyone tough last year and have some experience this season, plus west is a great young coach
5.Smithville - one of the best guard tandems in the league but you can't lose orr/caldwell and not take a small step back, along with a new system
6. Rittman - every year we think they will be good and every year they underachieve. Some solid talent here and will be dangerous
7.Waynedale
8. Chippewa

Hillsdale will have very good size and athleticism. Who will replace Paullin at PG? That's the biggest question mark, IMO.
Northwestern has the best player in the league.
Dalton will be dangerous if they get on a roll.
Norwayne will be consistent throughout the year and a higher-level team in the WCAL, but not a great team, IMO.
Smithville goes back to being average.

I think it will be a three way battle between Hillsdale, Dalton, and Northwestern. Norwayne and Smithville next and then Rittman, Waynedale and Chippewa.

My prediction is:

Dalton- Stutz will find a way to win the county this year with the talent back, as long as injuries do not happen.
Hillsdale- very talented with size, guard issue maybe and how do you replace Cline?
Northwestern- McKean will lead this team and have a shot at county.
Norwayne- solid team that will battle, with a real good coach.
Smithville- still with some talent but most of the size is gone, good coach will keep them in the mix.
Rittman- has some talent their still, but I think will be in the middle of the pack again.
Waynedale- will play some young players this year (Short and Kegan L.), hoping for a bright future in a couple of years. Also coach Rebie is back to help in the coaching staff.
Chippewa- Has struggled that last few years, but always play hard just not a lot of talent their right now.

Good Luck to all the teams this year!

Coach 08, I would switch Hillsdale and Dalton around but other than that I agree with you all. Also, I think Smithville has plenty of talent to compete for the league this year, and an area coach told me they have 2 of the top 3 guards in the league. With that being said, I don't think they will compete for the league, because of many reasons. Played some ball against Dalton this summer, in my opinion they aren't on Hillsdale's level but I think those two games will be very close. I also have heard good things about Bryce Maxwell from Norwayne, as well as the Davis boys. Add Wallace to the mix and they will be tough to beat.

hillsdale has to be the favorite with their size, but Dalton did sweep them last year and I believe they only lost one starter, so they could give the falcons a run

dalton is same as last yr run,run,and more running

I am embarrassed to be a Smithie today.

Mr. Russell;573731 wrote:I am embarrassed to be a Smithie today.

Why is that? Oh. I think I read about it in the Daily Record just now.

A couple articles today Pit. Nothing new, just even worse when it is in print. Are the Titans and Huskies still opening up the season with each other?!

^^ Yep. Friday, 12/3, @ Northwestern.

another nice preview by the DR - getting pumped for the hardwood now, looks like a very balanced WCL. Hiland looks to be scary - what a tourney scheduled for January also

Will the DR's winter sports preview be posted online or do I have to make a trip west to pick one up.

u may have to shell out the whole 50 cents

Mr. Russell I agree I can not believe Smithville would do that if it is true ( I am assuming so). Let the young girl play she only gets to have 1 senior year, Let Her PLAY!

Big hits to the Indians.....Underation decided not to play and transfer Dalton Wilson who was expected to play big minutes tore his ACL the day before the first scrimmage and will be out for the year

Anybody know if and where the Dalton scrimmages are?

dhs, I hope for your sake that you scrimmage better teams than us. Last scrimmage tonight, Tusky Central Catholic and River View. That's getting us ready for the season.

1486wd;574157 wrote:u may have to shell out the whole 50 cents

Don't mind shelling out the 50 cents. Just a little out of my way on my drive home to pick up a copy of the DR.

Mr. Russell, I agree with you. If the admin turned them in, then it was pretty small of them. They would of had to research this to find out that the letter of the law wasn't followed. That would have been a vindictive search to do what? Ruin this girls senior year? The rule is the rule and they were wrong and it can't be changed. I have the greatest respect for coach Miller and I hope he didn't have anything to do with this and it was the same guy in Smithville's admin. who tried to turn Orrville's transfers in. I hope he's happy about this.

Flash, maybe some respect will be lost then......

I will say this. As somebody who had to move away from the house he loved, to a much smaller house, in order to change schools, I know that following the rules stink.

However, I do know for a fact they were at that apartment in the Norwayne district, and if a girl doesn't want to be here, let her go! That is my opinion. Coach Pilsitz was right, it's all about wins. I think you should follow the rules, but if not, is it our business anymore? The administrator's name who is on the document, is not who did the investigation. And I do think it is sad that she gets in trouble, and the Aultz girls don't, when they lived in Orrville less than Mckenzi lived in Creston. I remember first moving schools and having 11 people in my aunt's house, until we got our much smaller house that we still live in today. Rules should be followed, but please, let it go Smithville. I hope her appeal is successful. Let the girl play. I know there is not a person in Smithville who has reason to dislike Norwayne than myself, and if I can understand what has happened and be okay with it, everybody should be able to. There are a lot of things going on right now that are very disappointing in our community and with the athletic programs, so I am not surprised we would micromanage something like this. I also know, people who bring up recruiting in either of the cases, Orrville's or Norwayne's are ridiculous. Girls go to the schools where the wanted to play, no money was given, no special accommodations were made. Let's be serious here.

As far as the boys are concerned, Norwayne is flying way under the radar and are going to beat up on some teams this year. I am glad we didn't even mention them as a team to watch in our article. We will see I guess.

Good luck this weekend to all teams with the start of their seasons! Go Smithies!!

This is the Boys Basketball forum, just as a reminder.

i don't think the cats are flying that far under the radar mr russell - everyone on here that has posted has them in contention in the league. They were young last year, got good experience and have developed some depth, good coaching. Good strong kids as well.

Haha it's ok Pit, some dead time broken up a bit.

1486wd, I agree with you! Which is why I get peeved reading comments of coaches in the previews, who don't acknowledge them.

most of the coaches just mentioned hillsdale, dalton, northwestern who finished atop the league last year, I think stutz mentioned the cats, though

We played Waynedale last night in our Foundation Game (a glorified scrimmage) and won 55-52. I'm not sure if this is good for Waynedale in that they are improving or bad for Triway in that we may not be as strong this season, or maybe a little of both. Either way, good luck to the Golden Bears this season!