D2 East District

Titles? More than likely the answer to that question is, no. However, the competitive nature of the East this season will be high.

Are there any state title contenders, not really, but with the tournament format set up it has assured the East one team in the regional final each of the last two seasons. Both times coming up short to Chillicothe and Logan Elm. Meadowbrook in '08 and Cambridge in '09.

Though, things will be slightly different in the format this season with only one SE team advancing to Athens as opposed to the two it got the past two seasons. OHSH has confirmed with the OHSAA that it will be two teams from the East, one from the SE, and one from the Central as it was prior to 2008.

This is usually not good news for the East and SE as the Central advanced its team six of the eight times under this format in this decade. Columbus East, Columbus Beechcroft (2), Columbus Linden McKinley, and Columbus DeSales (2) all punched its ticket out of the Athens Regional. Only Cambridge (2000) and Dover (2004) were able to escape.

This year's version of D2 in the East District is deeper than it has been and with the addition of Minerva business has increased even more. The Lions have come over from the Northeast trading spots with D4 Wellsville.

The laundry list of teams that should be primed for quality seasons are Minerva, Carrollton, Dover, Coshocton, John Glenn, Meadowbrook, New Philadelphia, and Buckeye Local.

Cambridge, East Liverpool, Maysville, and possibly even Claymont are on that outside edge looking in the circle.

Minerva (21-2) and Carrollton (15-11), who are both members of the Northeastern Buckeye Conference, are heavy favorites to advance to regional play, but of course, that is on paper and based off of last year's success.

Coshocton and Meadowbrook return almost everyone, and Dover will be Dover. Look for Coshocton to have a big year after the disappointing end to last year's season. Meadowbrook returns everyone, but will lack size. Dover's junior Anthony Monaco should really step to the forefront this season.

John Glenn and Buckeye Local each have one of the districts best players in Jake Heagen (John Glenn) and Joe Rine (Buckeye Local), while New Philadelphis has one of the finest inside-outside combos in Cody Cox and John Stephenson.

Preseason 1st Team East All-District D2:

Dave Brown (5'11/Sr.)- Coshocton
Brian Harp (6'4/Sr.)- Minerva
Kristian Cross (6'4/Jr.)- Carrollton
Anthony Monaco (6'3/Jr.)- Dover
Jake Heagen (6'3/Jr.)- John Glenn

D2 District Player of the Year:
Brian Harp (Minerva)

D2 District Coach of the Year
Justin Clifford (Harrison Central)

6th Man:
Max Huddleston (6'4/Sr.)- Maysville and Joe Rine (6'7/Sr.)- Buckeye Local

Breakout Player of the Year:
Marky Thompkins (6'0/Soph.)- East Liverpool

Impact Freshman:
Stephen Erickson (6'4/Fr.)- Carrollton

Teams most likely to advance to regional play:
Carrollton and Minerva

Man this website needs to pick up.Meadowbrook was handled by Fort Frye last week.Fort Frye was even without 4 varisty players.I like Carrollton,Dover,and Coshocton.Do not know much about Minerva.

kapono wrote: Man this website needs to pick up.Meadowbrook was handled by Fort Frye last week.Fort Frye was even without 4 varisty players.I like Carrollton,Dover,and Coshocton.Do not know much about Minerva.

This is Minerva's first year in the East. They are a very good team ... 21-2 last year.

Dont ever under estimate Dover. They have many players who will be getting late starts though, so the season may start out a little slow.

I know we people from Carrollton will not underestimate Dover. That district championship game last year was awesome.

Watch out for Coshocton, they have the ability to be very good this year.

Yeah but Coshocton is alot smaller then most schools they will face tourney time.

I saw Carrollton over the summer. They look very solid with some big physical athletes.