Fredericktown boys basketball geared up for another title push; MV, EK and Danville look to make strides in 2025–26

The Fredericktown boys’ basketball team is locked and loaded for another run.

The Freddies, who won the Knox Morrow Athletic Conference a year ago, return seven letter winners from last year’s 19-6 squad.

Four of those returnees are seniors, led by forwards Gavin Toombs (17.5 points per game, 6.9 rebounds per game, first team All-KMAC) and Blake Sipes (6.3 rebounds per game, second team All-KMAC). Guards Tanner Estep and Brode Davis (honorable mention All-KMAC) are also back for coach Derek Dibling.

“This group should look very similar to last year’s, given we only graduated one player,” Dibling said. “Our biggest strength is our experience. We have a handful of two- and three-year lettermen returning and are looking to build on last year’s success.”

Also returning for the Freddies are junior guards Carson Rinehart (15.1 ppg, first team All-KMAC) and Graham Overholt, as well as junior forward Zane Luckmeier.

Three juniors and a freshman will add talent and depth to the Freddie lineup. Junior forwards Karsyn Clutter and Junior Butler, as well as junior guard Grady Mills and freshman forward Laken Hunter will fill out the roster.

While Dibling returns a ton of talent, he knows that talent will only get a team so far. They still need to do the right things and continue to put in the work to be successful.

“We’re always looking for guys to step up and lead and do things the right way,” Dibling said. “If guys don’t take that step, then that could be a potential weakness.

“Our goal is to be 1-0 after each game. We believe what we do every day is way more important than what we do once in a while and we stress that every day in practice. Hence our motto — Championship Habits Every Day — which embodies this mindset. You do what you’re supposed to do every day, the rest takes care of itself.”

Mount Vernon

The Mount Vernon boys’ basketball team has to replace seven seniors from last year’s squad. The Yellow Jackets have some talent moving up, but coach Nick Coon knows it may take some time to gel as a squad.

“We have a lot of new pieces this season at the varsity level for our team. We are trying to figure out how our individual strengths will fit together as a team,” Coon said. “With a lot of new faces at the varsity level, we are looking to develop our lineups and team chemistry in the early part of the season.

The Yellow Jackets have just two returning letter winners but lost one of them in the first scrimmage of the season. Zane Barber, a senior who averaged 14.3 points per game a year ago, was expected to be a force again this winter, but will miss the season after suffering an injury in the first scrimmage. Trace Beck, a junior who averaged 8.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.6 steals a season ago, will be counted on to help lead a bevy of newcomers.

Coon will be looking at two seniors with some basketball experience to help pick up things — Trenton Wells and Lane Mussard. He also expects some big things from a pair of sophomores — Justus Shaw and Landon Dawson.

“We have some speed and athleticism that we are hoping will help us create turnovers defensively and get out in transition on offense,” Coon said.

The Jackets will have to find their way quickly as the Licking County League presents a tough road every year. Champion Licking Heights won a district title last winter, while both Granville and Licking Valley are always tough.

“Our league is competitive every game. Last year was our first year in the LCL and we did a lot of learning as players and coaches. We are hoping those lessons will pay dividends as we move forward this season,” Coon said.

East Knox

The East Knox boys’ basketball team will be looking to replace five letter winners from last year’s squad.

The Bulldogs do have two returners and some young talent ready to step up and fill those shoes.

Senior guard Kyson Miller and sophomore guard Peyton Hull both return from last year’s 6-16 squad. Miller is a solid shooter, while Hull brings a ton of skills to the hardwood.

EK will also look to two youngsters to help out in sophomore forward Rush Beatty and freshman guard Mason Payne.

“We are expecting to be better on the defensive end,” said East Knox coach Ryan Powell. “We are expecting our attitude and effort to be much improved this season.”

Powell knows his Bulldog squad will have its work cut out for them this season as the Knox Morrow Athletic Conference league is deep and talented. But he expects his team to compete every night and hopefully, move up the ladder in the standings.

“Fredericktown should be really good this season. Overall, I expect the league to be very competitive,” Powell said.

Danville

The Danville boys’ basketball team is hoping more depth and more experience means more wins this winter.

The Blue Devils return five letter winners from a year ago for new boys’ coach Matt Proper. Back are senior post/forward Carson Proper, senior guard Wesley Payne, senior guard/forward Ashton Spaulding, junior guard Aidan Mickley and junior post/forward Owen Gronberg. Spaulding was a second-team All-Knox Morrow Athletic Conference selection a year ago, while Payne was honorable mention.

They also have a large group of promising newcomers ready to hit the hardwood — freshman guard Briggs Wallace, freshman guard/wing Parker Proper, sophomore forward/post Damien Smith, senior post Ethan Swendal, senior wing Aiden Hood, sophomore wing Brycen Burke and junior wing Chris Mosher. The freshmen are coming in after winning the KMAC tournament title as eighth-graders a year ago.

“This year’s team will have more depth than in previous seasons,” said coach Proper. “We will look to use our athleticism to apply pressure on both ends of the court. We have a strong group of upper classmen that have played a lot of basketball and we expect them to lead our team.”

Proper takes over a 6-17 boys’ team after spending 11 years as a head girls’ basketball coach. He knows the learning curve with a new system may take some time, but he feels his players will be up to the challenge.

While Proper feels Fredericktown are the head of the class in the KMAC, he thinks his team can make its mark this season.

“Our goal is to compete every single night while striving to consistently improve throughout the season. If we can do this, I think we will be right in the mix at the top of the league this season,” coach Proper said. “I truly believe that all of the players will be able to contribute and lead us in one area or another on any given night. Our goal is to play great team basketball both offensively and defensively.”