D3 Northwest District Preview

Bluffton
16-10 (Northwest Conference)

Lost in District Semifinals 63-42 to Ottawa-Glandorf

Who is Back: Wade Ginther (Sr), Marek Donaldson (Jr), Terron Boblitt (Jr), Blake Sommers (Jr)- transfer from Spencerville

Who is Gone: Carson Soper

Burning Question: Is the addition of Sommers enough to lift the Pirates?

Outlook: Bluffton returns several starters and add a rising player like Sommers to make a dangerous team.


Cardinal Stritch
22-4 (Toledo Area Athletic Conference)

Lost in Regional Semifinals 62-43 to Ottawa-Glandorf

Who is Back: Tommie Taylor (Sr), Owen Yost (Sr)

Who is Gone: Christian Burton (1st Team All District), Breon Hicks (2nd Team All District), Kam Hughes

Burning Question: Can the Cardinals replace the production lost with a new coach at the helm?

Outlook: John Yost takes over as the head coach and will have solid guard play back in Taylor and Yost.


Carey
19-4 (Northern 10 Conference)

Lost in Sectionals 38-37 Liberty-Benton

Who is Back: Carter Smiley (Sr)- All District, Alexander Putnam (Sr), Brayden Young (Sr)

Who is Gone:

Burning Question: Can the Blue Devils get out of Sectionals with the returning talent?

Outlook: Carey has a strong trio of guys coming back from a 19-win team. Smiley and Young will be leaned on to provide leadership and scoring for Carey


Emmanuel Christian
21-4 (Toledo Area Athletic Conference)

Lost in District Finals 50-49 to Wayne Trace

Who is Back: Jalen Brown (Sr), Antwoine Minster (Fr)

Who is Gone: Jerry Easter II- District Co-Player of the Year- transfer to La Lumiere, Jamie Rivers Jr, Nate Miles- transfer to Toledo St. John, Kaeden Carruthers- transfer to Toledo St. John, Tylin Patterson- transfer to Whitmer

Burning Question: Can Brown replace the lost production with 5 of the top 7 gone?

Outlook: Even with a great player like Easter gone, Brown had a big Summer and showed glimpses of being an outstanding player in the TAAC.


Margaretta
14-10 (Sandusky Bay Conference-Bay)

Lost in District Semifinals 53-50 to Cardinal Stritch

Who is Back: Julian Washington (So), Judah Keller (So)

Who is Gone: Hayden Wiley

Burning Question: Is Margaretta ready now to contend at the District level?

Outlook: The Bears have 2 extremely talented sophomores that will be looked for for scoring this season. Margaretta could be a year ahead of schedule.


Ottawa-Glandorf
26-4 (Western Buckeye League)

Lost in State Finals 67-61 to Lutheran East

Who is Back: Colin White (Sr)- Ohio State commit- District Co-Player of he Year, Caden Erford (Sr)- 2nd Team All District

Who is Gone: Theo Maag- (3rd Team All District)

Burning Question: Is this the year the Titans finally take home the state title?

Outlook: O-G is returning the most skilled player in the state in White and have shown they can reload year after year. This could be the year O-G takes home a state title.


Wayne Trace
19-8 (Green Meadows Conference)

Lost in the Regional Finals 62-55 (2OT) to Ottawa-Glandorf

Who is Back: Brooks Laukhaf (Sr)- Ohio Dominican commit- 1st Team All District, Kyle Stoller (Sr)

Who is Gone: Tyler Davis

Burning Question: Will the Raiders be able to get past O-G at the Regional level?

Outlook: Laukhaf is one of the better shooters in the state and can carry this group pretty far. Another Regional run is certainly in the cards.