With basketball season already underway, here are the key returning boys and girls basketball players in Ashland County for this winter.
More: 2024 Ashland Times-Gazette All-Area Volleyball Team
Boys Basketball
Paxon Ediger, Ashland
Ediger was Ashland’s top performer last season as a sophomore, as the guard averaged 13.3 points and 3.5 assists per game. He’ll look to lead the way on an Arrows team that will be guard-heavy.
Justice Thompson, Crestview
As a junior, Thompson helped lead the Cougars to a 22-2 record and the Firelands Conference title. The guard/forward averaged 22.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.7 steals per game, was a Division III All-Ohio First Team selection (a two-time All-Ohioan) and was named the Firelands Conference Player of the Year. He’ll look to take it up a notch in his senior season.
Bradey Krichbaum, Hillsdale
The 6-foot-6 center averaged a double-double last season as a junior at 15 points and 12 rebounds per game, while shooting over 60 percent from the field. His 297 total rebounds last season was the single season school record. In one of the best basketball season’s in school history last year (18-7 record), Krichbaum was a was a Division IV All-Ohio Honorable Mention selection, Second Team Northwest Inland District, and Honorable Mention Northeast District 4.
Troy Bennett, Hillsdale
In Hillsdale’s fast-paced offense last season, Bennett thrived, averaging 13 points per game while leading the team in three-pointers made. With the Falcons go-to scorer and one of the best players in the area in Braylen Jarvis graduating, don’t be surprised if Bennett takes over that role this season.
Judah Layton, Loudonville
Despite Loudonville’s 6-17 record last year, Layton performed well for the Redbirds, with the junior averaging 17.8 points and 8.8 rebounds. A senior captain this season, Layton was a Mid-Buckeye Conference First Team selection for the 2023-24 season.
Scotty Hickey, Mapleton
In his junior season, Hickey averaged 17.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.3 steals per game, while also making 56 three-pointers, which was a single-season school record. The guard also put up a 44-point game last season in a win against Rittman. Named a Division III All-Ohio Honorable Mention, Firelands Conference and District 4 First Team choice, and Northeast Inland District Second Team selection, Hickey helped lead the Mounties to a 16-8 record and a sectional title.
Girls Basketball
Kennedy Lacey, Ashland
In a very strong freshman campaign, Lacey averaged 15.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.1 steals and 1.5 assists per game for the Arrows. Because of Lacey’s emergence on the court, she was the only freshman last season to be selected to the Ohio Cardinal Conference First Team and she made the District 6 First Team.
Camryn Cox, Ashland
Last season as a sophomore along with Lacey, sophomore Madison Hoffman (OCC Honorable Mention) and freshman Cienna Steury (OCC Honorable Mention), Cox was amongst an underclassmen Ashland core that showed plenty of potential, as the Arrows were able to win a sectional title. Cox was able to average 10.6 points, a team-high 8.0 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game last year as the Arrows key inside player. She was a First Team District 6 performer and made the OCC Second Team.
Alesha Felix, Loudonville
The 2024 Loudonville girls basketball team (26-3 record) were probably the best team in school history. This year, just might be a bit of transition. The hugely impactful senior trio of two-time Ohio Ms. Basketball finalist in Corri Vermilya, point guard Sophia Spangler and sharpshooter Jena Guilliams all graduated. A big-time performer as a freshman starter and a player who has a chance to leave every bit a basketball legacy at Loudonville as her sister Corri, in Mya Vermilya, will be out for a large portion, if not the entire season due to an offseason injury.
That leaves Alesha Felix, as the lone returning starter from last season’s Division IV state Final Four team. As a junior post player, Felix did all the little things that don’t always necessarily show up in the box score and the role she played was vital in the Redbirds success. This year, don’t be surprised to see her points and rebounds production go up, as she just might be asked to do more in her senior year. Felix is already off to a good start, as she was named Player of the Game against Triway in the team’s season-opening win on Nov 23 in Smithville at the Barn Ball Classic.
Raeann Mitchell, New London
Coming off a 20-5 record, a Firelands Conference title (undefeated 14-0 record) and a Division IV district finalist, New London proved to be one of the top teams in its district. With six key returning starters, New London should be well-placed in that mix again. A valuable player in helping the Wildcats keep that momentum going in 2025 will be junior point guard Raeann Mitchell.
Steady with the ball on her hands and a good decision-maker, the Wildcats offense functions best when she’s on the floor. By losing important senior players in Emilee Rowland and Alyssa Henry, Mitchell’s role for New London could grow even more as the Wildcats chase a second straight Firelands Conference crown.
Gracie Thomas, New London
Last season, one area of strength New London had and used was their size advantage in bigs Emilee Rowland, Pailee Wilson and Gracie Thomas. With Rowland, the Wildcats top offensive player graduating, Thomas might just fill that role for New London as an even stronger post presence.
This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: A look at the top returning Ashland boys/girls basketball players
