TRI-COUNTY LEAGUE | Boys basketball glance

COLUMBIANA
Head coach: Jeff Hammond, fourth year (32-30).
2001-02 record: 8-12, 5-9.
Returning lettermen: Nate Shaw (6-0, Sr., G), Austen Couchenour (6-1, Jr., F), Kurt Williams (6-1, Sr., C), Ryan Schmidt (5-0, Jr., G), Jared Patton (5-9, Soph., G) and Eric Ostrander (5-10, Soph., G).
Newcomers: David Cramer (6-2, Jr., C), David Rice (5-10, Jr., G), Eric Bailey (5-10, Soph, G) and Steve Grimm (6-0, Jr., C).
Outlook: The prospects are bright for Columbiana with six letterman back, including four starters. The top returnee is Nate Shaw, who averaged 15 points and 5 rebounds a game last year. Also back are Austen Couchenour (10 and 4), Kurt Williams (8 and 4), Ryan Schmidt (5 and 2 assists). The Clippers only loss through graduation was Gerard Grimm, who was the team's top rebounder and second-leading scorer last year.
CRESTVIEW
Head coach: Rick Gates, 11th year (130-89).
2001-02 record: 11-9, 9-5,
Returning letterwinners: Troy Duwe (6-3, Sr., G-F), Andrew Neiheisel (5-10, Sr., G), Joe Sapp (6-2, Sr., F), Nick Hoff (5-8, Jr., G) and Chris Cook (5-10, Sr., G).
Newcomers: Jim Neeld (6-0, Sr., G), Stephen Adams (5-8, Jr., G), Kirk Pflugh (6-0, Jr., G), Ross Mercer (6-0, Jr., F), Jason Beachler (6-2, Jr., F), Ken Wagenhouser (5-8, Jr., G), Dave Wendel (5-10, Jr., G) and Scott Raschilla (5-11, Jr., F).
Outlook: Promising year for Crestview with five lettermen back, including four starters. The only player lost to graduation was Joe Leskosky. Experience and depth are the Rebels' strong points, although they lack height. The top holdovers -- Troy Duwe and Joe Sapp -- are coming off injuries. Duwe suffered a broken ankle in football, while Sapp had a severe ankle sprain in soccer. Duwe averged 17 points and 7 rebounds last year, while Sapp was at 14 and 7.
EAST PALESTINE
Head coach: Jeff Berger, third year (19-23).
2001-02 record: 5-16, 5-9.
Returning letterwinners: Chad Jones (6-0, Sr., F), Brett Young (5-10, Soph., G.), Brandon Lewis (5-8, Sr., PG), Adam Harvey (5-11, Sr., C.), Brett Egresi (5-9, Jr., G).
Newcomers: Smitty Kendrew (6-2, Sr., C), Jason Braden (6-2, Sr., G.), Tom Johnson (6-1, Jr., C), Cody Murray (5-9, Sr., G.), Matt Kosman (5-10, Sr., G.), Ralph Lattanzio (5-10. Jr, G).
Outlook: East Palestine has back four starters -- Chad Jones, Brett Young, Brandon Lewis and Adam Harvey -- to give the team promise despite the loss of Brian Hanolt, last year's second-leading scorer and rebounder; and Anthony Thompson. Jones averaged 12 points and seven rebounds last year, while Young was at eight and four, respectively. Lewis averaged four assists, Harvey four rebounds and three points. Brett Egresi is another hopeful who averaged three points and two assists. The starting lineup is projected to consist of Jones, Harvey, Lewis, Braden and Young.
LEETONIA
Head coach: Guy Costello, fifth year (10-74).
2001-02 record: 4-16, 2-12.
Returning lettermen: Ryan Dowling (6-2, Sr., F-C), Fred Gray (6-3, Sr., F), Drew Mason (5-9, Sr., G).
Newcomers: Justin Maynard (5-10, Sr., F); Brandon Simms (6-0, Sr., G-F), Matt Custer (6-0, Jr., G), Jay Fiehler (6-0, Jr., G).
Outlook: Lost four players, including Jeremy Hoaglin and Nick Mango who both have graduated. Also not returning are senior Dan Simpson, who will focus on running; and Aaron Merill, who is taking time off. Size is a factor.
LISBON
Head coach: Joe Siefke, third year (30-14), ninth year overall (97-32).
2001-02 record: 17-3, 12-2 (league champion).
Returning lettermen: Nick Schnader (6-2, Sr., F), Lucian Smith (6-0, Jr., PG, Jay Yorty (6-0, Jr., W).
Newcomers: Mike McDevitt (6-3, Jr., W); Chris Friend (6-1, Jr., F), J.C. Blackhurst (6-1, Jr., W/F), Chris McMillan (6-1, Jr., F), Dom Defillipo (6-3, Soph., C).
Outlook: Lisbon lost five seniors, including four starters, from last year's league-championship team, most notably Ben Dickey, who was second-team all-state, Columbiana County Player of the Year and first-team All-TCL. But the Blue Devils will rebuild around Smith, a first-team All-Columbiana County and All-TCL pick who averaged 15.5 points a game last year.
SEBRING
Head coach: Brian Clark, fourth year (43-24; sixth overall (52-58).
2001-02 record: 17-3, 11-3.
Returning lettermen: Greg VanKirk (6-1, Sr., G), Josh Dean (6-1, Sr., F), David Scarpitti (6-1, Jr., G), Andrew Wilson (6-3, Jr., F), Adam Jurica (5-9, Sr., G), Mike Stryffeler (5-9, Jr., G) and Ed Householder (6-1, Sr., G).
Newcomers: Matt Ferguson (6-4, Soph., F) and Dan Scarpitti (5-9, Soph., G).
Outlook: Experience and depth make Sebring a contender this year. Heading the veteran cast is VanKirk, who averaged 20 points and 6.8 rebounds a game last year. VanKirk made second-team All-Ohio and first team All-NEO. Other top holdovers are Dean (14.7 and 7.9), David Scarpitti (8.1 and 5.2) and Wilson (5.7 and 5.1). The versatile Scarpitti also averaged 5.5 assists and 3.2 steals. Also returning is Householder, who missed most of last season after starting 28 games.
SOUTHERN
Head coach: George Whittaker, third year (15-27).
2001-02 record: 6-14, 2-12.
Returning lettermen: Brandon Hamilton (5-10, Sr., PG) and Josh Diaz (6-2, Soph., F).
Newcomers: Randy Pitts (6-5, Jr., C), David VanDyne (6-0, Jr., F), Brad Gruszecki (6-0, Jr. G) and Chris Lyons (5-11, Sr. G).
Outlook: Southern lost four starters, and only Josh Diaz and Brandon Hamilton return with experience. Diaz led the team in scoring and rebounding as a freshman last year, despite being the sixth man off the bench. He averaged 10.5 points and 10.2 rebounds. Hamilton was the starting point guard with an 8-point average.
UNITED
Head coach: Herman Miller, third year (26-18).
2001-02 record: 13-7, 10-4.
Returning lettermen: Grant Cope (5-11, Sr., G), Jordan Phillips (6-2, Sr., G/F), Jason Sidwell (6-2, Sr., G/F).
Returning non-letterwinner: Mitch Phillis (6-3, Jr, G).
Newcomers: Cory Manfull (5-10, Jr, G), Ben Paumier (6-4, Jr., F), Tate Ray (6-0, Jr., G), Dale Woolf (6-0, Jr., G/F), Travis Boyer (6-0, Jr., G) and D'Andrew Soltis (6-5, Jr., F).
Outlook: Lost standouts Devan Peters and Nick Schneider to graduation, but return three starters: Cope, who averaged 12 points and seven rebounds last year; plus Phillips (7 and 4 and Sidwell (7 and 5).