Jackson-Milton could be the team to beat

The Bluejays still must overcome four-time defending champ Springfield.
By TOM WILLIAMS
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
For the past four years, the only mystery surrounding the Inter-County League basketball race was which team would finish second.
With four consecutive titles, Springfield, led by coach Jeff Brink, has been the ICL's dominant team.
And the Tigers might still be the ICL's best.
But with Brink now coaching in Salem and only one Tigers starter returning, this year's question is whether one of the league's other seven teams can challenge for a championship.
Jackson-Milton, possibly?
Grant Spaite, a Brink assistant who is the Tigers' new head coach, and South Range's Rocky Carr think Jackson-Milton may be the team to beat.
"Jackson has the most returning and with the addition of [point guard Andrew] Whitmer, they're going to be a challenge," Spaite said.
Carr said the Bluejays' five returning seniors make them "a team to watch," but that the Tigers should be competitive.
"They look to be young, but still have some good athletes," Carr said.
Spaite said Brink is irreplaceable.
"Those are big shoes to fill," Spaite said. "He's a hometown guy and pretty popular -- I was very privileged to coach with him. He set the foundation and hopefully I can build on it.
"It will be something when we play them," said Spaite, referring to Springfield's Jan. 3 game at Salem.
Steve Sachire, Jackson-Milton's coach, said the Tigers, who went 14-0 last winter in ICL games, remain the top team until someone knocks them off.
"They're going to be solid," said Sachire, pointing out the success of the Tigers' junior varsity program. "If I had to pick anyone, I'd pick them -- they went something like 19-1 as a JV team."
Aaron Wood, a 6-foot, 4-inch junior forward, is the only starter back from the Tigers' 22-2 team. Joining him will be five classmates, three juniors and a sophomore.
Experienced Bluejays
Sachire has four starters with two letters back from last year's 7-15 team, the most of any ICL team.
Forwards Tim Shaw (6-2, 15 points, 8 rebounds) and Zack Nicholas (6-3, 12 points, 10 rebounds) will be the Bluejays' top scoring threats.
The returning guards are Justin Vayner (5-11, 8 points) and Josh Ayres (6-0, 6 points).
Adding to the mix is Whitmer, a 5-8 junior point guard who transferred from Mineral Ridge.
Sachire sees his team's experience as its strength.
"Zack and Tim are three-year starters with tons of experience," Sachire said. "And Andrew played varsity as a freshman at Mineral Ridge."
In the running
Two darkhorses are Mathews and Western Reserve.
Senior center Chris Vesey (6-6, 11 points, 9 rebounds) already has three varsity letters for the Mustangs. Also back are senior guards Adam Hughes and Tyler Stanton, who averaged nine points apiece.
Western Reserve has five players back from a 9-12 team, including three 6-3 senior players: Jake Zatchok, Matt Speece and Nick Sanders.
"Western Reserve is going to be good this year," Sachire said. "They've got size."
South Range lost George Rohan and Ritchie Schuler to graduation, but has three lettermen back -- senior guards Jordan Taylor and Danny Justice, and senior forward Josh Dunn.
Jeff Rasile, who compiled a 58-31 record as coach at Champion, takes over the McDonald program and has two lettermen returning -- 6-3 senior guard/forward Nick Testa (15 points, 12 rebounds) and 6-1 senior guard Ken McKay.
Despite Whitmer's transfer, Mineral Ridge has six letterwinners back from last year's 6-16 team, including senior guard Brandon Linert, a two-time letterwinner.
williams@vindy.com