Maumee Valley appears to have the depth and experience to win the school's first Toledo Area Athletic Conference title since 2002.
The Hawks have all five starters returning including three of the top 12 leading scorers in the TAAC from last year. The squad was given the nod in a preseason coaches' poll.
"It's very kind for us to be picked first," said Maumee Valley coach Jim Robinson, who is in his 42nd year overall as a high school coach. "We're hoping we're changing our tradition from the hunter to the hunted.
"But I think the league will be strong. Four or five teams could win it. It's the strongest I've seen it in my three years."
Maumee Valley senior guard Ricky Deichert and senior post player Jared Sturt earned All-TAAC first team honors last season. Junior guard David Brown earned All-TAAC second team honors. Sturt, Deichert, and senior wing Julius Turner all averaged in double figures in scoring.
"We have six quality, veteran players, but it takes eight or nine kids to contribute. I think we match up with most people," Robinson said.
Maumee Valley has won TAAC basketball titles twice (1993, 2002). Robinson said the key to getting back on top is developing a hard nose attitude.
"The kids have to want to go from good to great. That is what wins championships, when a team decides they are good enough," he said.
Gibsonburg enters its first year in the TAAC and is expected to immediately contend. Four starters return, including three players that scored 10 or more points per game last season. The Golden Bears made a run to the Division III district final last season.
"We look to be competitive in a very tough league," Gibsonburg coach Brent Liskai said. "We need to win our home games and play to our potential at very tough road games."
Four-time defending league champion Ottawa Hills is not to be overlooked. The Green Bears, who won outright back-to-back titles and went undefeated in the league last season, will be extremely young this year. Yet, OH should have the size advantage over most competitors.
Toledo Christian, which split titles in 2007-08 and 2008-09 with Ottawa Hills, also should challenge for the title. Longtime coach Dave McWhinnie has no returning starters.
"We expect to improve throughout the season and hope to be in position to win the TAAC," McWhinnie said.
Here is a look at the TAAC in predicted order of finish based on a preseason coaches' poll:
MAUMEE VALLEY
Coach: Jim Robinson, fourth season
Last season: 17-4 overall, 10-2 TAAC
Top players: Seniors Jared Sturt, 6-6, P; Ricky Deichert, 5-11, G; Julius Turner, 6-0, W; Dixon Stoddard, 6-3, W; John Krueger, 6-2, W. Junior David Brown, 5-5, G.
Outlook: With five starters and seven letter winners back, the Hawks have experience and depth.
Consistent high shooting percentage could be a problem.
Sturt averaged 14 points and 8 rebounds per game last season, while Deichert scored 12 points and had 3 assists per contest. Tuner also averaged 10 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. Brown tallied 6 points per game, while Stoddard, and Kreuger both scored 5 per game.
"We finished second the past two years and we should be in the hunt," Robinson said. "If we can avoid injury and stay away from foul trouble, it should be a fun season."
GIBSONBURG
Coach: Brent Liskai, 10th season
Last season: 12-11, 7-5 SLL
Top players: Seniors Gage Beaber, 5-11, P; Nate Yarborogh, 6-3, W; Logan Jones, 6-4, P; Dylan Dorfmeyer, 5-10, W; Adam Clark, 6-3, P.
Outlook: Beaber earned All-SLL first team honors after averaging 15 points, 2.9 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 4 steals per game.
Yarborogh tallied 12 points and grabbed 5.1 rebounds per game. Jones scored 11.3 points and pulled down 8.1 rebounds per game. Dorfmeyer (4.2 points) and Clark (2.7 points) also chipped in offensively.
"We're an experienced team with good chemistry," Liskai said.
He also said his team has good quickness.
OTTAWA HILLS
Coach: John Lindsay, 17th season
Last season: 20-3, 11-1
Top players: Senior Ian Trickey, 6-0, G. Juniors Lucas Janowicz, 6-4, P; A.J. King, 6-2, G. Sophomores Geoffrey Beans, 6-4, W; Ben Silverman, 5-11, G.
Outlook: The Green Bears should have an edge in size over most foes.
Janowicz scored 12.5 points per game and grabbed 7.5 boards per game to earn All-TAAC second team honors. Trickey (4.9 points) also started last season, while Beans (3.4 points) played as a freshman.
Five letter winners are back.
Speed, experience, and depth could be potential trouble areas.
"Three of our top six players are sophomores," said Lindsay, who has a career record of 232-121. "With our lack of depth, we must stay healthy."
TOLEDO CHRISTIAN
Coach: Dave McWhinnie, 11th season
Last season: 17-8, 9-3
Top players: Seniors Cameron Stewart, 6-1, F; Craig Bridgeman, 6-4, F. Juniors Eric Cellier, 6-2, F; Ben Ivan, 6-3, F; Dominique Pittman, 5-9, G; Josh Winzeler, 6-2, G.
Outlook: Pittman (4.7 points, 2.0 assists per game), Cellier (6.3 points, 2.2 rebounds) and Ivan (3.2 points, 3.0 rebounds) are McWhinnie's only returning letter winners.
"Our team has quick, strong athletes that will contribute at both ends of the floor," McWhinnie said.
All five starters are new, so inexperience may play a role.
"We have to jell as a team early because of the experience the top league teams return," McWhinnie said.
CARDINAL STRITCH
Coach: Dave Rieker, fifth season
Last season: 7-15, 4-8
Top players: Seniors Marquise Harrison, 6-2, G; Kyle Hatfield, 6-5, C; Michael Blazevich, 6-1, F. Juniors Conner Kelsey, 6-3, F; Robby Beiker, 6-3, F. Freshman Austin Adams, 6-2, G.
Outlook: Hatfield and Blazevich each averaged 6 points and 4 rebounds per game last season and will be joined by Harrison, a transfer from Waite.
Kelsey and Beiker (both 3 points per game) are among seven returning letter winners.
Depth, length, and a hard-playing style should be the Cardinals' strengths, according to Rieker.
Rebounding, physical strength, and shooting consistency could be weaknesses.
"We will be much improved with more depth and experience," Rieker said. "If we can rebound and cut down on turnovers, we can be competitive. We need to improve our shooting, so we must take smart shots."
EMMANUEL CHRISTIAN
Coach: Dave Regnier, 21st season
Last season: 9-12, 3-9
Top returning players: Seniors Tyrece Edwards, 6-1, F; Brett Forster, 6-0, F. Juniors Ryan Creech, 6-2, F; Josh Regnier, 5-5, G; Carlton Brown, 5-10, G; Bobby Behan, 5-8, G; Leland Snyder, 5-8, G.
Outlook: Coach Regnier has three starters back. Creech averaged 12 points and 9 rebounds per contest, while Edwards averaged 10 points and 6 rebounds per game. Josh Regnier had 5 points and 2.5 assists per contest.
Strengths should include some depth and solid guard play as well as good overall team quickness and shooting ability.
"This is a great group of guys to work with," Coach Reginier said. "We have good overall experience on this team."
But EC does not have a great deal of depth in the post and overall size could be a potential trouble area.
"I believe that we will be very competitive in the conference," Coach Regnier said. "We will need to stay healthy in our post positions and in other key areas. How our juniors step into roles that they have not had before will be a key to the season."
DANBURY
Coach: Drew Davie, 2nd season
Last season: 5-16, 3-9
Top players: Seniors Caleb Helline, 6-4, W; Dalton Chapman, 5-10, W; Wyatt Nelson, 5-11, W. Juniors Dylan Buckley, 5-10, W/PG. Sophomores Dominic Manuella, 5-8, PG; Zak Miller, 6-2, P.
Outlook: "This team will play hard on a nightly basis and get after it on the defensive end," Davie said. "Guard play is another strength of this team."
The Lakers are looking for big things from Helline (8.6 points, 3.8 rebounds) and Chapman (5.2 points). The seniors are co-captains.
Davie is worried about the lack of size and experience at the varsity level.
"This year's team lacks experience and depth as they only have two returning starters and two returning letter winners," he said. "This is a group of young men that will work hard night in and night out."
NORTHWOOD
Coach: John Bryan, second season
Last season: 3-18, 2-10
Top players: Seniors Ricky Hartley, 6-1, W; Garrett Reighard, 6-1, W; John Willey, 5-9, G; Garrett Mallett, 5-10, G. Junior Tyler Williams, 6-0, W.
Outlook: Bryan has three starters along with seven letter winners back.
That should give the Rangers good overall depth, according to Bryan.
Hartley averaged 8.9 points and 4.5 rebounds per game to earn all-district honorable mention.
A lack of size could be a potential area of weakness.
"We're definitely hoping for improvement in what might be the strongest Division IV conference in the state," Davie said. "I think on any given night anybody can get anybody."
First Published December 2, 2011, 5:00 a.m.