by Kaylee Simmons

Basketball at Bellbrook High School is just starting their season. Basketball is a winter sport that goes from late October to February.

Girls’ Basketball

The head coach for the girls basketball team is Jason Tincher and the assistant coach is Paul Guess. The JV coaches for girls basketball are Mitch McCurdy and Jeff Scohy. This year’s girls basketball team has four seniors: Bella Beeghly, Jordan Frantz, Eva Koesters, and Izzy Painter. 

The girls basketball team started their season with their Pink Game, which was on Thursday, November 14 against Chaminade Julienne (CJ) at home. They will then have a busy schedule with lots of practice and games. “We have not had any games yet,” Frantz said. “But we have had a scrimmage and we beat CJ 60 to 54.”

Frantz is this year’s girls’ team captain. “My role as captain on the team is to get everyone organized for practices and games and to just be an example of what we should be doing for every event we’re at,” Frantz said.

Libby Bunsold is a freshman on the girls basketball team. “Libby is doing great. Her speed and court vision is better than I have ever seen,” Frantz said. “For her to be a freshman she’ll definitely do big things but it’s just cool playing with a younger player who knows as much about the sport as you.”

“I’m expecting this season to go really good,” Frantz said. “We have three new starters this year, but I think the team chemistry this year is really great and I think we can do great things this season.”

Boys’ Basketball

The head coach for varsity for boys basketball is Donnie Tate and the varsity assistant coaches are Dan Chitty and Dorian Hoover. The JV A coaches are Chad Beck and Isaac Appleby. The JV B coaches are Sean Ulrich and Tyler Pfreim. This year’s boys basketball team has three seniors: Jacob Blankenship, CJ Scohy, and Austin Webb.

The season is predicted to go well. “I think the scrimmage went really well,” cheer coach Jessica Riggs said. “We were missing some players who are still in football season, so I feel like we have a deep bench this year and I see a lot of potential for a great season.” 

Basketball Cheer

There is also a basketball cheer team that cheers at the boys games. “Cheer really is a year-round sport,” Jessica Riggs, the head basketball cheer coach, said. “As there are so many events and camps that we attend in the ‘off season.’”

“Nicole Kaeck and Crystal Harnish are both the assistant coaches whose main focus is coaching the JV squad,” cheer coach Riggs said. “But we all work closely together for the program as a whole.”

The captains for the cheer team are Phoebe Bretland and Isabella Bird, who are both seniors. 

“I am really excited for this season.” said Riggs, “We have a great group of girls. I think we will have a season full of growth and ability to do a lot of exciting things.”