The 8th matchup of the weekend and second on day 2 (Saturday, December 28th @ 1:15pm) is one of familiar foes in Dublin Coffman and Huber Heights Wayne. After speaking with second year head coach of the Shamrocks, Adam Banks, I learned that Coffman faced Wayne several times during the summer and the matchups were intense. Dublin Coffman, after finishing 13-11, will play in potentially the toughest league in the state in the OCC-Central. The Shamrocks lost in the second round of the state tournament to Pickerington North by a point, and will look to have a bigger year this season as they bring back a majority of their contributors. Senior point guard and Thomas More commit Colin McClure is one of the best scorers in the state and will look to make a case for first team all district this year. Coffman also touts one of the top sophomores in the area in 6’6” forward Thomas Cochran, who is a long raw athlete that can do a little bit of everything. Senior Stone Clifton and junior Gabe Schmidt add defense and elite shot making to the starting lineup. I expect the Shamrocks to make a run at the Central district this year as they have started off strong thus far.
Huber Heights Wayne plays an upbeat style that causes fits for its opponents. The Warriors look to have another great season in the GWOC, which is another extremely difficult conference featuring Centerville, Springboro, and Beavercreek to name a few. Fortunately, Wayne brings back elite point guard Boots Perkins, who is an athletic guard with a high motor and will challenge any defender to the cup. Sophomore Kaden Post, a 6’6” big man, will also be a strong contributor as his length and ability to stretch the floor is a commodity all teams crave. Other players who will look to make an impact are sophomores Alphonso Ward and Isaiah Thompson, who combine speed and athleticism with toughness and hunger for wins. The Warriors have a lot of young pieces, but match anyone with their grit, speed, and desire to take the heart of their opponents. Head coach Nathan Martindale has built a strong, deep program who will look to speed up Dublin Coffman and make them make mistakes. The survivor of the grudge match will be the one who controls the pace.
