Blanchester now faces life without Brayden Sipple and his 32 points and 10 rebounds per game from a year ago.
The 2021 BHS graduate is now at Cedarville University following his stellar career in the blue and white. He scored 2,485 points and ranks 12th all-time in Ohio schoolboy history for points in a career. He also sits atop the Clinton County all-time scoring list.
Sipple was the National Division player of the year in 2020 and 2021 as Blanchester won back to back crowns. Hunter Hartman and Bryce Highlander also earn first team All-SBAAC honors, but like Sipple, have graduated. Logan Heitzman was second team and graduated. Other graduates from last year’s team were Nolan Gray and Colton Wilson.
Bryce Sipple, Brayden’s brother, was given honorable mention last year as a freshman.
After a 7-1 start, Blancheser faded the rest of the way. The Wildcats won just five of the last 14 games but were good enough to earn a share of the National Division championship with Georgetown at 9-2.
Adam Weber is in his ninth year at BHS. He will be assisted this season by Andy Wood at the JV level and Mike Malott at the freshman level.
There are five letterwinners but only two starters returning to BHS this season. However, Weber said this is “a very balanced group of players, all have potential to have a very strong season.”
Brison Lucas and transfer Austin Dick “have both had a strong preseason and are providing very strong guard play. All of the seniors are doing their part to provide stability and chemistry,” Weber said.
Blanchester has speed and size which will help in acclimating to a new defensive approach this season. His team needs to hold each other accountable to do the right things all the time, he said.
Weber said his squad needs to defend for four quarter, rebound with an attitude and share the ball in order to contend for a three-peat in the SBAAC National Division.
