Brown County’s Quentin Bell shoots against Hauser Nov. 26, 2024 at Hauser.
The Republic file photo
The boys basketball season kicks off this week for IHSAA schools, while non-IHSAA Columbus Christian already has played four games.
Here is a look at the Crusaders, along with the area’s non-Bartholomew County schools, heading into the 2025-26 season.
Columbus Christian
The Crusaders opened the season with a loss to Community Christian from Connersville before beating I-Town Prep Tuesday and falling to Suburban Christian Friday and River City Saturday.
“The first game, we didn’t perform like we wanted to, but we have a good nucleus, Columbus Christian coach Kevin Roth said. “This is the biggest team I’ve had at Columbus Christian, as far as size. We have four guys that are 6-4 or bigger. A lot of the scoring in our first game came from inside, but I look for our guard play to continue to grow and our wings and forwards, as well.”
The Crusaders went 7-18 last season, but return all five starters. Elijah Fields, a 6-foot-4 senior, led them in scoring and rebounding.
Also starting last year were 5-8 senior Adam Haines, 6-0 sophomore Hunter Gossard, 6-1 junior Heath Harrison and 5-9 senior Canon Carr. Two senior newcomers — 6-5 Eli Wright and 6-4 Ben Carter — have made a big impact in the first four games.
Other returners include 5-8 freshman Krew Flickinger, 6-4 junior Judah Carlson, 6-4 sophomore Myles Romero, 5-11 sophomores Anderson Glasser and Zach Jenner and 6-0 sophomore Ayden Vanderbur. Thomas Brockman, a 6-0 junior, and 6-0 sophomore Lee Andre Gunn also could see action.
“It’s just getting the some of newcomers and the older guys to kind of jell,” Roth said. “I think that will come. Another thing I like, too, is we’re deep on the bench, where in years’ past, we might be able to go eight-deep. This year, we can go 10 or 11 and not miss much talent-wise.”
Jennings County
The Panthers have a new coach in former South Ripley and Switzerland County coach Travis Wrightsman. He replaces Michael McBride, who left after one season to take the Floyd Central job.
Jennings went 12-15, including 3-3 in the Hoosier Hills Conference last year, but won a sectional title in their first season in Class 3A.
“Obviously, dropping down to 3A has benefited Jennings County,” Wrightsman said. “But we play a really solid schedule. We have guys who can compete and will try to defend our sectional title.”
Jeremiah Davis, a 6-1 senior, averaged 11.9 points, 2.5 assists and 1.3 steals last year. Omar Gonzalez, a 6-2 senior, added 7.2 points and 5.6 rebounds.
Cash Millspaugh, a 5-11 senior, and 6-3 junior Hayden Low were part-time starters, and 6-2 senior Luke Alexander saw extensive action. Looking to contribute this year are 6-5 senior Johnny Elkins, 6-2 sophomore Ethan Speer, 5-8 junior Aaron Lewis and 6-4 sophomore Nate Dixon.
“I’m excited with the guys we have coming back,” Wrightsman said. “We have some solid experience. Obviously, Jennings lost a huge load with Carter Kent graduating, but we have a lot of experience coming back.”
Brown County
The Eagles return two starters from a team that went 6-17, including 3-7 in the Western Indiana Conference.
“We lost three seniors, but I feel like we’ve really improved on the perimeter, and I feel like we’ll be a lot faster this year,” Brown County coach Ronnie Lewis said.
Quentin Bell, a 6-1 senior, averaged 15.2 points and 4.9 rebounds, and 6-0 senior Cash Harden averaged 15.2 points, 3.2 assists and 1.9 steals. Billy Hubbard, a 6-2 senior, also saw extensive action.
Logan Sallee, a 6-4 junior, and 5-10 sophomore point guard Drake Wilkerson could fill the other starting spots. The Eagles have added a transfer from Whiteland in 5-11 junior Aiden Lee, along with 5-11 junior Billy Harper.
“We’re a much faster team this year,” Lewis said. “We lost our two big men, but I think we’re a lot better on the perimeter. I’m excited to see what they can do.”
Edinburgh
The Lancers were hit hard by graduation, losing all but one varsity player from a team that went 13-13, including 4-3 in the Mid-Hoosier Conference.
“We’re a totally new team, lots of new faces,” Edinburgh coach Devin Burton said. “It’s going to be a rebuilding year to say the least.”
Bailey Totten, a 5-6 senior point guard, who averaged 7.4 points, is the lone returner. He will be joined by 6-2 seniors Samson Parkhurst and Braylon Lenkner and 6-0 junior Ayden Swallows.
Max Dodson, a 6-8 sophomore, along with 6-2 sophomore Noah Parkhurst and 5-8 freshmen Charlie Roberts and Kaiden Talbott, also could contribute.
“We have two freshmen that are going to make an immediate impact,” Burton said. “Those guys bring a lot of energy. “We have a lot of room for growth. We build a lot of chemistry this summer. We might have some growing pains, but we have a good group that plays well together, and I’m excited for it.”
South Decatur
Dustin Traylor, who took over as the Cougars varsity coach late last season, enters his first full year as head coach.
“We got in the weight room immediately following the season, so our kids have gotten a lot stronger,” Traylor said. “We played several shootouts in June and played a lot of bigger schools and competed well and even beat some of them. The kids have worked hard. They’ve definitely put in the work.”
South Decatur went 6-19, including 0-6 in the MHC, but returns four starters. Drake Scaggs, a 6-0 senior, led the Cougars with 12.9 points, 7.7 rebounds 6.0 assists an 2.6 steals.
Karson Templeton, a 6-3 senior, also averaged 12.9 points. A pair of 6-0 juniors — Aidan Bryant and Tayedin Traylor — also return.
Cayden Drake, a 6-3 senior who started for Batesville last season, will fill the other starting spot. Also looking to contribute will be 6-1 senior Grady Scudder, 6-3 senior Paul Schoettemer and 5-10 senior Brayden Gerrian, another transfer from Batesville.
“We have some talent, and we have some guys with experience,” Dustin Traylor said. “Having a year under a lot of these guys’ belt, I feel like we’re going to go into the season with a lot more experience.”
Trinity Lutheran
The Cougars were hit hard by injuries last season, with their top two players missing big parts of the season that ended with an 8-17 record.
Reed Mellencamp (16.0 points in 15 games), a 6-3 junior, and 6-1 junior Hudson Lang (13.4 points in 10 games) are healthy for the beginning of the season.
“I think first and foremost for us, having Hudson and Reed out most of last year, having them back healthy was the main thing,” Trinity coach Mike Lang said. “With them being out, the other guys got a lot of experience, as well. We had a successful summer, and that’s carried over here to our preseason workouts.”
The starters at the end of last season were 6-2 junior Bode Brooks, 5-9 junior Isaac Darlage, 6-0 junior Luke Schepman, 6-4 junior Logan Schepman and 6-1 junior Braxton Sinclair. Brody Stuckwisch, a 6-4 junior, and 6-2 sophomore Ross Bevers also could see action this season.
“We feel like one of our strengths right now is the depth that we do have,” Mike Lang said. “We have scorers back, and we’re able to go pretty deep on the bench.”
