Welcome to Ashland Source’s 2024-25 high school basketball preview. This season, we’re diving deep into all the local varsity basketball action. Over the coming days, we’ll highlight both boys’ and girls’ teams in these previews for every squad in our coverage area.

Scroll down to find comprehensive schedules, along with key details to keep you informed. Whether you’re a passionate fan or just looking to stay in the loop, we’ve got you covered. Let the countdown to tip-off begin!

McDonald’s is proud to back our area’s local athletes and help Ashland Source provide fans in-depth coverage of the upcoming high school basketball season.

Hillsdale Falcons
Varsity Boys Basketball

Division: VII
Conference: Wayne County Athletic League
Coach: Ben Ferguson
Last year: 18-7

Schedule 📅

Nov. 30 — Tuslaw
Dec. 6 — at Dalton
Dec. 13 — Norwayne
Dec. 17 — Loudonville
Dec. 20 — at Waynedale
Dec. 21 — at Strasburg
Dec. 27 — at Northwestern
Jan. 3 — Chippewa
Jan. 4 — at Mansfield Christian
Jan. 10 — at Smithville
Jan. 14 — Columbia
Jan. 17 — Rittman
Jan. 21 — Dalton
Jan. 24 — at Norwayne
Jan. 28 — at Mapleton
Jan. 31 — Waynedale
Feb. 1 — at Mohawk
Feb. 4 — Northwestern
Feb. 7 — at Chippewa
Feb. 8 — at Rittman
Feb. 11 — Fredericktown
Feb. 14 — Smithville

PLAYER TO WATCH 👀

A basketball player battles for position
Credit: Curt Conrad, staff reporter
Bradey Krichbaum

The 6-foot-6 senior post averaged 15 points and 12 rebounds a game last year. Krichbaum was a Wayne County Athletic League first-team pick and a Northeast Inlands second-teamer in Division IV. He broke the single-season rebounding record.

KEY STAT 📊

65.4

Points per game scored by the Falcons last winter. The up-tempo style led to 18 wins — tied for fourth most in program history — and a third-place finish in the Wayne County Athletic League.

OUTLOOK 🔮

The start of the season is on hold until after Hillsdale’s record-setting football postseason run comes to an end, but second-year coach Ben Ferguson has reason for optimism. Krichbaum is one of the top big men in the Wayne County Athletic League and slasher Troy Bennett averaged 13 points a night.

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Hillsdale Falcons
Varsity Girls Basketball

Division: VI
Conference: Wayne County Athletic League
Coach: Chris Shenberger
Last year: 5-18

Schedule 📅

Nov. 23 — Plymouth
Nov. 26 — Waynedale
Nov. 30 — Norwayne
Dec. 3 — Mapleton
Dec. 10 – at Kidron Central Christian
Dec. 12 — Chippewa
Dec. 19 — at Smithville
Dec. 28 — Rittman
Dec. 30 — at Centerburg
Jan. 2 — at Dalton
Jan. 7 — at Northwestern
Jan. 9 — at Norwayne
Jan. 13 — at Mansfield Christian
Jan. 16 — at Waynedale
Jan. 18 — Northwestern
Jan. 22 — at South Central
Jan. 23 — at Chippewa
Jan. 30 — Smithville
Feb. 1 — at Rittman
Feb. 5 — at Lucas
Feb. 6 — Dalton
Feb. 8 — East Knox

PLAYER TO WATCH 👀

Kennedy Fickes

A junior guard, Fickes was a District 4 honorable-mention pick in Division III.

KEY STAT 📊

46

Points scored by Hillsdale in its season-opening win over Plymouth. The Falcons scored 46 or more points only once all last season.

OUTLOOK 🔮

The Falcons lost just three seniors to graduation. Coach Chris Shenberger welcomes back a talented group of young players, but the rugged Wayne County Athletic League boasted four teams with 15 or more wins last season. Hillsdale will look to improve on last year’s seventh-place league finish.