Sports

County’s Comets show off dominance

Local Sports March 27, 2026

LISBON — The Columbiana County Comets Special Olympics basketball team always plays its best at the end of the season. The Comets prevailed 47-29 in the annual game against the Columbiana County Board of Developmental Disabilities (CCBDD) staff on Wednesday night at Nace Gymnasium. The Comets were paced by Matthew Ferguson with 12 points, followed by Lucas Rhodes with 10 and Bryan Weingart with eight. Keegan Todd, William Davis, Jamie Gordon, Hannah Price, Bradley Donatella, Tommy Baun and Eric Crews also helped the Comets secure the victory. The Comets are coached by Ivan ...

Kalaher earns first team All-Ohio

Local Sports March 26, 2026

COLUMBIANA — Heartland Christian junior Collin Kalaher is taking the Lions boys basketball team to new places. Kalaher, who led the Lions to a school-best 22-5 record and their first district title, is the school’s first first-team All-Ohioan after earning Division VII honors Wednesday. “For the younger kids, it gives them some excitement and something to shoot for,” Heartland coach Josh Scott said. “Here’s someone who has been here all along like us.” Heartland’s Jonathan Bertovich was a second-team Division IV All-Ohioan as a senior in 2022. “Collin’s the ...

DIVISION VI ALL-OHIO BOYS

Local Sports March 26, 2026

COLUMBUS — The 2025-26 Ohio Prep Sports Media Association Division VI All-Ohio high school boys basketball team, as selected by a statewide media panel: Player of the Year: Trey Sagester, New Madison Tri-Village. Coach of the Year: Caleb McClanahan, Portsmouth West. FIRST TEAM Trey Sagester, New Madison Tri-Village, 6-3, sr., 25.0; Antonio White, Cincinnati Deer Park, 6-2, sr., 34.0; Boston Pearson, Grandview Heights, 6-5, sr., 16.4; Brennan Piatt, Smithville, 5-11, jr., 16.0; Carter Turk, Orwell Grand Valley, 6-5, jr., 19.0; Dylan Schott, Caldwell, 6-0, sr,, 21.2; Jaleel ...

AROUND THE HORN

Local Sports March 26, 2026

Hamilton to lead new league The new Northeast Senate League will be led by a 1988 West Branch High School graduate. The league named Curt Hamilton its league commissioner on Wednesday. The league consisting of Carrollton, Claymont, Fairless, Marlington, Minerva, Sandy Valley, Tuscarawas Valley and Tuslaw will begin play in 2028-29. Hamilton is a veteran educator, coach and administrator with over three decades of experience in Ohio high school athletics. Since 2020, he has served as the assistant commissioner of the Eastern Buckeye Conference where he gained experience in ...

DIVISION VII ALL-OHIO BOYS BASKETBALL

Local Sports March 26, 2026

COLUMBUS — The 2025-26 Ohio Prep Sports Media Association Division VII All-Ohio high school boys basketball team, as selected by a statewide media panel: Player of the Year: Cameron Elwer, Delphos St. John’s. Coach of the Year: Nick Ramos, Montpelier. FIRST TEAM Collin Kalaher, Columbiana Heartland Christian, 5-11, jr., 22.6; R.J. Walgate, Medina Christian, 6-7, jr., 18.5; Cameron Elwer, Delphos St. John’s, 6-2, sr., 29.4; Shane Frantz, Sidney Lehman Catholic, 6-5, jr., 19.4; Austin Helmuth, Plain City Shekinah Christian, 6-3, sr., 17.1; Jackson Kirura, Westerville Genoa ...

Local Sports March 26, 2026

LISBON — Lisbon senior AJ Ramgeet made the Blue Devils an instant winner. “We had the good group that graduated with (Trevor Siefke and Hunter Dailey) and thought we would be a rebuilding,” Lisbon coach Chris Huckshold said. “My sister decides to bring my nephews back and here we go.” Ramgeet had the second-highest season point total in school history on the way to gaining Division VI All-Ohio second-team honors Wednesday. “There’s going to be the records and the scoring he leaves Lisbon with, but the ethic and work he puts in will be his legacy,” Huckshold ...