Coach Rocky Rockhold’s running Rams have the talent to return to the state championship this season. All they ask for is the opportunity. Trotwood, 24-2 at the time, was scheduled to play Thurgood Marshall in the D-II regional semifinals when the remainder of the season was cancelled in March because of the COVID-19 outbreak.
“I wish I could say it does carry over,” Rockhold said of being the last D-II team to win state, “but we seem so far removed from that now. We do know this, and if you’ve ever spent any time around us, we always act like we’re the underdogs. It’s just how we’ve always been. We hope people disrespect who we are and what we’ve done. That’s the fuel we ride on a lot of the times we need it. The kids don’t feel like we’re still defending state champs. We feel we have to continue to get better and continue to work hard. That’s what this group of guys is doing.”
Seniors Carter Mims (11.1 points, 3.3 assists, 2.6 steals per game), Courtney Blake (11.7 points, 4.1 rebounds; 38 3-pointers), Damontae Raglin (7.5 points, 5.0 rebounds) and Daylon Morgan (4.5 points, 4.3 rebounds) return from last year’s team, as do juniors Tymier Blanton (5.7 points), Sellers Little (5.7 points) and Tre Dennis (4.8 points).
“Carter Mims I think is going to have a fantastic season,” Rockhold said. “On the ball he’s as good as anybody. He has elite speed. Daylon Morgan does a good job keeping our guys together. Courtney has a year under his belt in our system so I think we’ll see a different player than we saw a year ago.
“If we had a weakness a year ago I think it was, if you beat our pressure – and you’re going to at times playing our style for 32 minutes – we didn’t necessarily have that big shot blocker back there. I think Ragland gives us an opportunity to have that this year.”
Sophomore Paul Woodard and freshman Delamarr Raglin are also expected to see quality time.
They’re joined by seniors Anthony McComb and Biggie Luster. McComb (18.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists) transferred from Thurgood Marshall and Luster (12 points) moved with his father, a Dunbar graduate, from Illinois.
“I think we’re optimistic about our squad,” Rockhold said. “We feel good about the guys we have. I love the way our new guys are gelling and really fitting in.
“We’re going to turn those kids loose like we always do and let them be who they are.”
Trotwood postponed all winter sports (game and practices) until Dec. 14. That gives district administration, staff and students a two-week respite following Thanksgiving, when people are more likely to be spending time with others outside of their immediate family.
Dayton Public Schools is taking a six-week break – including all sports – until Jan. 4.
The Rams are playing an independent schedule after a restructuring of the Greater Western Ohio Conference, which voted to end Trotwood’s membership. Should conferences decide to play games in a bubble, meaning playing conference opponents only until the postseason, then Trotwood could be scrambling to find games.
“If they made that decision that certainly impacts us,” Rockhold said of the what-if scenario. “I think we’re kind of at their mercy a little bit being an independent but we’ll do the best we can to maneuver. A bonus for us is we’ve been fortunate to have some success the last five or six years. People want to play us and they’ll make it work.”
Missing games in December is worth the trade off if it improves the chance to play in January and beyond, Rockhold said.
“Games in December, all games mean something, but those games mean less. We really have done a great job over the years of focusing on those games that happen mid-January and on,” Rockhold said. “That’s when you start getting into the peak time of when you need to be playing better. This decision doesn’t impact that big picture goal.
“Everybody is going to have to be fluid. ... At the end of the day this is about dealing with adversity and being flexible. If we can teach our young men those traits as we move forward we’re doing the right thing.”
15 Players to watch
Ryan Chew, junior, Alter: Transferred to Alter after averaging 14.8 points, 2.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.0 steals for Bellbrook last season.
Gabe Cupps, sophomore, Centerville: The lone freshman on the GWOC first-team led the Elks with 11.2 points and chipped in 2.1 assists; strong free-throw shooter (made 74 of 96) and hit 37 three-pointers (on 97 attempts).
Malcolm Curry, senior, Wayne: Led Warriors with 11.7 points, 4.5 assists and was second in rebounds at 5.0.
Adam Duvall, junior, Beavercreek: Averaged team-high 14.9 points, 7.2 rebounds and hit 41 (of 76) three-pointers for Beavers, which all ranked among top five in GWOC.
AJ Eller, senior, Brookville: Finished third in SWBL with 19.1 points and added 4.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists.
Mehki Elmore, junior, Dunbar: Follows former Thurgood Marshall assistant coach Tony Dixon to Dunbar, where Dixon is now head coach. The DPL’s player of the year is considered one of the top points guards in the state.
Patrick Ivory, senior, Northmont: Averaged team-high 13.9 points along with 5.6 rebounds for Thunderbolts.
Janson Kincer, senior, Jefferson: Led the Metro Buckeye League with 17.1 points and 51 three-pointers (on 119 attempts) and was second with 7.6 rebounds.
Ben Knostman, senior, Tippecanoe: Winthrop University recruit led Miami Valley League with 6.2 assists, third in scoring with 15.4 points and fourth in rebounding with 7.3.
Carter Mims, senior, Trotwood Madison: Leads talented senior class after averaging 11.1 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.6 steals for Rams.
Tyler Montague, senior, Vandalia Butler: Second in MVL with 16.6 points and led Aviators with 46 (of 150) three-pointers and free throws 69 (of 94).
Jakob Reed, senior, Stebbins: Top returning scorer with 14.9 points, also averaged 4.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.4 steals.
Aidan Reichert, senior, Jackson Center: The D-IV Southwest District Player of the Year averaged 18.6 points and 6.3 rebounds; committed to Mercyhurst University.
Stanley Shrivers, senior, West Carrollton: Pirates’ top returning scorer averaged 11.6 points, 8.0 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 2.9 steals.
Dylan Stinson, senior, Twin Valley South: Nearly averaged a double-double with 16.1 points and 9.0 rebounds; added 5.7 assists for Panthers.
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