The Warriors were 14-9 last season, so it’s not exactly a rebuilding project for Chivington, though they did lose leading scorer and rebounder Harrison Hookfin to graduation.
BOYS BASKETBALL SEASON PREVIEWS
» Young team showing promise for new Talawanda coach
» Experienced Hamilton learning new system with Higgins
» Pushing the pace part of Middletown’s plan for winning
» East hopes to keep winning with ‘wolfpack’ mentality
» Edgewood’s Thomas likes his team, even with greenness
» Leon wants Lakota West to get back to fun, winning
» Monroe focusing on intangibles in quest for more wins
» No returning starters, but Badin has much optimism
» Fairfield hoping to be ‘a fun team to watch’ this year
» Madison loaded for what could be a special season
» CCS expectations soaring with move back to Division IV
» Carlisle will have a more balanced approach this year
» For New Miami, the goal is to remain on the rise
» Fenwick aims high with good mix of size, quickness
» Franklin seeks success with continued up-tempo style
“We’re learning a new system, so we may have to deal with mistakes early, but I’m not one to accept a lot of mental mistakes,” Chivington said. “If we step on the court and make physical mistakes, that’s one thing, but we can’t allow a mistake at one end of the court to become another mistake at the other end of the court.”
The Princeton offense was a big part of Lebanon’s success last year, but Chivington is planning more of an up-tempo attack this season.
“They were very successful with that offense this past season. I just bring a different style,” he said. “We want to get the ball out and go, but we still have to be smart in our shots. Let’s know our numbers, and if we have those opportunities on the break, we’ll take them. If not, let’s work for a better shot.
“It is different from the Princeton offense, but I think the guys have rallied around the change and will continue to make progress.”
Lebanon has three seniors — 6-foot-5 forward Zach Huffman, 6-0 wing Sammy Stotts and 6-0 point guard Grant Gardner — and they’re all expected to play major roles.
Huffman averaged 10.1 points and 4.7 rebounds per game last year while shooting 52.9 percent from the floor and 39.3 percent from 3-point range. He’s been slowed by an offseason injury, but is expected to be full-go for Tuesday’s season opener at Little Miami.
“He’s probably our most all-around player when it comes to shooting and being a smart basketball player,” Chivington said. “Even with his size, he’ll probably spend as much time out on the perimeter as he does inside.”
Stotts only scored 2.9 points a game in 2017-18, yet shot 43.6 percent from behind the arc. Gardner didn’t play a lot and scored three points on the year.
Huffman and junior wing Luke Arnold are the Warriors’ returning starters. Point guard Brendan Lamb transferred to Clinton-Massie.
Wings include 5-11 juniors Nick Lang and Alex Martin, 6-1 junior Milo White, 6-0 sophomore Zach Weber and 6-0 junior Ben Berberich. The roster includes three other sophomores — 6-1 Connor Smith, 6-0 Nick Pierett and 5-9 Bladen Brown.
Chivington said some of the wings will have to be power forwards at times. Lebanon doesn’t have a true center.
“We want to be able to use our abilities to set good screens to free us up both on the inside and on the outside,” Chivington said. “We have guys that can shoot the ball from the outside. I wouldn’t necessarily say that we’re going to live and die by the 3, but I think we’ll gain some respect throughout the season from our shooting.
“I think we’re above average in terms of quickness. We’re going to put pressure on the perimeter and make it tough for guards to get the ball in the post. There’s not a lot of height in the (Greater Western Ohio Conference). There’s a lot of guards and shooters, and we’ll be able to compete with them.
“We’re going to continue to hit the weights, but that means absolutely nothing unless you play physical. There’s going to be some teams that quickly hurt us if we don’t come ready to play physically.”
Chivington is a 2001 Miami East graduate. He was part of the Vikings’ Division III state runner-up team as a senior and tallied 13 points, nine rebounds and five assists in the 63-53 state-final loss to Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary. The state champions had a sophomore named LeBron James, who had 25 points, 10 boards, three assists and three steals in the title game.
Chivington played collegiately at Taylor (one year) and Bluffton (three years). He was an assistant coach under Brian Bales for three seasons (two at Miamisburg and one at Franklin) before taking the head job at Fairborn, where his teams earned two GWOC titles and a sectional crown.
Lebanon Warriors
Coach: Nathan Chivington (first season)
2017-18 Record: 14-9 overall, 4-7 GWOC National West (second place)
OHSAA Classification: Division I
Schedule: Dec. 4 — at Little Miami, 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 7 — at Xenia, 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 8 — at Turpin, 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 11 — Springboro, 7 p.m.; Dec. 14 — at Beavercreek, 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 15 — Fenwick, 7 p.m.; Dec. 21 — at Miamisburg, 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 28 — at Hamilton, 7:30 p.m.; Jan. 4 — Springfield, 7:30 p.m.; Jan. 8 — Northmont, 7 p.m.; Jan. 11 — at Fairmont, 7:30 p.m.; Jan. 12 — Anderson, 7 p.m.; Jan. 15 — at Milford, 7:30 p.m.; Jan. 18 — Centerville, 7:30 p.m.; Jan. 19 — Wilmington, 7 p.m.; Jan. 25 — Wayne, 7:30 p.m.; Jan. 29 — at West Carrollton, 7:30 p.m.; Feb. 5 — at Northmont, 7:30 p.m.; Feb. 8 — Miamisburg, 7:30 p.m.; Feb. 9 — Kings, 7 p.m.; Feb. 12 — Edgewood, 7 p.m.; Feb. 15 — at Springboro, 7:30 p.m.
About the Author