District Title in Tow, New Lexington Ready for Maysville Rematch
NEW LEXINGTON, OH
With a district title win over Meigs last week, the boys from New Lexington are moving right along to the regional round on Thursday night, in a game that has been quite a long time coming.
“It was pretty special. Obviously the last couple of years we fell short in the district finals, so you could just tell by the reaction of our guys after we finally pulled it off in year three that it was a huge weight off our shoulders” said head coach Jeremy Duerr.
“I think our seniors, especially Bentley and Isaiah, were pretty dead set on accomplishing it this year. So just proud of our group for finally getting it done for this program.”
“Yeah, we’ve lost in it two years in a row. And I knew that if we get back there again, we weren’t gonna lose a third. You know, you look at that banner, it’s only been done three times, three or two times” added senior guard Isaiah Stephens. “So to be that next team to get over the hump was a great accomplishment.”
Now they have that district title in tow, but if the Panthers have their way, the road is far from over, especially with Stephens back from a shoulder injury and helping lead the charge.
Duerr continued “Yeah, I mean, there was a time, about a month ago where we weren’t sure how the season was going to kind of shake out the rest of the way with some sickness and obviously his injury. We weren’t sure how he was going to heal up, but he’s kind of progressed every week and gotten a little more healthy. I’d say he’s pretty darn close to 100% again.”
But come this Thursday night, the Panthers will come face to face with a team they know quite well: the Panthers from Maysville.
“Obviously they know us and we know them well. So, you know, you kind of have a head start on that thing. You’re not preparing for anybody new. You know, obviously they’re a tremendous program, with a lot of good players and a great culture. So, the challenges is obvious. We’re have to bring our best stuff if we’re going to be able to have a chance” said Duerr.
“This season, obviously, it hasn’t went the way we want with our record, but it was just a grind every day trying to get better. I mean, it’s like, like I said, we know him well, but they also know us. So I mean, it’s gonna be fun” added senior guard Bentley Hanson.
But it’s that underdog mentality that could be key for New Lex in the regional semifinals. “I don’t mind feeling like the underdog. I mean, I kind of feel like we are. I mean, they’re they were a higher seed. They’ve have the program success obviously in the last couple years” continued Duerr.
“Yeah, I would view us as an underdog. And I think that’s an okay position to be in. We’re fine with that. So hopefully our kids are hungry and bring our best fight to this one.”
New Lexington faces Maysville in a Division IV, Region 15 regional semifinal at the Convocation Center in Athens on Thursday night at 8 pm, which you can listen to on Z92 radio.
