WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE, Ohio -- Unfortunately for Chillicothe, they find themselves in the Central District of Division I this year for the third season in a row. If they were in the Southeast District of Division 2 like they have been in the past, this team would be a serious threat to make it all the way to the state tournament. 

That won’t stop the Cavaliers from doing what they do best though, and that is winning. They cruised to an easy win over Miami Trace tonight, dominating the Panthers in the second half of a big 68-38 victory. 

A turnaround three pointer at the end of the first half put the Cavs up 21-18 and they used that momentum to carry them the rest of the way. Chillicothe came out on fire in the third quarter, outscoring Miami Trace 31-10, which helped them cruise to this easy victory.

The play of seniors Brandon Noel, Jayvon Maughmer, and Tre Beard was excellent down the stretch as they dominated in every facet of the game. Noel, a post player committed to Wright State, led the way with 20 points and seven rebounds. 

Maughmer, a wing guard committed to Cedarville, added 18 points, six rebounds and three steals. Rounding out the trio, Beard contributed 15 points and three steals, including four three-pointers. 

Despite a lack of depth, Chillicothe has serious talent at the top of their roster and will not be an easy matchup for whoever they face in the postseason. Look for them to win their league, gain experience through non-conference matchups against teams like Cincinnati Moeller, St. Charles, and Upper Arlington and then make some noise come tournament time. 

They will be back in action on Friday as they continue league play against Washington Court House and look to remain unbeaten.

For Miami Trace, one bright spot was the play of freshman forward Drew Guthrie. He ended the game with 12 points and three rebounds and brought lots of energy that kept Miami Trace in the game in the first half. The Panthers didn’t find much production from their upperclassmen throughout the game. They will look to bounce back this Friday and avoid an 0-3 start in conference play.

Brandon Noel (6’8 PF / Chillicothe / 2020): The Wright State commit displayed everything you would like to see out of a big man tonight as he scored efficiently around the rim and pulled in all the loose rebounds that came his way. We love his inside game and how he has developed his post moves which have turned him into a true big that excels at playing with his back to the basket. Noel has a bit of sneaky athleticism to him which allows him to soar up for rebounds, contest shots, and finish closer to the rim. He added two transition dunks in tonight’s contest and proved why he will be playing at the next level.

Jayvon Maughmer (6’5 WG / Chillicothe / 2020): Maughmer comes from a great basketball family, and as if Cedarville didn’t strike gold with his older brother, Brandon, they are getting another star player in Jayvon. Maughmer is as smooth of a player as you’ll see. He can score from anywhere on the floor, find open teammates, and defend exceptionally well on the other end. He displayed his ability to get to the rim, finish with soft touch, and also stroke it from deep tonight. He added three steals to his statline and proved he can guard the ball and make plays in the passing lanes. We are really excited to see the player he becomes and all he accomplishes in the coming years.

Tre Beard (5’10 PG / Chillicothe / 2020): Beard is an incredible shooter from deep. He knocked down four threes tonight and showed off his long range skills by hitting two triples from a handful of feet behind the line. We don’t want to limit him to just that, however, as he is a capable defender and solid playmaker. He did a great job helping run the offense and create for his teammates as well as keeping the ball in front of him and forcing turnovers on the other end.

Drew Guthrie (6’6 PF / Miami Trace / 2023): One of the few bright spots for Miami Trace tonight was freshman big man Drew Guthrie. He provided a big spark off the bench for the Panthers tonight contributing 12 points and three rebounds. Head coach Rob Pittser knew he had something in this freshman coming into the season, and tonight Guthrie proved that he can be successful even in his first year. The young man has a good feel for the game and can score the ball around the rim on the offensive end. Going forward for him, it will be a matter of if he can be reliable defensively and on the glass.