Sophomores look to push Berea-Midpark’s pace: 2024-25 boys basketball preseason tour

BEREA, Ohio — With three freshmen in the starting lineup a season ago, Berea-Midpark found itself playing for a Southwestern Conference championship on its home court.

The regular season ended with a loss to Elyria in which ninth-graders Tyson Clay, Reid Braaten and Nick Reece watched with their teammates as the opponent cut down nets on their home court. They took it in stride and have their first chance to wipe away that memory as sophomores, leading the Titans as sophomores.

"It was good for them to see that because I think they're hungry," coach Kevin Braaten said. "Our league is always balanced."

They will look to push the pace with those three sophomore guards, but must overcome Expect that to pay dividends for this squad, which has speed but must overcome a lack of size and rebounding without senior forward Masyn Zahursky, who is preparing to play college football at Bowling Green.

The Titans added senior guard Manny Santiago as a transfer from Padua and expect to be one of the top contenders in the SWC, chasing Elyria with the chance to potentially meet again for that conference crown.

Check out the Titans from their four-team scrimmage Thursday at Berea-Midpark on the cleveland.com preseason boys basketball tour with the video above. Below is a quick snapshot of the team:

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Berea-Midpark Titans

Coach: Kevin Braaten (third season)

Returning starters: Tyson Clay (5-9, so., G, 10.0 points, 2.3 assists), Reid Braaten (6-3, so., G, 8.2 points, 2.6 rebounds, 53 3s), Nick Reece (6-0, so., G, 6.6 points, 2.5 assists)

In the rotation: Diggy Maddox (6-0, jr., G, 5.0 points), Andre Alexander (5-8, so., G), Aidan Spraggins (6-2, sr., G), Cal Maloney (6-3, jr., G), Vinnie Weaver (6-2, jr., G), Manny Santiago (5-11, sr., G), Riley Jones (5-10, jr., G)

Division I, Southwestern Conference

Dec. 1 vs. Gilmour Academy at Baldwin Wallace, Dec. 3 vs. Valley Forge, Dec. 6 at Mentor, Dec. 13 vs. Avon Lake, Dec. 17 vs. Amherst, Dec. 20 at Midview, Dec. 23 at St. Edward, Dec. 27 vs. North Royalton

Jan. 7 at Avon, Jan. 10 vs. North Ridgeville, Jan. 14 at Olmsted Falls, Jan. 17 vs. Elyria, Jan. 21 at Avon Lake, Jan. 24 at Amherst, Jan. 31 vs. Midview

Feb. 4 vs. Avon, Feb. 7 at North Ridgeville, Feb. 11 at Brookside, Feb. 14 vs. Olmsted Falls, Feb. 18 vs. Lorain, Feb. 21 at Elyria

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