Ryle boys basketball coach Nick Dorning still remembers his first 33rd District game, when former Cooper coach Tim Sullivan greeted him with a warning and a welcome: “Welcome to the 33rd District.”
It wasn’t just an introduction, it was a reminder of how competitive the district is, and that reminder isn’t going away.
Ryle and Conner enter with key returners, Cooper transitions to only its second head coach in program history, Boone County looks to improve with added experience, and Heritage continues its steady climb despite being the district’s smallest school.
Here’s a look at the 33rd District boys basketball teams:
Ryle (16-13 in 2024-25)
Names and faces change, but the Raiders’ plan remains the same.
“Our expectation is always the same, and it starts with our work ethic and toughness,” head coach Nick Dorning said. “Our identity is that we’re going to out-tough and out-work you, and we’ll adjust to whatever happens during the game. We expect the kids to be the toughest on the floor in both games and practices, and we feel like if we do that, we have an opportunity to be very successful in our district and the region.”
The program’s all-time leading scorer, Landon Lorms, and Jon DeGroff, last season’s second-leading scorer, leave behind a combined 34 of Ryle’s 66 points per game from last season.
The Raiders aren’t expecting a one-man show, but rather, as Dorning says, “a host of players that we’re excited about,” with hope to run an “up-tempo” offense.
That includes Holden Smith, who had a strong showing behind-the-scenes after missing half of last year due to injury, and Anthony Coppola, who averaged 10.5 points per game last season but isn’t just a threat on the hardwood.
“Holden Smith spent half the year injured and has had a phenomenal offseason. We’re looking forward to him getting his opportunity and taking the next step,” Dorning said. “We had Landon last year, who was a big-time football player; now we have Anthony Coppola, who is a big-time baseball player, committed to play baseball at D-I George Washington.”
Conner (18-10 in 2024-25)
Conner fell short of reaching Truist Arena last season, but the Cougars return with a blend of veterans and emerging pieces determined to push deeper into the postseason.
A district — and even region — title remains the goal, and the program is chasing its first region crown since its lone championship in 1993.
Despite losing size and scoring in 6-foot-6 Landon Warner and fellow starter Chase Huff — who combined for 29.6 points per game — Conner brings back senior standouts Finn Louden and Brady Bushman. Louden averaged 17.1 points and enters the season just 39 points shy of 1,000 for his career.
“He’s a leader,” head coach Nathan Browning said. “He’s one of those guys where, when the lights come on and there’s people in the stands, something just clicks with him. Brady can really score too. He’s really stepped up in practice this year.”
The new support comes from a familiar name, as junior Tyler Warner steps into a larger role.
“He really put a lot of work in this offseason,” Browning said. “He’s changed his body, stronger, more physical. We’re excited for him, and I think he can really help us fill those scoring voids.”
Seniors Logan Back and Holten Raider — the tallest Cougar at roughly 6-foot-4, 6-foot-5, join a deep junior class that gives Conner options across the rotation.
With proven scorers, new contributors and a relentless schedule ahead, Conner believes it has the pieces to make this season stretch well beyond February.
Cooper (26-6 in 2024-25)
After five years leading the Cooper girls — and 11 years as an assistant with the boys — Justin Holthaus returns to the boys’ sideline with a new roster and a familiar mission: keep the Jaguars competing for district and region titles.
Holthaus replaces longtime head coach Tim Sullivan, who was non-renewed before taking over at St. Henry. Holthaus previously served under Sullivan during Cooper’s 2017 state runner-up run and helped the program win six district championships. He also captured four straight 9th Region titles with the girls program.
This year brings major roster turnover. Four starters graduated, and the fifth, Roman Combs, transferred to Lakota West in Ohio. Of the three reserves who played at least 20 games, one graduated and Parker Lutz transferred to St. Henry — leaving junior Julienne Knuckles (30 games, 2.5 ppg) as the lone returning regular.
Holthaus praised Knuckles’ athleticism, scoring ability and steady voice, noting he’ll take on a larger load on both ends and that senior Elijah Philpott brings toughness and energy — the kind of impact that rarely shows statistically. Junior point guard Cole Stanton has taken “major strides,” showing more confidence and command after an offseason leap.
With so many new faces, Holthaus said the focus is simple: play fast, share the ball and learn each other’s tendencies while improving throughout the season.
Even with the overhaul, Holthaus said the standard stays the same.
“We want to keep progressing and be in position to make noise when February comes around.”
Boone County (7-23 in 2024-25)
In head coach Todd Humphrey’s second season, he isn’t the only one who feels more settled.
“I think we had four or five guys return from the previous team, and none of those guys had any varsity experience,” Humphrey said. “Now we’ve got a lot of guys who gained a little experience last year.”
Though Boone County lost its top three scorers to graduation, its leading returner is only a sophomore: Joel Montanya Brown, who averaged six points per game.
“He’s stepping into a big role,” Humphrey said. “He’s one of our leaders, and if he does what he’s supposed to, I think we’ll have a good year.”
The Rebels expect to go 10–12 deep — with a unique twist. The roster includes three sets of name doubles: Brycen Herald and Bryson Souder, Kameron Johnson and Kameron Compton, and DeAndre Burks and DeAndre Robertson.
“I’ll be talking to one guy and both guys will look at me, so we had to come up with nicknames,” Humphrey said. “I call Brycen and Bryson the ‘Law Office of Brycen and Bryson.’”
With depth but limited size, Boone County plans to play through 4-out-1-in and 5-out motion offense, leaning on a group that shot 43.8% from three last season.
As the roster matures, the Rebels believe their depth and shooting can fuel real progress this winter and help them compete more consistently within the district.
Heritage Academy (19-9 in 2024-25)
At a school with around 60 high-school students, Heritage once again embraces the challenge of punching above its weight while trying to continue its steady climb.
While the Eagles compete in a district with four schools far larger in size, they also take part in the NACA (National Association of Christian Athletes) and a tournament in Dayton, Tennessee, where they can compete with programs closer to their enrollment.
“In my younger years of coaching in 2000, we played in it and won the whole thing,” Heritage head coach Jerry Miles said. “We play in Division 6, and last year we went 2-1 and played in the championship game and lost by a bucket. We played three teams from three different states.”
Even with district opponents averaging roughly 1,500 students between them, Heritage wasn’t far off last season, falling by just four in the 33rd District quarterfinal against Boone County.
For Miles, the progress is measured not just by wins, but by long-term gains.
“The school has been here for 35 years and we’ve had two winning seasons — and those have come in two of the last three years,” Miles said. “There’s been substantial improvement and some stability.”
Heritage loses leading scorer Cade Holtman but returns double-digit scorers Trent Stone and Landon Reinhart. Stone has already surpassed 1,000 career points, while Reinhart continues to recover from meniscus and ACL surgery and would likely return late in the season.
