Until further notice, the 37th District still runs through Claryville.
Campbell County has won 12 straight district titles and returns the talent to make another run. Bishop Brossart lost some key scoring but has improved each season, Scott brings back a seasoned core, and Calvary Christian has high expectations of making history.
Here’s a preview of each team in the 37th District for the upcoming season:
Campbell County (22-10 in 2024-25)
Walk into the gym in Claryville on any given afternoon and you’re probably looking up.
Campbell County’s length jumps out immediately, with a projected lineup averaging between 6-foot-3 and 6-foot-4 and anchored by 6-9 junior Braden Elam and 6-6 sophomore standout Austin Davie.
“It’s probably the largest team we’ve had since I’ve been here,” head coach Brent Sowder said. “Assistant coach Brett White has more experience than me here, and this is the biggest team he can remember.”
Davie and Elam won’t just stand out because of their height, their production is expected to match. Davie shined as a freshman last season, leading the Camels in scoring (17.9) and rebounding (7.1). He enters his sophomore year ranked No. 5 in the NKBBCA’s preseason Top 10 players.
Elam, meanwhile, wasn’t in the spotlight as much last season and averaged 3.2 points, but he already holds a Division II offer from Pitt-Johnstown and has taken a big jump.
“He’s grown so much and gotten a lot stronger too,” Sowder said. “He grew about two inches, and I’m not sure he’s done yet. I’m excited to see what he can do.”
The Camels will add even more size with Lucas and Cade Anthrop — a pair of above-6-foot-1 brothers Sowder calls “fun to watch interact with each other” — who are expected to see significant minutes.
The standard at Campbell is trophies, and this year’s height gives the Camels a new way to chase them.
Bishop Brossart (15-16 in 2024-25)
Bishop Brossart enters the new season with a group that has experienced both sides of the program’s recent arc, from a district semifinal loss two years ago to reaching the All “A” State Tournament and earning a berth in the 10th Region Tournament last season.
“We were able to have a pretty successful year in terms of what we did the year prior,” head coach Ben Franzen said. “We’ve got a handful of seniors who have lived in both worlds of being unsuccessful and then feeling a little successful last year. Hopefully we build on that and put ourselves in a situation at the end of the year where we can have some success similar to last year and maybe a bit more.”
The Mustangs will need to replace much of their scoring after graduating their top three options in Parker Mulberry, Dom Hadden and Alex Combs.
They do return point guard Beckett Kuntz, the leading returning scorer at 7.2 points per game, giving the lineup a steadying presence. Junior Drew Steffen is another player expected to take a step forward, a “three level scorer” whom Franzen believes could break out.
A highlight of the upcoming season will be the first “The Dave Schabell Classic,” honoring one of the most influential figures in Brossart athletics. Schabell, a 1965 graduate, has spent decades serving the school in roles ranging from coach to broadcaster and much more.
“Many know him because he’s on the radio, but he does so much more for us behind the scenes,” Franzen said.
Calvary Christian (17-14 in 2024-25)
Calvary Christian has been waiting on this moment, the moment when the young players who took their lumps finally grew into the experienced group capable of making history.
“Our goal is to make the region tournament,” head coach Ben Mulling said. “We have been close many times, lost coin flips, went from a two to a four seed. We want to get there. Our volleyball team did it for the first time ever and we are hoping to follow that.”
With all five starters returning and a roster deeper and bigger than any in recent memory, the Cougars enter the season believing they can take that next step.
Peyton Morris, Luke Getsy and Collin Duty all averaged double figures a year ago. The Cougars also have real size, with Getsy standing about six foot seven according to Mulling, and fellow returning starter Matt Ayyildiz checking in at six foot five.
“He is probably our second best three point shooter and he is a great ball handler up top,” Mulling said of Ayyildiz. “I expect a breakout season from him.”
With that combination of shooting, experience and size, Calvary plans to operate out of a four out, one in look, a Villanova style attack that fits the personnel.
Their biggest advantage may have started years ago. Mulling has coached Getsy and Duty since third grade and has coached Ayyildiz since seventh grade.
The core has played together for years and that continuity is finally meeting maturity.
Scott (10-17 in 2024-25)
Last season, Scott battled youth and inexperience after graduating six seniors and losing its top scorers from the year before.
This winter, the Eagles look much different.
Scott returns six players who logged significant minutes in Taylor Mill, including two who appeared in all 27 games — Jordan and Jonathan Clemons. Jordan is the second-leading returning scorer at 9.8 points per game, a number that climbed in importance with the absence of standout Aaron Hampton (13.9 ppg, 7.3 rpg), who suffered an injury this football season.
“Jordan really had a good year, he’s a gamer,” head coach Steve Fromeyer said. “I really feel like he could have a big season.”
Other key returners include Jayden Dodd, who averaged 8.3 points last season in 13 games, plus Alex Casnellie, Justin Hardy, and Ty Cook, who’s also the baseball team’s ace.
“Ty has the potential to have a breakout year,” Fromeyer said. “He works really, really hard, and he started the district championship as a pitcher and in the region tournament, so he’s no stranger to big games.”
The Eagles will be built on speed with a traditional center role this season, operating off pick-and-rolls and kicking out to open shooters. Justin Hardy and Tyler Baker are players Fromeyer envisions in that role, along with Jayden Dodd in a non-traditional role thanks to his shooting ability. He shot 36.7% from the field last season.
With experience returning and players ready to step into bigger roles, Scott hopes that come the postseason, they’re playing their best basketball.