CAMDEN — Preble Shawnee’s boys basketball team opened the 2023-24 season with a 60-57 win over Division I Kings on Saturday, Dec. 2 at the Ohio Valley Hoops Classic at Mason Middle School.

The Arrows girls dropped two straight to begin the season, falling to Valley View and Tri-Village.

Kings and Preble Shawnee both had outstanding seasons a year ago as the Knights were 18-6, while the Arrows were 23-4 advancing to the regional finals in Division III. Both teams return star players from those squads as they look to go even higher this year.

The contest feature several highly talented players from both teams.

Kings’ 6-foot, 3 inch junior guard Tommy Clark has offers from Radford and Southeast Missouri State and interest from numerous others.

Shawnee’s 6’5” senior guard Mason Shrout has committed to Purdue Fort Wayne.

The Knights also returned leading scorer Talan Noyes and guard Myles Baker. Both are D-2 prospects. Nate Lyman and Kato Meissner are both D-1 football recruits who bring athleticism and toughness to the Knights.

Logan Hawley (6-8), who is being recruited at the D-2 level, gives Preble Shawnee a strong inside presence to go along with Shrout. Isaac Blankenship and Brayden Robinette also are returning starters for Shawnee.

The Arrows jumped out to a 19-12 first quarter lead and maintained a 36-26 halftime lead.

Kings cut into the Arrows lead with an 18-15 third quarter and outscored Shawnee 13-9 over the final eight minutes to get withing the final margin.

Shrout led the Arrows with 18 points, eight rebounds, six assists and three steals.

Hawley poured in 15 points and grabbed a team-high 13 rebounds. Robinette contributed 10 points, three steals, two assists and two rebounds.

Knox Mills came off the bench to score 15, going 5-of-6 from three-point range.

Shawnee (1-0) will be back in action on Friday when they are scheduled to travel to Dixie to begin Western Ohio Athletic Conference play.

The Arrows will host Franklin on Saturday.

The Lady Arrows begin the season with a 57-36 loss at Valley View. The Arrows not only lost the game but also lost senior guard Korrie Woodard to an injury early in the game. Woodard also missed the Arrows game with Tri-Village.

Against VV, Shawnee held a 13-12 lead after the first quarter, but the Spartans began to take control in the second quarter, outscoring the Arrows 12-7 for a 24-20 halftime lead. Valley View extended its lead to 42-25 after three.

Autumn Smith lead the Arrows with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Addison Sargent-Eckert added 10 points and grabbed five rebounds.

Against Tri-Village, the Arrows fell behind 24-11 after the first quarter and trailed 44-17 at the half. Caylee Hatmaker paced the Arrows with 11 points and four rebounds. Bella Agee contributed seven points and six rebounds.

Shawnee committed 29 turnovers and shot just 11-of-43 from the field.

“We started the season with some very tough games. We did shoot a little better tonight than we did against Valley View, we just didn’t get as many shots as I would like to see,” Shawnee first year coach Anitra Roell said. “Tough start to the season with the injury to Korrie Woodard. We are not ruling her out yet. We have a lot to work on and need to clean up the ball handling. We have a lot of ball to play. Overall, I am proud of my team for not giving up. They knew facing the defending state champions in game two would be a challenge, but they fought till the end. After two tough losses this week I am still thankful for the opportunity to coach this group of girls that have been part of those program with me for years. I know their potential and look forward to the rest of the season.”

The Arrows (0-2, 0-1 WOAC) were scheduled to host Carlisle on Tuesday, Dec. 5 and Dixie on Thursday, Dec. 7.

Reach Eddie Mowen Jr. at 937-683-4061 and follow on X @emowenjr.