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Marion Local was set up to have another successful season in 2025-26.
Fort Recovery had to battle through some moments before making a big run at the end of the season.
Both schools earned the top honors in the 2026 Daily Standard Boys Basketball Dream Team.
Marion Local senior Brayden Mescher earned Player of the Year honors, providing an all-around game to help Marion finish as state runner-up in Division VI for a second straight season.
Bob Leverette earns the Coach of the Year award in guiding Fort Recovery through a couple tough stretches, including losing three straight to end the regular season, to advance to the Division VI regional, the program's first trip in 16 years.
The Daily Standard's Boys Basketball Dream Team Player of the Year is Brayden Mescher, Marion Local, 13.0 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 7.2 apg.
After playing a key role in Marion's 2025 Division VI state runner-up season, averaging 8.4 points and 4.6 rebounds per game as a junior, Mescher was in position to take over as the go-to player for the Flyers after the graduation of Malone-bound Austin Niekamp, who was last season's Dream Team Player of the Year.
The 6-2 senior not only stepped up, he shined as Marion tied the school record for wins in a season in going 26-3 and reaching the state final four in Division VI for the second straight season, the second team in program history to go to back-to-back state final fours, joining the 2003 and 2004 teams.
One of the key aspects of Mescher's game is his ability to either score or get his teammates in position to score. In addition to leading the team in scoring (13.0 ppg), Mescher led the area in assists, averaging 7.2 assists per game. Mescher also averaged 2.8 steals per game.
The Flyers went 21-1 during the regular season, the only speed bump coming against undefeated St. John's in a 30-point loss at the Hangar. For the rest of the regular season, Marion won by an average of 23.8 points, with the closest game coming in a 58-56 win over Spencerville.
After a tight 43-41 district semifinal win over New Bremen, the Flyers won by margins of 29 (Ada), 24 (Fort Recovery) and 14 (Tri-Village) to return to state semifinals.
In the semifinals against Lincolnview, Mescher had 23 points as Marion pulled away for a 46-30 win. The state title game against Berlin Hiland was an instant classic, going to double overtime before the Hawks won 54-51 as Mescher had six points, six rebounds and six assists in the loss.
A first team All-Midwest Athletic honoree this past season, Mescher also earned first team All-Northwest District and second team All-Ohio
Mescher is the seventh Flyer to be named the Player of the Year, joining Cory Eyink (2000), Brian J. Wolters (2001), Craig Wolters (2003), Tyler Mescher (2018), Nate Bruns (2019), currently a Flyer assistant coach, and Niekamp (2025)
The Daily Standard's Boys Basketball Dream Team Coach of the Year is Bob Leverette, Fort Recovery, 15-11, first district title since 2010.
Leverette becomes the third Fort Recovery boys basketball coach to earn the honor, joining Joe Bruns (1999) and Brian Patch (2012).
In his fourth season as head coach of his alma mater, Bob Leverette had some ups and downs. After starting 3-0, the Indians went 3-4 in their next seven games. The regular season stretch run was tough as Fort Recovery lost to St. John's, Tri-Village and St. Henry to finish 12-10.
Through the season, Leverette put together a solid group. Sophomore Hudson Overman led the team in scoring with 13.9 points per game in the regular season. Junior Brody Barga averaged 10.4 points, 9.8 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game, earning him honorable mention All-Ohio honors, with classmate Breaker Jutte adding 10.5 points per game.
Heading south for tournament, and avoiding their fellow MAC teams, the Indians regained form, winning by 29 over Covington and seven over Springfield Northeastern before taking a 63-44 win over Emmanuel Christian in the district final for the program's first regional trip since 2010. The season came to an end in the regional semifinals to MAC rival and eventual state runner-up Marion Local to conclude a 15-11 campaign.
The Daily Standard's Boys Basketball Dream Team member is Kale Ahrens, Marion Local, 12.9 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 1.4 spg.
The Daily Standard's Boys Basketball Dream Team member is Cole Albers, Minster, 15.7 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 2.9 apg.
The Daily Standard's Boys Basketball Dream Team member is Brody Barga, Fort Recovery, 10.4 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 3.6 apg.
The Daily Standard's Boys Basketball Dream Team member is Landon Knapke, Coldwater, 12.9 ppg, 2.4 apg, 2.1 spg.
The Daily Standard's Boys Basketball Dream Team member is Gavin Wicker, Celina, 17.2 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 2.1 apg.
