Lynchburg-Clay's Trey Pitzer is pictured in a game for the Mustangs last season. (HCP Photos/Stephen Forsha)
Lynchburg-Clay's Trey Pitzer is pictured in a game for the Mustangs last season. (HCP Photos/Stephen Forsha)
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Lynchburg-Clay Mustangs
Head Coach: Brian Callahan
2021-22 Record: 8-12 (4-8; 4th in SHAC Div. I)
Schedule
Nov. 29 vs. Williamsburg 6:00 PM
Dec. 2 at West Union 6:00 PM
Dec. 3 vs. Westfall 6:00 PM
Dec. 6 vs. Fayetteville 6:00 PM
Dec. 10 at North Adams 6:00 PM
Dec. 13 vs. Manchester 6:00 PM
Dec. 16 vs. Eastern 6:00 PM
Dec. 20 at Fairfield 6:00 PM
Dec. 29 at Paint Valley 6:00 PM
Jan. 3 at McClain 6:00 PM
Jan. 6 at Peebles 6:00 PM
Jan. 10 vs. Whiteoak 6:00 PM
Jan. 13 vs. West Union 6:00 PM
Jan. 14 vs. Chesapeake at North Adams (Coach Young Classic) 1:30 PM
Jan. 20 vs. North Adams 6:00 PM
Jan. 24 at Ripley 6:00 PM
Jan. 27 at Eastern 6:00 PM
Jan. 28 vs. Blanchester 6:00 PM
Jan. 31 vs. Washington 6:00 PM
Feb. 4 vs. Piketon at Fairfield (Chad Hodson Classic) 4:15 PM
Feb. 7 at Hillsboro 6:00 PM
Feb. 10 vs. Fairfield 6:00 PM
The Lynchburg-Clay Mustangs are under new leadership for the 2022-23 season, as their new head coach is Brian Callahan.

Callahan takes over for former LCHS head coach Matt Carson, who coached LCHS for nine seasons (the longest tenured boys basketball coach in program history) and in 2015-16 led the Mustangs to the Division III State Semifinals after winning a regional championship.

In recent seasons, the Mustangs have struggled on the court, finishing fourth place last season in the Southern Hills Athletic Conference Division I standings with a 4-8 record, with an overall record of 8-12. Lynchburg-Clay did win one postseason game in the sectional round last season, defeating Westfall, 59-58.

Now with a new head coach and new energy, the Mustangs look to work their way back up to success, and it starts with a roster that includes seven seniors, no juniors, two sophomores and one freshman.

Seniors for the Mustangs are guard Brady Chisman, forward Bryce Binkley, guard Ian Waits, center Kyle Bennington, guard Landon West, center Logan Shope and guard Trey Pitzer.

Sophomores on the team are forward Austin Bell and guard Cody Bell. The lone freshman on the roster is forward Denver Clinton.

Chisman returns as the Mustangs’ leading scorer with 13.6 points per game, while also averaging 3.2 rebounds per game, 2.6 assists per game and 1.7 steals per game. As a junior, he shot 69 percent from the 3-point line and 43 percent in two-point field goal attempts.

Chisman was also named to the Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association All-District third team and the All-SHAC team last season.

Shope returns after averaging 10.4 ppg for the Mustangs during the 2021-22 season.

Also averaging double-figure scoring last season was Waits with 10 ppg, while he also had 2.7 rpg and 2.7 apg. He shot 71-percent from the free-throw line, and 47-percent from two-point attempts. Waits was named to the Coaches All-District and OPSWA All-District teams as a junior.

Binkley returns for his senior season after averaging 9.1 ppg as a junior. Bennington averaged 3.7 ppg last season, and Pitzer averaged 2.4 ppg.

“There are a number of talented players returning and some younger players that are ready for the challenge of varsity basketball,” Callahan said. “The SHAC has always been a very tough conference, but my goal is to build a program that competes for league championships every year. I'm excited to see our team continue to improve over the course of this season and compete for a championship.”

The offseason for the Mustangs was one of learning and learning a new style of play with Callahan leading the way as the new head coach.

“We've had a good offseason and all of the boys have really bought into our style of play,” Callahan said. “We will be an aggressive team that is very hard to guard because we have the potential to have a different leading scorer each night.”

The Mustangs’ non-conference schedule starts with hosting Williamsburg, and also on the schedule are Westfall, Paint Valley, McClain, Blanchester, Washington, Piketon and Hillsboro.

LCHS begins their 2022-23 season on Tuesday, Nov. 29 against non-conference opponent Williamsburg, as it will be Military Appreciation Night at LCHS.