2024-25 Hillsboro Indians Boys Basketball Preview

The Hillsboro Indians have been building for the 2024-25 season for the past couple seasons, and this year they have an opportunity for more success as they are about to take the court for the regular season.

Hillsboro — who are coached by Josh Howland — begins the 2024-25 season with three seniors, four juniors and two sophomores on the varsity roster.

The team returns four starters from a year ago, a season where Hillsboro finished 12-10 overall and 6-4 in the Frontier Athletic Conference, a third-place finish. Graduated from the starting lineup from last season is Steven Kibler, an OPSWA Special Mention All-District selection last season.

The Indians this season have seniors Tate Davis (point guard), Brayden Hunter (guard/post) and Dylan Dixon (post).

Hillsboro’s juniors are Xander Lake (post), Brady Juillerat (post), Mason Dumpert (post) and Daniel Moreda (guard). The sophomores for the Indians are Jack Howland (guard) and Tre Captain.

Two of the returning starters were the Indians’ top players last season, with Davis averaging 15.5 points per game and Howland averaging 15 ppg.

Davis last season was selected All-FAC, FAC POY, Co-District 14 POY, Coaches First-Team All-District, OPSWA Second-Team All-District and Honorable Mention Div. II All-Ohio as a junior. Davis totaled 356 points last season, while also averaging 4.7 rebounds per game and 5.5 assists per game, all while also shooting 92.5 percent from the free-throw line.

Howland last season scored 342 points with 5.5 apg as he was selected All-FAC, Coaches Honorable Mention All-District and OPSWA Third-Team All-District as a freshman last season.

“We are very excited about our entire team. Every player is contributing at a high level by filling their role,” Howland said. “Tate Davis is returning SE District player of the year (in coaches poll), All-FAC and All-District (OPSWA), so we have high expectations for him, and Tate is a natural leader.

“Xander Lake moved into our school district this year and will provide a solid post presence for us. He also brings maturity and leadership on the floor. Dylan Dixon has been playing very hard in practice and is working hard to earn solid minutes.

“Brayden Hunter and Mason Dumpert both have two years’ varsity experience, so they understand the importance of every player on our team” Howland continued. “Both of them are very physical and play with a lot of passion. Jack Howland will be our backup point guard. Jack was All-FAC and All-District (OPSWA), so our expectations are high for him. Tre Captain has worked hard over the summer and in practices, so we look forward to what he will bring for us.”

Coach Howland — who is starting his third season at HHS and his eighth season as head coach — said the offseason was full of camps and competing at a high level.

“We attended four team camps this summer, and we feel like it brought our team together,” Howland said. “We had a high level of commitment from our players, which shows us they are buying into our core values. Our focus on getting better each day is the biggest positive I've seen so far.  

“We still have to improve on communication and rebounding. These little things will hold us back or elevate us to a championship-level team. We expect to compete for a win every night we play. Our goal is to win the FAC and then focus on tournaments.”

Howland wants his Hillsboro team to compete with hard-nosed defense, and to battle each night in FAC games, that will be a must against some tough competition. Last season, the FAC was won by Miami Trace (9-1), followed by Washington at 8-2. The rest of the FAC standings were HHS (6-4), Jackson (5-5), Chillicothe (2-8) and McClain (0-10).

“We will play hard-nosed defense, get after it on every possession and attack the basket on offense,” Howland said. “Our conference will be tough this year. Jackson returns four starters (also have a solid move-in). Chillicothe returns most of their starters and are very athletic, and Miami Trace will return several key players. We look forward to a challenging league schedule that will also help us prepare for tournaments.”

The non-conference schedule for the Indians includes games at Wilmington, vs. Waverly, at North Adams, at Blanchester, vs. Adena (Chad Hodson Classic), at Fairfield, vs. Eastern (at SSCC), at Western Brown, vs. Fairland (Fairland Buckeye Elite Showcase), vs. Lynchburg-Clay, vs. Circleville and vs. Batavia.

“We have the opportunity to play in showcases where we will face Fairland, Adena and Eastern Brown. We will also play Waverly, who returns several key players, and Circleville, who also should be a challenge,” Howland said.

Assistant coaches for the Indians are Chris Fauber, Blake Kibler and Dustin Willey.

“We are looking forward to this season and excited to show our Hillsboro community that we are ready to compete at a high level every night,” Howland said.

HHS opens the 2024-25 season Friday, Nov. 29 on the road at Wilmington in a non-conference game.

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