Wildcat Basketball prepares for a new season
Photo courtesy of Licking R-8 Schools
The 2025-26 Licking Wildcats Basketball team will include, from left, sitting: Phoenix Maxey, Brayden Moberly, Logan Kuhn, Lucas Bates, Keirum O’Daniel and Easton Stoops; middle row: Dylan Treco, Trent Wood, Kohen Blankenship, Karson Walker, Parker Huff and Jett Sullins; and back row: Jason Ingram, Benton Corley, Caleb Owen, Will Hackman, Conway Adey and Logan Buckner. Not pictured is Alex Beasley.
Young teams are the norm for this year’s Licking Wildcat teams, and Wildcat Basketball is no exception. Head Coach Chris Harris anticipates three of this year’s starters will be sophomores – Jett Sullins, Jason Ingram and Logan Buckner. They will be joining Senior Karson Walker and junior Conway Adey.
Walker started the final 12 games of last year’s season, and will play point this year, controlling the offense. He contributes scoring and assists, and is a good leader on the floor.
Adey’s playing time last year was primarily on the Junior Varsity team, but he is filling the position of a post player pretty well, Coach Harris says. He will also contribute with rebounds and good defensive play.
Sophomore Jason Ingram and Adey complement each other on the floor, and Ingram can play inside or outside. He has been working on his three-point shot and will join Adey with defending post players.
Sulllins and Buckner are also expected to be good contributors, and Harris expects their experience as varsity starters on the Wildcat Baseball team will carry over into basketball.
Senior Benton Corley is out currently due to injury, and Coach Harris is not sure if he will return before the end of the season.
Senior Caleb Owen is 6’4”, and expect to see him off the bench some, as he offers the team that extra height under the basket. The final senior, Kohen Blankenship, will also see playing time on varsity as the backup point for Walker. Blankenship also contributes good defense.
The team’s assistant coach this year is Glen Wright. Coach Harris says he has been good for teaching discipline to the players.
The team is coming off of a good summer, which included 13 games in four days against larger schools in which Licking was very competitive. Harris’ goal is for the team to compete for a District Title this year and to win 65% or more of games.
There is no jamboree for the Wildcats this year, and their season will start with the Big Cat Classic against Salem at Licking on Tuesday, November 25. The Classic offers a full evening of basketball, beginning with the JV Lady ‘Cats at 4 p.m., followed by the JV Wildcats, the Varsity Lady ‘Cats, and the Varsity Wildcats will wrap up the evening.
The Frisco League Tournament will be the next challenge. The Wildcats are seeded fifth and will play fourth seed Laquey at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 29.
These talented sophomores and freshmen athletes should quickly learn their roles. Anticipate this young team to grow in skill as the season progresses. Good luck, Wildcats, for a great season!
