PIQUA – The Ansonia Tigers saw their 2025-2026 boys varsity basketball season come to an end in OHSAA Division VII tournament play with a 68-44 loss to the Russia Raiders, but the final score told only part of the story for a program that showed marked improvement under first-year head coach Josh Moore.
After enduring a 1-22 campaign a year ago, the Tigers improved their win total this winter, finishing 6-17 and taking significant steps forward in building a new foundation.
“We’re going to put in the work,” Moore said of the program’s future. “It’s not going to be easy, but at the end of the day, building that relationship, building that connection with these kids is what takes us to the next level.”
Like many first-year coaches inheriting a rebuilding program, Moore said trust and confidence took time to develop.
“It took us to the halfway point to trust and understand and enjoy what the game is allowing you to do, but once we clicked into that – I am super proud of the kids,” Moore said.
Russia wasted little time asserting itself in the tournament matchup, jumping out to an 18-9 first-quarter lead. Ansonia 6-foot-1 sophomore Graham Coppess kept the Tigers within striking distance early, knocking down seven opening-period points, including a 3-pointer.
The Raiders extended their advantage in the second quarter, outscoring Ansonia 16-10 to take a 34-19 lead into the break. Five different Tigers accounted for baskets in the period, but Russia’s efficiency on both ends of the floor proved difficult to overcome.
Ansonia continued to compete in the third quarter, playing the Raiders nearly even. Russia edged the Tigers 13-12 in the period for a 47-31 advantage heading into the final eight minutes. Coppess poured in eight third-quarter points while junior Jacob Schmitmeyer added four as the Tigers continued to show the growth that marked much of their season.
“His first step is probably one of the best in the league,” Moore said of Coppess. “He puts his mind to it, Graham Coppess does what he wants. He elevates well, he can shoot from the outside, he’s growing into a leader as a sophomore this year. I think he’ll have a good offseason and step into that leadership role, him and Jacob Schmitmeyer. Those are two corner pieces to our program.”
Russia sealed the outcome in the fourth quarter, taking the period 21-13 to secure the 24-point victory and advance in tournament play. The Raiders went 7-of-13 from the free-throw line while Ansonia was limited to just two attempts at the stripe, going 0-for-2 in a well-officiated contest.
Coppess finished with a game-high 19 points to lead the Tigers and all scorers.
The night also marked the final game in an Ansonia uniform for senior Ben Barnt, who drew praise from his head coach for his leadership and versatility throughout the season.
“Ben has provided every last role we could ask for,” Moore said. “He came off the bench early in the season for us – good leadership, a smart basketball player. Lately, due to some injuries, he rolled right into the starting lineup for us and produced very well. He is part of the cornerstone of this program, turning it around so something to be proud of. It takes the right guys, right leadership to move in the right direction, and Ben is one of those kids that will be very successful.”
Ansonia graduates just Barnt from this year’s roster and is slated to return two freshmen, nine sophomores, and one junior, giving Moore a young but experienced core to build upon heading into next season.
While the tournament run was brief, the Tigers’ six-win improvement and developing leadership signal a program trending upward — one built on relationships, work ethic, and a renewed belief in what Ansonia basketball can become.
BOX SCORE:
RUSSIA 68, ANSONIA 44
RUSSIA – M. Voisard 16, C. Unverferth 15, C. Grogean 13, G. Bergman 12, M. Goubeaux 6, C. Hoehne 2, J. Monnin 2, E. Schmitmeyer 2 – TOTALS 29 7-13 1 68
ANSONIA – G. Coppess 19, J. Schmitmeyer 8, T. Spence 4, C. Rifle 3, J. MacNutt 2, K. Weiss 2, B. Barnt 2, S. Evers 2 – TOTALS 19 0-2 2 44
3-POINTERS
RUSSIA 1 (C. Grogean 1)
Ansonia 1 (C. Riffle 1, G. Coppess 1)
SCORE by QUARTERS
18-16-13 21 68 Russia
09-10-12-13 44 Ansonia
