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The Lakota West boys basketball team has achieved the extraordinary—an undefeated 16–0 GMC season and a 21–1 overall record. Their only loss came by a single point in overtime to national showcase opponent La Lumiere. Under the expert leadership of Head Coach Kelven Moss, the Firebirds are currently ranked No. 1 in the state of Ohio. And on the final night of the regular season, the Mason Comets pushed the vaunted Firebirds to the brink, falling 37–35 after a last-second shot narrowly missed.

Leading the conference in scoring at 60.8 points per game, the Firebirds have outpaced opponents by an average margin of 22.6 points. Their attack is remarkably balanced on both ends of the floor. Lakota West tops the Greater Miami Conference statistically in scoring offense (62.4 ppg) and scoring defense, holding opponents to just 39.5 ppg.

On Friday, February 6th, the GMC race came down to the ultimate showdown between two outstanding programs. Lakota West and Princeton squared off in a basketball fan’s dream matchup. The Firebirds entered the night undefeated in conference play, while the Vikings carried just a single loss. With the teams ranked 1–2 in the state and fan interest soaring, the game was moved from Lakota West to the neutral site of Xavier University’s Cintas Center.   In a phenomenal evening of high-level basketball, 7250 thoroughly entertained fans saw the Firebirds ultimately prevail over the Vikings by a narrow five-point margin.

This championship marks Lakota West’s first GMC title in thirteen years—last earned in 2013, when they shared the crown with Fairfield, Middletown, and Sycamore—and only the fourth league championship since the district split into Lakota East and Lakota West. In the last 21 years of league competition only four teams have come through the GMC schedule unscathed: Lakota West 16-0 for 2025-26, Princeton 16-0 for 2017-18, Mason 16-0 for 2015-16, and Princeton 14-0 for 2008-09.

2026 GMC Champions - Lakota West Firebirds

(Photo compliments of Lakota West Athletic Department)

DICK'S Sporting Goods prides itself on honoring “sports and competitive endeavors of all sorts.” In this circumstance, the spotlight shines on the mental prowess displayed within the highly competitive rigors of the Greater Miami Conference Academic Quiz Team battles. After a demanding head-to-head league schedule, conference coaches gather to reassess the season and recognize both team and individual achievements. While selecting a stellar all-conference slate of AQT standouts, the GMC head coaches also vote on the recipient of the coveted “Player of the Year” award, as well as the distinguished “Coach of the Year” honor.

Leading his Mason Comet teammates to an undefeated 9-0 conference season, Faiaz Abdurrahman, was selected as the "best of the best" amongst an extremely talented contingent of very gifted thinkers.

Faiaz Abdurraham - Mason Comets AQT  "Player of the Year"  2026

(Photo courtesy of Mason Head Coach Thurman Allen)

As in any competitive endeavor, there are always coaches who consistently go “above and beyond” in their dedication and commitment to their students and to the activity as a whole. These leaders elevate the experience not only for their own teams but for every competitor in the conference. When the GMC AQT head coaches gather to select their “Coach of the Year,” many factors come into consideration. After thoughtful and discerning deliberation, the GMC AQT coaches selected Fairfield’s Mark Braam as their 2026 conference “Coach of the Year.” Congratualtions to Coach Mark Braam on this well-deserved honor. You have consistently worked unselfishly to provide a high quality experience for our GMC young people.

Mark Braam - Fairfield  GMC AQT "Coach of the Year" 2026

(Photo furnished by Mark Braam) 

The Mason Comet Acadmic Quiz Team proves mental metal by rolling through the Greater Miami Conference in undefeated fashion. The Comet braintrust did not lose a single game thoughout the entire 18 game GMC guantlet, finishing 4 games ahead of the Fairfield Indians (14-4).

Academic Quiz Armagedon Photos compliments of Mark Braam

GMC Champion - Mason Comets

Academic Quiz within the Greater Miami Conference offers not only an opportunity for friendly competition, but also a chance to build interscholastic camaraderie — exemplified here by a league lunch graciously provided by Hamilton Athletic Director Missy Harvey and the Big Blue Athletic Department.

(Photo compliments of Mark Braam)

Press release by Fairfield's Mark Braam:

Regular-season champion Mason defeated Lakota West in the finals of the 2026 Academic Quiz Team GMC tourney, winning both matches. Both teams receive an automatic berth to regionals on April 11 for reaching the finals. Mason is coached by Thurman Allen and West is coached by Miranda Cockrell.

Lakota West and Mason Tournament Finalists

(Photo compliments of Mark Braam)

    All 10 GMC schools participated in the tourney held at Hamilton High School on Saturday, Feb. 18, broken up into two five-team round-robin brackets. The winners of each bracket qualified for the finals.   

    All 10 teams also participated in what has become a tradition over the last several years; the squads pose for a giant group photo and then share a lunch together provided by host Hamilton and its athletic director, Missy Harvey.  Kudos to Hamilton AD, Missy Harvey and the Hamilton Athletic Department for their hospitality.

The Princeton Viking Girls Basketball team, under the veteran leadership of Head Coach Dee Davis, navigated a demanding conference schedule with first-class poise, finishing with a stellar 15–1 league record—one game ahead of a talented Lakota West squad that posted a 14–2 GMC mark. The Vikings have put together an outstanding overall season at 18–3, with one non-conference game remaining (Springboro). This is the program’s second outright or shared GMC title since 2002.

Princeton was powered by 6'1" sophomore guard, Erin Thomas, who led all league scorers with a dazzling 20.7 points per game. The league-champion Vikings averaged an impressive 61.9 points per game while holding opponents to just 32.2—a nearly 30-point average margin of victory. Defense played a pivotal role in Princeton’s success, highlighted by a league-leading 241 steals and 51 blocked shots.  Without question, the Princeton Vikings basketball championship was won at both ends of the floor, a complete team effort.

Princeton Vikings Girls Basketball - 2025-26  GMC Champions

(Photo compliments of Princeton Athletic Department)

DICK'S Sporting Goods appreciates the hard work and dedication of all coaches who devote countless hours to coaching and mentoring young people on their athletic journeys. One of the highest and most meaningful honors a coach can receive is recognition from their coaching peers for a “job well done.” This season, the Greater Miami Conference bowling head coaches gathered to review conference progress, compare notes, and evaluate achievements before selecting two outstanding individuals as the league’s “Coaches of the Year” for 2025–26. On the girls’ side of the alley, Lakota West’s Drew Gay was named the Girls GMC “Coach of the Year,” while on the boys’ side, Mason’s Joe Riestenberg earned the honor as the Boys GMC “Coach of the Year.”

Lakota West Head Coach Drew Gay led the Firebirds to an undefeated 9–0 season, securing an undisputed GMC Girls Bowling crown. This marks Lakota West’s third conference title in the past four years. Congratulations to Coach Gay on this well-earned recognition of his leadership and commitment to young people.

Lakota West Head Girls Coach Drew Gay  GMC "Coach of the Year"

(Photo compliments of West SID, Darren Walters)

Mason Head Coach Joe Riestenberg also guided his Comets to an unblemished GMC regular season, finishing with a perfect 9–0 conference record. This championship marks the fifth time in the past eight years that Mason has won or shared the league title. It is also the third occasion on which Coach Riestenberg has been honored by his peers with “Coach of the Year” recognition. Kudos to Coach Joe Riestenberg for his continued commitment and the invaluable “behind-the-scenes” support he provides to young people. 

Mason Comets Head Boys Coach Joe Riestenberg  GMC "Coach of the Year"

(Photo compliments of Mason SID, Dan Hilen)