HARRISON — Andy Marx is optimistic about his 11th year as Harrison High School’s boys basketball coach because he knows he’s got a smart team that will grind.
The Wildcats have managed 13 victories in two of the last three seasons and are aiming even higher in 2024-25.
“We are not huge, but I think we have some tough guys,” Marx said. “It’s one of the smarter teams I’ve had. We move the ball around, we share the ball, and we have multiple guys that can score. I think spacing is important for us. We talk about pressing on offense a lot. We want to make the defense really work to guard us while we’re cutting hard and using multiple actions.
“We’ve just got to play Harrison basketball. Our culture is playing really tough, halfcourt, man-to-man defense and running a really good motion offense and just being solid and fundamental. We talk about three things every day — being humble and hungry and ready to work, being amazing teammates and putting the team first, and then having contagious energy. We might not be the quickest team, but I think we’re going to be one of the more fundamental teams out there.”
Harrison, which went 13-10 last season, will be seeking its first Southwest Ohio Conference championship this season in the final year of SWOC play.
















The Wildcats are also hopeful about the postseason now that they’ve dropped to Division II in the Ohio High School Athletic Association’s expanded divisional format.
They are 1-10 in tournament games, all in D-I, since Marx has been head coach. The lone win came over Edgewood on Feb. 22, 2020.
“Our big goal when we took the job was to make it a K-through-12 program, so we did a lot with our youth program from the beginning,” Marx said. “It’s exciting. It’s gone fast. I’ve enjoyed every step of the way.”
Marx is a 1993 Elder graduate who played on the Panthers’ Division I state championship team as a senior. He was an assistant boys coach under Mike Price and the head girls coach at Oak Hills before taking a few years off and then accepting the job at Harrison.
Marx lives in Harrison, but teaches economics, government and history at Oak Hills. He’s in his 26th year as a teacher there.
“I want to serve my community. That’s why I’m here,” Marx said. “I want to establish a pretty strong program from top to bottom. This team is a little special to me because my son’s one of the players. I love these guys. I’ve known them since they were playing in kindergarten leagues. We had a lot of fun this summer and put a few new things in. We’re just a little inexperienced.”
Junior Tucker Ward, a 6-foot point guard, leads the returnees this year. Also back with considerable experience are 5-9 senior guards Michael Calderone and Oscar Banks, along with 6-2 junior forward Brody Mumfrey.
Ward averaged 11.7 points game last season and is an energy guy, according to Marx. Calderone, Banks and Mumfrey combined for 7.1 points a contest in 2023-24.
“Tuck can really fill it up and his game has expanded,” Marx said. “Last year he was more of a perimeter shooter. He’s doing a great job right now moving without the basketball and attacking the rim. I think he’s ready to welcome the growing expectation of being the primary scorer. Michael Calderone is our Swiss Army knife. He can handle the ball and guard and create off the dribble.”
Calderone, 6-1 sophomore guard/forward Brady Lawhon and 6-4 sophomore forward Justin Marx all have the capability of handling the point when needed.
Most of the squad has 3-point ability, with Ward, Banks, Lawhon, Marx, 5-9 senior guard Willie Parsons and 5-9 junior guard Mitchell Mercurio being the best shooters from long range.
“Mercurio can really shoot it and has improved on attacking the rim as well,” Andy Marx said. “Lawhon had a great summer and is very good with offensive rebounds, running the floor and back cutting. He just hunts down those hustle baskets. Marx shoots it well and creates off the dribble. Parsons could have a great year shooting the ball.”
Marx said a couple guys to keep an eye on are 6-2 junior forward Grant Meibers and 5-9 junior guard Cooper Rotert.
“Cooper is really tough on the ball,” the HHS coach said. “Meibers is a warrior, somebody who does all the dirty work for you. He’s an excellent post defender and runs the floor really well. He’s the consummate coach’s favorite kid.
“We don’t have any true post players. I don’t like the term positionless basketball, but in this day and age, I think spacing is really important. You have to have the ability to put the ball on the floor and make decisions away from the basket. I want to play deep. I believe we have a team that can play deep if we need to.”
Marx won’t put a number goal out there for his team. He said Harrison is shooting for a perfect record at home and .500 or better on the road.
“It sounds corny, but we’re just trying to get better every day,” Marx said. “We can lose to every team we play, but we can also beat every team we play. We have to really grind for every game. That’s how it’s been since I got here.”
TEAM INFORMATION
- Head Coach: Andy Marx (11th season)
- Assistants: Jarrod Lawhon, Connor McCurley, Sydney Taske, Conor Thomas, Rick Turner
- OHSAA Classification: Division II
- 2023-24 Record: 13-10 overall, 4-2 SWOC (second place)
ROSTER
- Oscar Banks — 5-9, senior, guard
- Michael Calderone — 5-9, senior, guard
- Parker Conley — 5-9, junior, guard
- Connor Ferry — 6-1, senior, guard
- Eli Kauffman — 6-3, sophomore, forward
- Brady Lawhon — 6-1, sophomore, guard/forward
- Justin Marx — 6-4, sophomore, forward
- Grant Meibers — 6-2, junior, forward
- Mitchell Mercurio — 5-9, junior, guard
- Brody Mumfrey — 6-2, junior, forward
- Willie Parsons — 5-9, senior, guard
- Cooper Rotert — 5-9, junior, guard
- Tucker Ward — 6-0, junior, guard
SCHEDULE
- Friday, Dec. 6 — Northwest 49, Harrison 41
- Tuesday, Dec. 10 — Reading, 7:30 p.m.
- Friday, Dec. 13 — at Mount Healthy, 7:30 p.m.
- Saturday, Dec. 14 — at South Dearborn (Ind.), 7:30 p.m.
- Saturday, Dec. 21 — at West Clermont, 2 p.m.
- Monday, Dec. 23 — at Milford, 6 p.m.
- *Friday, Dec. 27 — vs. Sycamore, 1:45 p.m.
- Saturday, Jan. 4 — Goshen, 6 p.m.
- Tuesday, Jan. 7 — Monroe, 7:30 p.m.
- Friday, Jan. 10 — at Talawanda, 7:30 p.m.
- Saturday, Jan. 11 — at Anderson, 6 p.m.
- Tuesday, Jan. 14 — Taylor, 7:30 p.m.
- Friday, Jan. 17 — Northwest, 7:30 p.m.
- Tuesday, Jan. 21 — at Colerain, 7:30 p.m.
- Friday, Jan. 24 — Mount Healthy, 7:30 p.m.
- Saturday, Jan. 25 — at East Central (Ind.), 7:30 p.m.
- Tuesday, Jan. 28 — at Edgewood, 7:15 p.m.
- Friday, Jan. 31 — Talawanda, 7:30 p.m.
- Saturday, Feb. 1 — Ross, 7:30 p.m.
- Tuesday, Feb. 4 — Loveland, 7:30 p.m.
- Saturday, Feb. 8 — at Western Brown, 7:30 p.m.
- Thursday, Feb. 13 — Mariemont, 7:30 p.m.
*Holiday Hardwood Classic at Xavier University’s Cintas Center
