After losing several starters and returning only one from last season's OCC co-championship squad in Mason Willeke, first year coach at Lexington Scott Hamilton wasn't sure what to expect at the start of the season, or how long it would take to find the combination of players to win consistently.  But after nine games, the Minutemen have won six and will try to make it seven and three straight when they host Ashland on Friday evening.  

Coach Hamilton expects an up and down game from the 6-3 Arrows, who like the Minutemen lost a number of lettermen from a season ago, returning just Drew Delaney and Issac White from the 2011-'12 squad.  Hamilton says this year's Arrows squad gets the ball up the floor in a hurry and gets players in position to shoot the "3" ball before you have a chance to get set on defense.   

The Arrows under third year coach Tim Fralick are 2-2 in OCC play having lost to conference co-leaders Mansfield Senior 55-44 and West Holmes 72-56.  Lex comes in a t 2-1 in OCC play also losing to the Knights 62-52.  Both teams are coming off wins in in non-conference play last Saturday.  The Arrows ran over Sandusky 85-45, while the Minutemen spotted Ontario a 20-0 lead to start then came all the way back and beat the Warriors on the road 58-50.  

The two teams split last season, both winning on their home floors.  Ashland won the first contest 76-45, stopping Lex's eight game winning streak to start the season.  However, the Minutemen turned the tables on the Arrows in their second meeting coming from behind to beat Ashland 59-55.