Staff report
The Greater Western Ohio Conference policy is to wait until all its teams are eliminated from postseason play before releasing the all-conference teams, and this year, that meant not releasing it until boys basketball had ended across Ohio.
Trotwood made it to the state tournament in Division 2, and that delayed the release of the All-GWOC team until this week.
But for the Sidney Yellow Jackets, it was worth the wait.
Sidney wound up sweeping the Athlete of the Year honors in the American North Division after sophomore standout Andre Gordon was voted that honor in boys basketball. That comes after senior Celena Taborn of Sidney was the American North Athlete of the Year in girls basketball.
Like Taborn, Gordon was not only first-team All-American North, but also first team All-Conference. That team includes just six players from throughout the GWOC.
In addition, Sidney head coach John Willoughby, in his first season at the school, was named the American North Coach of the Year after leading the Yellow Jackets to the division championship with a 13-2 record. Sidney finished 18-6 overall.
Gordon led the Yellow Jackets in scoring this season with a 20.3 average, and also in assists at 5.6 per game. His scoring put him fourth overall in the GWOC, his assists put him second, and his 2.4 steals per game put him sixth in the league.
Gordon was one of four Sidney players to receive mention on the All-GWOC team.
Ratez Roberts, also just a sophomore, was named to second team. He was second in the GWOC in blocked shots at 2.8 per game, and second in field goal percentage at 68.7. He finished the season averaging 1.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game, both second on the team.
Two more Yellow Jackets were named to the Special Mention list in Isaiah Bowser and Devan Rogers. Both are juniors, so all four All-GWOC players will return for the Jackets next season.
Bowser was Sidney’s third-best scorer at 10.9, along with being the team’s top defender. He was also second on the team in assists at 2.2.
Rogers led the Jackets in rebounding at 7.3 per game, along with scoring 7.9 points per game.
All-GWOC Boys
Basketball Team
All-Conference team — Samari Curtis, sophomore, senior; Danny Davis, senior, Springfield; Isaiah Gable, senior, Greenville; Andre Gordon, sophomore, Sidney; Torrey Patton, senior, Trotwood; Keegan Saben, senior, Centerville.
American North
First team — Miles Belyeu, junior, Trotwood; Zach Bonifas, senior, Tipp City; Samari Curtis, sophomore, Xenia; Amari Davis, sophomore, Trotwood; Isaiah Gable, senior, Greenville; Andre Gordon, sophomore, Sidney; Miles Joiner, senior, Vandalia; Branden Lilley, senior, Fairborn; Ryan McClurg, senior, Troy; Torrey Patton, senior, Trotwood.
Second team — Brandon Easterling, senior, Fairborn; Nate Monnin, senior, Piqua; Shaunn Monroe, sophomore, Fairborn; Jonathan Mpansu, junior, Stebbins; Aaron Rich, senior, Greenville; Ratez Roberts, sophomore, Sidney; Ben Schmiesing, junior, Piqua; Caiden Smith, junior, Tipp City; Ricky Williams, senior, Xenia.
Special Mention — Isaiah Bowser, senior, Sidney; Meechi Harris, junior, Xenia; Michael Kreill, sophomore, Vandalia; Pete Pandey, senior, Greenville; Zach Reichelderfer, junior, Troy; Devan Rogers, senior, Sidney.
Athlete of the Year — Andre Gordon, Sidney.
Coach of the Year – John Willoughby, Sidney.
