Staff report
Jackson Center senior guard Drew Sosby has been named the County Boys Basketball Player of the Year in recent voting by the coaches.
He was one of two Tiger players named to the first team.
Jackson, along with league champion Russia and Anna, all had two players named to the first two teams. Fairlawn, Botkins, Fort Loramie and Houston all had one each, meaning all seven County teams were represented on the first two teams.
Interestingly, all but three on this year’s first two teams are seniors. But those three take up half of the top six spots among the All-County’s top scorers.
First team
Drew Sosby, senior Jackson Center — Sosby is capping off a brilliant career at Jackson with an outstanding senior season, helping the Tigers to an 18-4 regular-season mark and a top ten ranking in the state poll the entire season. He averages 19.3 points per game along with 3.2 assists. He shot 43 percent from the field overall, and an impressive 86 percent from the line on 107 for 124. He also hit 43 three-pointers this season.
Nathan Lessing, Fairlawn — The junior sensation recently broke a Fairlawn record that stood for over 40 years. He has 622 points this season heading into postseason play, and that breaks the previous record of 592 set back in 1971-72. He is currently averaging 28.3 points per game, and also leads the Jets in rebounding at 6.5, and in steals. He has toed the free throw line an amazing 232 times this season and made 190 for 82 percent.
Brady Wildermuth, junior, Jackson Center — Wildermuth is a 6-foot-6 post player for the Tigers and gave coach Scott Elchert a lethel inside-outside threat with Sosby. He averages 18.2 points per game along with 6.0 rebounds and 3.5 blocks. He is shooting 64 percent overall on 152 for 236.
Trevor Monnin, senior, Russia — It’s not often a player without impressive offensive figures is voted so high in the all-league selections, but Monnin is one. He only averages about four points and four rebounds per game, but he is considered a lockdown defender, and was chosen on those merits. But he also averages four assists and two steals per game as well.
Carter Huelskamp, senior, Anna — Huelskamp averages 9.6 points per game for the Rockets, and runs the show, dishing out 51 assists so far this season. He also leads the team in steals with 27 and can shoot, to0, hitting 51 percent from the field.
SECOND TEAM
Blake Stephens, senior, Anna — Stephens is a big man who can go inside or out, and wound up leading the Rockets in scoring this season at 11.8 per game. He was 94 for 172 from the field during the regular season, 54 percent, and led the Rockets in made three-pointers with 21.
Chad Bergman, senior, Botkins — The Trojans’ 6-7 big man made his team a threat to win every night out this season. He finished the regular campaign with a 14.4 scoring average, and also led the Trojans in rebounding at 7.8 per game. He shot 52 percent from the field and 68 percent from the line, and also had 36 blocked shots.
Dillon Braun, sophomore, Fort Loramie — Braun had an outstanding sophomore season, finishing the regular campaign averaging 13.4 points per game, and going over 20 points five times this season. He is an outstanding three-point shooter, hitting 43 percent this season, and is shooting 49 percent overall. He also averages 3.5 rebounds per game.
Josh York, senior, Russia — The Raiders’ big man made it tough on opponents at both ends of the floor. He averages 10.2 points and 7.2 rebounds per game this season, and blocks two shots per game, making opposing players reluctant to venture inside. He shoots 54 percent from the floor.
Domyneik Phipps, senior, Houston — Phipps has been a constant for the Wildcats all year, and the big reason why Houston was able to turn things around from a one-win campaign a year ago to an 8-14 regular-season mark this season. The senior guard averages 14.4 points per game for the Wildcats this season.
Honorable Mention
Anna — Kain Luthman, senior
Botkins — Eric Greve, senior
Fort Loramie — Drew Wehrman, senior
Jackson Center — Ethan Zorn, senior
Russia — Cole Tebbe, junior
