June 17, 2009 01:07 am
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Ryan Carmichael, Aurora
6-4 sr. G-F
Statistics: The Houn ’Dawgs, 27-2 overall and 7-0 in the Big 8 Conference, fell one win short of reaching the MSHSAA Class 4 semifinals behind the firing of Carmichael. He had the team’s best 2-point percentage (59) and tied for top accuracy (38) from 3. The all-stater was voted “Best Offensive Player” by his teammates. He tallied 598 points — averaging 19.2 — to reach 1,289 for his career. Aurora, which knocked off Webb City in the sectional round, lost only to Springfield Glendale in a Blue Division semifinal of the annual Greenwood Blue and Gold Tournament and to Jefferson City Helias. Carmichael has signed with William Jewell.
Coach Darin Meinders says: “Ryan was a very intelligent player — a captain with guard Chase Howertn (who’ll play for Baptist Bible of Springfield) — with leadership qualities. He also was the type who always was in the gym trying to improve his skills. He was the co-player of the year in the Big 8 Conference.”
Jacob Gougler, Galena
6-4 sr. F
Statistics: All-stater, unanimous all-leaguer Gougler, a 59 percent shooter from the field, paced the Bulldogs in scoring (16.3), rebounding (6) and assists (3.1). Galena, in Matt Meyr’s first season as head coach, finished 22-2 overall and 7-1 behind Girard in the CNC League. The Bulldogs lost 65-51 to Rossville in the first round of the Kansas Class 3A Tournament.
Coach Meyr says: “Jacob was very versatile ... an outstanding all-around player. He may have been our best passer. He was our best jumper and converted several offensive rebounds into baskets. His scoring obviously was only part of his game.”
Brannon Green, Labette County
6-4 jr. P
Statistics: Green, an all-stater, helped the Class 4A Grizzlies post an overall record of 17-6 and tie Pittsburg and Fort Scott for Southeast Kansas League supremacy at 12-4. They lost 45-41 to eventual state runner-up Girard in the finals of the Chanute Sub-State. Green averaged 12.3 points — second to senior Jordan Lambkins’ 12.8 — and led in rebounding (8.5). He also led in steals with 52 and shot 51 percent from the field.
Coach Brad Smith says: “He had that knack of knowing just where the ball was going to bounce off the rim. He had great timing with soft hands. He could dominate a game with his scoring and rebounding. He will be asked to score more next season. ‘Moose,’ the son of Eddie Green, one of our junior high coaches in Altamont, is an outstanding tight end in football. He was intense, coachable and worked very hard. He loved to win. ‘Moose?’ He’s had that nickname ever since he was a little tyke.”
Justin Jack, Miller
6-2 soph. P
Statistics: Jack’s second straight season of averaging double figures in both scoring and rebounding netted a player of the year citation in the Spring River Valley Conference. The all-stater averaged 18 points and 11 rebounds this season. He shot 41 percent from 3 and more than 60 percent overall from the field. Coach Ryan Stokes noted that Jack’s offensive rebound and basket gave the Cardinals a 48-46 win against Laquey for third place in the MSHSAA Class 2 Tournament at Columbia. Miller, 25-5 overall, was unbeaten (9-0) in the SRVC.
Coach Stokes says: “Justin’s aggressiveness and refusal to lose were just two of the attributes that made him special this season. Some players just have it ... they aren’t going to let you lose if at all possible. I won’t say he worked harder — because hard work is typical of our players — but he worked as hard as any of them. His double-double as a freshman helped us win 17 games.”
Stuart Jeck, St. Mary’s-Colgan
6-1 sr. F
Statistics: All-stater Jeck, an all-area repeater, paced the Panthers in scoring (14.8), assists (3.4) and steals (2.8). The three-year stalwart, who’s signed with Fort Scott Community College for baseball, shot 34 percent from 3, 46.3 from 2 and 68 percent from the foul line. The Panthers (18-8, 5-3 CNC League) lost 56-55 to St. Marys at Manhattan in the Class 2A championship game. The setback denied Panther coach Wayne Cichon his sixth championship.
Coach Wayne Cichon says: “Stuart was a tremendous player. But his leadership really came to the forefront this season. We’d lost eight seniors — returning just Jeck and Jesse Watt as starters — and Stuart took the burden of leadership and, with Jesse, carried us until the younger kids grew up.”
Darian Kelly, Girard
6-3 sr. G
Statistics: The Trojans, who received averages of 13.2 points, 3.8 assists and four rebounds from Kelly, finished 24-2 overall and 8-0 in the CNC League. They lost 53-48 to Basehor-Linwood in the Class 4A championship game. Kelly, who sank 43 percent of his 3s, also paced the team with 49 steals. He finished with 1,241 career points. The all-stater, a unanimous all-league choice, has signed to play football at the University of Kansas.
Coach Rod Wescott says: “Every coach would want a Kelly for his or her team. Darian wasn’t big on statistics. He wanted to see the team do well. He was hard-nosed and his desire to win was very, very big. His leadership picked up after we lost our first game (48-47 on Jan. 6 at Paola).”
Zack Kleine, Mount Vernon
6-5 jr. F
Statistics: Repeater Kleine, an all-state, unanimous all-Big 8 Conference selection and its co-player of the year, averaged 21 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.9 assists for an 18-9, 5-2 edition. His overall 44.3 percent shooting from the field included 38-of-112 treys. He added 33 steals.
Coach Skip Brock says: “Zack, extremely coachable, was a multi-dimensional player. He was effective both on the inside and outside. That made him a difficult matchup for a defender. Even though he was our leading scorer, he was very unselfish. He was an underrated passer, a solid defender and a strong rebounder.”
Trey Laveroni, Webb City
6-5 sr. G-F
Statistics: Few honors eluded the leaper who started as a junior on the Cardinals’ third-place team in Class 4. The all-stater averaged some 17 points, six rebounds and six assists as a senior to help the Cardinals finish 16-12 overall and 4-3 in the inaugural Central Ozark Conference Large Division. The all-league choice shot 34 percent from 3. Laveroni, who eclipsed 1,000 career points with the Cardinals, has signed with College of the Ozarks of Point Lookout, Mo.
Coach Dave Sherer says: “Trey will do nothing but improve at the next level. He was very gifted athletically and a talented passer. He was too unselfish at times. Trey, Wiebe (Branson’s Mike Wiebe) and Thomas (Nixa’s Caleb Thomas) were the unanimous selections in the COC Large. Trey will reach another level once he learns to play without the ball in his hands.”
Ryan Markes, Afton
6-2 sr. G-F
Statistics: Markes, named the most valuable player in the Lucky ‘7’ Conference during his senior campaign, was the defensive player of the year as a junior. His shooting percentages as a senior, when he averaged 17 points, were 52 percent from 2, 36 from 3 and 70 from the foul line. He scored 903 career points. Other senior averages for the all-stater were 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals. The Eagles posted records of 18-7 overall and 11-0 in league for a fourth title in a row. He’s headed to Northwestern Oklahoma State of Alva as a quarterback in football.
Coach David Markes says: “Ryan, our valedictorian, was a leader on and off the court. He made the game-changing, or game-winning, plays in all sports (football, basketball, track) even when he wasn’t playing one of his top games. He’ll play for the Small East in the Oklahoma Coaches Association All-State Games (at 7 p.m. on July 30 in the Mabee Center at Tulsa).”
Matt McCreary, Joplin
6-5 jr. G
Statistics: McCreary, all-Ozark Conference, paced the Eagles in scoring (15.7) and steals (2.6). His shooting percentages included 58 from 2 and 75 from the foul stripe. He also averaged 3.6 rebounds and 2 assists. The Eagles finished 12-14 overall and 4-5 in the Ozark.
Coach Tim Spiers says: “Matt, who had to play out of position at point, still was our leading scorer. Plus, he guarded the leading scorer on the other team. He would do what we needed to win. He had a nice all-around game. He’ll reach 1,000 points next season. He’s capable of playing at the NCAA Division II level or even higher.”
Tanner Poppe, Girard
6-6 sr. P
Statistics: All-area repeater Poppe, all-state in addition to all-CNC League, paced the Trojans in scoring (14.7) and rebounding (6.3). He also shot 52 percent overall from the field and 69 percent from the foul line. He also was No. 1 on the team with 38 blocked shots. He scored 21 points and grabbed eight rebounds in Trojans’ title loss to Basehor-Linwood. Poppe, who averaged 20 points and 8.2 rebounds as a junior, poured in 1,491 career points.
Coach Wescott says: “Tanner had a soft touch, considering his size, and was tough to defend. He was very good with the ball around the basket. He committed early to play baseball (as a pitcher) at the University of Kansas.”
Toby Roelfsema, Seneca
6-3 jr. G
Statistics: All-stater Roelfsema, a unanimous all-Big 8 Conference choice, averaged 14.6 points, 5.7 assists and 3.9 rebounds to help the Indians, 23-6 overall and 5-2 in the league, reach the sectional round of the MSHSAA Class 3 playoffs for the second straight season. He also paced the team in steals with 49. He shot 49.7 percent from the field and 85.9 from the foul line. The three-year starter was the Neosho Daily News’ player of the year for the second season in a row.
Coach Will King says: “Toby was the ultimate leader on the floor. He ran the point at 6-foot-3 and mentally always was composed and a tremendous defender. He also was super off the court and had the respect of everyone ... even the people in the community. Any coach would want him.”
Tyler Shaver, McDonald County
5-11 sr. G
Statistics: Shaver, who scored more than 1,000 career points, averaged 17.8 points, 3.8 assists and 4.1 steals as a senior. He added 3.4 rebounds and shot 42 percent overall from the field and 84 from the foul line. Shaver, who sank 34 percent from 3, has signed with Ecclesia College of Springdale, Ark. The Royals, who will be in their fourth season, belong to NCCAA Division I.
Coach Mike Austin says: “He was one of the hardest workers I’ve coached. He spent a lot of time by himself in the gym trying to improve his shooting. He played hard. It didn’t matter if it was in practice or in a game. He accepted the role of team leader and the kids respected him.”
Jordan Stauffer,
Thomas Jefferson
6-5 jr. P
Statistics: Stauffer helped the Cavaliers reach the quarterfinal round in Class 1 by averaging 15.6 points — freshman Alex Oserowsky was the leader at 17.4 — 12.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.9 steals. He also blocked 102 shots and shot 56 percent from the field. The Cavaliers finished 20-8 overall — their first 20-win campaign — and 8-4 in the Ozark 7 Conference to share second place with McAuley and Southwest (behind Purdy’s 11-1). Eventual fourth-place finisher Chadwick derailed the Cavaliers in the quarters.
Coach Cleo Elbert says: “Jordan was a very unselfish player. For example, he led in assists as a post player. He enjoyed seeing his teammates score. There wasn’t a selfish bone in the young man. He was versatile, too, and a long-armed, 6-5, with great timing. The 52 steals also led the team.”
Trent Turner, Miami
5-11 sr. G
Statistics: Turner posted averages of 12 points and seven assists for a team that finished third in the Verdigris Valley Conference at 8-4 behind co-champions Pryor and Vinita. He also shot overall 58 percent from the field. Started as a freshman at Afton before transferring to Miami (Ron, his dad, coaches football and track for the Wardogs). Turner plans to attend Oklahoma State and eventually coach.
Coach Rusty Mercer says: “Trent, a standout in track and football in addition to basketball, was a true quarterback on the floor. He made people around him better. He was difficult to defend because of his shooting ability. It seemed like he always was in the middle of the oppposing defenses.”
Blake Williams, Purdy
6-1 sr. F
Statistics: Williams, player of the year in the Ozark 7 Conference, was the leading scorer for the champion Eagles with a 19.2 average. He added 5.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists. He shot 49 percent overall from the field, 36 from 3 and 73 from the charity stripe. The Eagles finished 20-6 overall and 11-1 in the conference after reigning at 11-0 in 2007-08.
Coach Chris Kennedy says: “Blake was one of the most improved players from his freshman to senior year that I’ve coached. He worked very hard in the off-season and on his own. His driving for baskets probably was his No. 1 asset on offense. He was very versatile. He usually guarded the opponent’s No. 1 offensive threat. He and Mason (6-0 senior Mason Roller) formed a formidable 1-2 punch on offense — Blake outside and Mason (who averaged 18.4 points) inside.”
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