9^th Region Player of the Year & All-Region Teams

With award announcements coming in the next week, it seems like a good time to hand out the Bluegrass Preps 9^th Region Player of the Year Award and name the All-Region teams. [Note: Individual statistics are through 2/15]

It looked like it would be a 3-person race for 9^th Region Player of the Year when the season started and it certainly has played out that way. Seniors Athens McGillis, Anthony Blaackar, and Finn Louden all had phenomenal seasons and put up huge numbers, despite being the focal point on defense of every opponent they played. What is most impressive about all three of these players is how efficient they were – all three shot well above 50% from the field and above 60% for effective field goal percentage (which gives more weight to 3-point shots).

Blaackar averaged 25.1 ppg (66.5% eFG, 60.6% FG, 54.4% 3FG, 80.3% FT) and 6.4 rpg for a surprising Lloyd squad that exceeded expectations as they approach 20 wins and have only 4 losses. Blaackar was my pre-season 9^th Region Player of the Year pick and he did not disappoint. While Conner did not get as many wins as Lloyd and struggled with consistency throughout the season, it is hard to fault Louden. He overcame an early season injury to average 24.8 ppg (65.9% eFG, 56.6% FG, 45.6% 3FG, 81.8% FT) and 4.5 rpg for Conner. Finally, we have Athens McGillis. McGillis has led the top-ranked Cov Cath Colonels to a 25-1 record on the season, including going undefeated within the region and beating every team by at least 18 points. McGillis averaged 23.1 ppg (62.6% eFG, 55.6% FG, 38.1% 3FG, 80.2% FT) and 2.7 rpg while playing one of the tougher schedules in the state. All three are deserving and I considered a 3-person co-9^th Region Player of the Year Award(s), but I decided to pick one. My choice for 9^th Region Player of the Year goes to Athens McGillis, the best player on the best team in the 9^th Region (and maybe the best team in the state of Kentucky).

9^th Region Boys Player of the Year

Athens McGillis (Sr), CCH

 

In addition to the big 3 mentioned above, many other players in the 9^th Region had great seasons worthy of recognition. I had pre-season first and second teams (top 10) that I decided to expand to three teams and fifteen players. I feel pretty good about the top 4 but I think there could be lots of debate about who should be included for the last spot on the 1^st team as well as the 2^nd and 3^rd teams. [Note: Individual statistics are through 2/15]

All-Region Teams (Top 15)

1^st Team

1. Athens McGillis, CCH (Sr.) 23.1 ppg, 2.9 rpg [Pre-season 1^st Team]

62.6% eFG, 55.6% FG, 38.1% 3FG (56 made 3s), 80.2% FT

2. Anthony Blaackar, Lloyd (Sr) - 25.1 ppg, 6.8 rpg [Pre-season Player of the Year]

66.5% eFG, 60.6% FG, 54.4% 3FG (43 made 3s), 80.3% FT

3. Finn Louden, Conner (Sr.) 24.8 ppg, 4.7 rpg [Pre-season 1^st Team]

65.9% eFG, 56.6% FG, 45.6% 3FG (47 made 3s), 81.8% FT

4. Braeden Myrick, CCH (Sr.) 18.2 ppg, 3.0 rpg [Pre-season 2^nd Team]

71.1% eFG, 56.5% FG, 48.6% 3FG (86 made 3s), 86.7% FT

5. Donovan Bradshaw, CCH (Sr.) 12.3 ppg, 6.9 rpg [Pre-season 2^nd Team]

68.4% eFG, 67.1% FG, 50% 3FG (5 made 3s), 60% FT

 

I’ve already covered the clear top 3 players in the region, but Braeden Myrick is easily the next player on my list. Myrick has helped transform Cov Cath from a really good team to an elite squad and one of the favorites to bring home a state title. In addition to scoring 18.1 ppg, Myrick led the region in 3-point field goals made and second in 3-point percentage, shooting almost 50 percent (Myrick’s effective field goal percentage was better than 70%). The final spot on the first team came down to three players – Dylan Topmiller, Amontae Lowe, and Donovan Bradshaw. I chose Bradshaw, who was the one of the most improved players that I saw this year and has been a dominant inside presence for Cov Cath.

 

2^nd Team

6. Dylan Topmiller, Beechwood (So.) 20.6 ppg, 4.0 rpg [Pre-season Honorable Mention]

61.1% eFG, 51% FG, 41.6% 3FG (79 made 3s), 80.9% FT

7. Amontae Lowe, Newport (Jr), 21.1 ppg, 4.0 rpg [Pre-season Honorable Mention]

51.5% eFG, 44.8% FG, 34.4% 3FG (45 made 3s), 74.5% FT

8. Holden Smith, Ryle (Jr.) 17.2 ppg, 3.8 rpg [Pre-season Honorable Mention]

54.3% eFG, 49.7% FG, 27.9% 3FG (29 made 3s), 72.7% FT

9. Tayden Lorenzen, Highlands (Jr.) 13.4 ppg, 6.0 rpg

60.6% eFG, 58.2% FG, 25.7% 3FG (9 made 3s), 78.0% FT 

10. Luke Arlinghaus, Holy Cross (Sr.) 17.1 ppg, 3.7 rpg FT [Pre-season 2^nd Team]

54.9% eFG, 45.9% FG, 37.7% 3FG (55 made 3s), 84.3%

 

The second team is headlined by sophomore Dylan Topmiller and junior Amontae Lowe. Topmiller led a surprising Beechwood team to 20 wins while scoring 20 points per game (and doing so efficiently as the primary ball handler), while Lowe stepped up in a big way (after the departure of several Division I players) to average more than 21 points per game despite constant double teams, and leading Newport to an All A Regional Championship and state semi-final appearance. After a slow start, Holden Smith led Ryle to a Bluegrass Preps #2 regional ranking and 15 wins after the calendar flipped to 2026. Smith averaged more than 17 points per game and shot close to 50 percent from the field. Lorenzen surprised many by deciding to play basketball, and Highlands is happy he did so. Lorenzen averaged about 14 points (58% FG, 78% FT) and 6 rebounds per game for a balanced Bluebird team that won more than 20 games. After a hot stretch early in the season (including 30+ points against Scott County and Montgomery County), Arlinghaus cooled off for the Indians but did lead the team in scoring at 17.1 points per game and was again one of the top free throw shooters in the state (84.3%).

 

3^rd Team

11. Nate Rominger, Holy Cross (Sr.) 13.7 ppg, 7.7 ppg [Pre-season 2^nd Team]

55.1% eFG, 54.0% FG, 25% 3FG (6 made 3s), 78.3% FT

12. Max Rubemeyer, Dixie (Sr.) 15.6 ppg, 5.8 rpg [Pre-season Honorable Mention]

62.3% eFG, 60.1% FG, 30.3% 3FG (10 made 3s), 70.9% FT

13. Anthony Coppola, Ryle (Sr.) 11.9 ppg, 4.4 rpg [Pre-season Honorable Mention]

44.6% eFG, 39.3% FG, 26.6% 3FG (21 made 3s), 76.5% FT

14. Isaiah Golsby, Lloyd (Sr.) 11.8 ppg, 4.4 rpg [Pre-season Honorable Mention]

55.4% eFG, 49.7% FG, 44.0% 3FG (22 made 3s), 78.0% FT

 15. Finn Bouldin, Highlands (Sr.) 12.0 ppg, 3.5 rpg [Pre-season Honorable Mention]

54.4% eFG, 50.6% FG, 30.6% 3FG (19 made 3s), 67.5% FT

 

I think you can make an argument for about 15 players to fill out the 3^rd team, but I settled on the five seniors above based on their statistics, team success, and their performance when I was able to see them play. Rominger put together a solid season for the Indians and was dominant inside in several games I saw this season, while Max Rubemeyer was the best player for an under-the-radar Dixie Heights team that won more games than expected. The statistics don’t quite capture the impact that Anthony Coppola has on winning games in terms of leadership, ball-handling, and defense. The same can be said about Isaiah Golsby of Lloyd, who is a major reason (along with Blaackar) that Lloyd has had so much success this season.

 

Honorable Mention (Next 15, alphabetically by team)

Owen McCormack, Beechwood (Sr.) 12.4 ppg, 3.7 rpg

Kingston Brockett, Beechwood (Jr.) 7.2 ppg, 6.5 rpg

Julienne Knuckles, Cooper (Jr.) 12.3 ppg, 4.6 rpg

Tyler Warner, Conner (Jr.) 12.4 ppg, 5.6 rpg

Teegan Stava, CCH (Jr.) 3.4 ppg, 3.5 rpg

Cash Harney, CCH (Sr.) 9.4 ppg, 2.0 rpg

Tyson Metzger, Dixie (Sr.) 11.9 ppg, 2.0 rpg

Hunter Seng, Dixie (Jr.) 9.8 ppg, 6.8 rpg

Vincent Listerman, Highlands (Sr.) 10.1 ppg, 2.8 rpg

Owen Ebert, Highlands (Sr.) 11.7 ppg, 2.9 rpg

Nathan Rickard, Highlands (Sr.) 10.2 ppg, 4.5 rpg

Mark McCutchen Jr, Holmes (Sr.) 18.2 ppg, 9.6 rpg

Brady Gabbard, Holy Cross (Sr.) 13.5 ppg, 6.4 rpg

John Luhn, New Cath (Jr.) 14.8 ppg, 3.0 rpg

AJ Davis, Ryle (Sr.) 11.9 ppg, 6.7 rpg

 

Too many players had seasons worth recognizing here, so I’ve added an additional 15 names, many of which were considered for the 3^rd team. Outside of Myrick, Owen McCormack might be the best pure shooter that I saw this season, while the numbers for teammate Kingston Brockett don’t adequately reflect the impact he has on games, especially on the defensive end. Julienne Knuckles (Cooper), Tyler Warner (Conner), and Teegan Stave (CCH) are three other players whose numbers don’t capture the impact they have on the floor. Stava and Brockett are the two best on-ball defenders that I saw this season. I expect all four of these players to be among the top 10 players in the region next season. Cash Harney has sacrificed personal statistics for team success, but his defense, ball handling, and passing are essential for Cov Cath to compete for a state title. Metzger and Seng both had solid years for Dixie, while any (or all) of Listerman, Ebert, or Rickard could have put up big numbers for other teams in the region if not for the deep, unselfish, and balanced approach of Highlands. Mark McCutchen put together another great year for an undermanned Holmes team (that did capture the NKAC Conference Championship), and Brady Gabbard battled injuries all season to finish with solid numbers for Holy Cross. John Luhn was the leading scorer for a scrappy New Cath squad, and finally, AJ Davis did a little bit of everything (scoring, rebounding, defense) to help Ryle put together a dominant second half of the season.

 

Top Players for Other Teams (not already mentioned)

Arion Stuckey, Bellevue (Sr.) 9.9 ppg, 9.3 rpg

Joel Montana Brown, Boone Co. (So.) 9.6 ppg, 6.8 rpg

Malachi Kennedy, Dayton (So.) 18.3 ppg, 6.2 rpg

Trent Stone, Heritage (Sr.) 17.2 ppg, 7.5 rpg

Logan Day, Ludlow (So.) 16.9 ppg, 4.1 rpg

Michael Popham, Villa (Sr.) 14.1 ppg, 8.6 rpg

I didn’t get a chance to catch many of the games for schools in the bottom third of the rankings this season, but above are few names worth recognizing for their strong seasons.

 

*Effective Field Goal Percentage (eFG)*

eFG% = [FGM + (0.5 X 3FGM)] / FGA

FGM -> All field goals made (both 2 and 3 point FGs)

FGA -> All field goal attempts (both 2 and 3 point FGs)

3FGM -> 3-point field goals made

Nice work.

Awesome post and a great list @Knight Owl!

Excellent work

52 minutes ago, 4 Quarters said:

Nice work.

Thanks all! I'd love to hear others thoughts on who I may have overlooked.

Great stuff, @Knight Owl, I know how much time it takes to compile all of these things.  Very well done, and thanks for doing it!!

Very nicely done!!

Myrick is a junior, correct?

9 hours ago, colonel-fan said:

Myrick is a junior, correct?

Yes.

On 2/16/2026 at 2:29 PM, Knight Owl said:

9^th Region Player of the Year & All-Region Teams

 

With award announcements coming in the next week, it seems like a good time to hand out the Bluegrass Preps 9^th Region Player of the Year Award and name the All-Region teams. [Note: Individual statistics are through 2/15]

 

It looked like it would be a 3-person race for 9^th Region Player of the Year when the season started and it certainly has played out that way. Seniors Athens McGillis, Anthony Blaackar, and Finn Louden all had phenomenal seasons and put up huge numbers, despite being the focal point on defense of every opponent they played. What is most impressive about all three of these players is how efficient they were – all three shot well above 50% from the field and above 60% for effective field goal percentage (which gives more weight to 3-point shots).

 

Blaackar averaged 25.1 ppg (66.5% eFG, 60.6% FG, 54.4% 3FG, 80.3% FT) and 6.4 rpg for a surprising Lloyd squad that exceeded expectations as they approach 20 wins and have only 4 losses. Blaackar was my pre-season 9^th Region Player of the Year pick and he did not disappoint. While Conner did not get as many wins as Lloyd and struggled with consistency throughout the season, it is hard to fault Louden. He overcame an early season injury to average 24.8 ppg (65.9% eFG, 56.6% FG, 45.6% 3FG, 81.8% FT) and 4.5 rpg for Conner. Finally, we have Athens McGillis. McGillis has led the top-ranked Cov Cath Colonels to a 25-1 record on the season, including going undefeated within the region and beating every team by at least 18 points. McGillis averaged 23.1 ppg (62.6% eFG, 55.6% FG, 38.1% 3FG, 80.2% FT) and 2.7 rpg while playing one of the tougher schedules in the state. All three are deserving and I considered a 3-person co-9^th Region Player of the Year Award(s), but I decided to pick one. My choice for 9^th Region Player of the Year goes to Athens McGillis, the best player on the best team in the 9^th Region (and maybe the best team in the state of Kentucky).

 

9^th Region Boys Player of the Year

 

Athens McGillis (Sr), CCH

 

 

 

In addition to the big 3 mentioned above, many other players in the 9^th Region had great seasons worthy of recognition. I had pre-season first and second teams (top 10) that I decided to expand to three teams and fifteen players. I feel pretty good about the top 4 but I think there could be lots of debate about who should be included for the last spot on the 1^st team as well as the 2^nd and 3^rd teams. [Note: Individual statistics are through 2/15]

 

All-Region Teams (Top 15)

 

1^st Team

1. Athens McGillis, CCH (Sr.) 23.1 ppg, 2.9 rpg [Pre-season 1^st Team]

 

62.6% eFG, 55.6% FG, 38.1% 3FG (56 made 3s), 80.2% FT

 

2. Anthony Blaackar, Lloyd (Sr) - 25.1 ppg, 6.8 rpg [Pre-season Player of the Year]

 

66.5% eFG, 60.6% FG, 54.4% 3FG (43 made 3s), 80.3% FT

 

3. Finn Louden, Conner (Sr.) 24.8 ppg, 4.7 rpg [Pre-season 1^st Team]

 

65.9% eFG, 56.6% FG, 45.6% 3FG (47 made 3s), 81.8% FT

 

4. Braeden Myrick, CCH (Sr.) 18.2 ppg, 3.0 rpg [Pre-season 2^nd Team]

 

71.1% eFG, 56.5% FG, 48.6% 3FG (86 made 3s), 86.7% FT

 

5. Donovan Bradshaw, CCH (Sr.) 12.3 ppg, 6.9 rpg [Pre-season 2^nd Team]

 

68.4% eFG, 67.1% FG, 50% 3FG (5 made 3s), 60% FT

 

 

 

I’ve already covered the clear top 3 players in the region, but Braeden Myrick is easily the next player on my list. Myrick has helped transform Cov Cath from a really good team to an elite squad and one of the favorites to bring home a state title. In addition to scoring 18.1 ppg, Myrick led the region in 3-point field goals made and second in 3-point percentage, shooting almost 50 percent (Myrick’s effective field goal percentage was better than 70%). The final spot on the first team came down to three players – Dylan Topmiller, Amontae Lowe, and Donovan Bradshaw. I chose Bradshaw, who was the one of the most improved players that I saw this year and has been a dominant inside presence for Cov Cath.

 

 

 

2^nd Team

6. Dylan Topmiller, Beechwood (So.) 20.6 ppg, 4.0 rpg [Pre-season Honorable Mention]

 

61.1% eFG, 51% FG, 41.6% 3FG (79 made 3s), 80.9% FT

 

7. Amontae Lowe, Newport (Jr), 21.1 ppg, 4.0 rpg [Pre-season Honorable Mention]

 

51.5% eFG, 44.8% FG, 34.4% 3FG (45 made 3s), 74.5% FT

 

8. Holden Smith, Ryle (Jr.) 17.2 ppg, 3.8 rpg [Pre-season Honorable Mention]

 

54.3% eFG, 49.7% FG, 27.9% 3FG (29 made 3s), 72.7% FT

 

9. Tayden Lorenzen, Highlands (Jr.) 13.4 ppg, 6.0 rpg

 

60.6% eFG, 58.2% FG, 25.7% 3FG (9 made 3s), 78.0% FT 

 

10. Luke Arlinghaus, Holy Cross (Sr.) 17.1 ppg, 3.7 rpg FT [Pre-season 2^nd Team]

 

54.9% eFG, 45.9% FG, 37.7% 3FG (55 made 3s), 84.3%

 

 

 

The second team is headlined by sophomore Dylan Topmiller and junior Amontae Lowe. Topmiller led a surprising Beechwood team to 20 wins while scoring 20 points per game (and doing so efficiently as the primary ball handler), while Lowe stepped up in a big way (after the departure of several Division I players) to average more than 21 points per game despite constant double teams, and leading Newport to an All A Regional Championship and state semi-final appearance. After a slow start, Holden Smith led Ryle to a Bluegrass Preps #2 regional ranking and 15 wins after the calendar flipped to 2026. Smith averaged more than 17 points per game and shot close to 50 percent from the field. Lorenzen surprised many by deciding to play basketball, and Highlands is happy he did so. Lorenzen averaged about 14 points (58% FG, 78% FT) and 6 rebounds per game for a balanced Bluebird team that won more than 20 games. After a hot stretch early in the season (including 30+ points against Scott County and Montgomery County), Arlinghaus cooled off for the Indians but did lead the team in scoring at 17.1 points per game and was again one of the top free throw shooters in the state (84.3%).

 

 

 

3^rd Team

11. Nate Rominger, Holy Cross (Sr.) 13.7 ppg, 7.7 ppg [Pre-season 2^nd Team]

 

55.1% eFG, 54.0% FG, 25% 3FG (6 made 3s), 78.3% FT

 

12. Max Rubemeyer, Dixie (Sr.) 15.6 ppg, 5.8 rpg [Pre-season Honorable Mention]

 

62.3% eFG, 60.1% FG, 30.3% 3FG (10 made 3s), 70.9% FT

 

13. Anthony Coppola, Ryle (Sr.) 11.9 ppg, 4.4 rpg [Pre-season Honorable Mention]

 

44.6% eFG, 39.3% FG, 26.6% 3FG (21 made 3s), 76.5% FT

 

14. Isaiah Golsby, Lloyd (Sr.) 11.8 ppg, 4.4 rpg [Pre-season Honorable Mention]

 

55.4% eFG, 49.7% FG, 44.0% 3FG (22 made 3s), 78.0% FT

 

 15. Finn Bouldin, Highlands (Sr.) 12.0 ppg, 3.5 rpg [Pre-season Honorable Mention]

 

54.4% eFG, 50.6% FG, 30.6% 3FG (19 made 3s), 67.5% FT

 

 

 

I think you can make an argument for about 15 players to fill out the 3^rd team, but I settled on the five seniors above based on their statistics, team success, and their performance when I was able to see them play. Rominger put together a solid season for the Indians and was dominant inside in several games I saw this season, while Max Rubemeyer was the best player for an under-the-radar Dixie Heights team that won more games than expected. The statistics don’t quite capture the impact that Anthony Coppola has on winning games in terms of leadership, ball-handling, and defense. The same can be said about Isaiah Golsby of Lloyd, who is a major reason (along with Blaackar) that Lloyd has had so much success this season.

 

 

 

Honorable Mention (Next 15, alphabetically by team)

Owen McCormack, Beechwood (Sr.) 12.4 ppg, 3.7 rpg

 

Kingston Brockett, Beechwood (Jr.) 7.2 ppg, 6.5 rpg

 

Julienne Knuckles, Cooper (Jr.) 12.3 ppg, 4.6 rpg

 

Tyler Warner, Conner (Jr.) 12.4 ppg, 5.6 rpg

 

Teegan Stava, CCH (Jr.) 3.4 ppg, 3.5 rpg

 

Cash Harney, CCH (Sr.) 9.4 ppg, 2.0 rpg

 

Tyson Metzger, Dixie (Sr.) 11.9 ppg, 2.0 rpg

 

Hunter Seng, Dixie (Jr.) 9.8 ppg, 6.8 rpg

 

Vincent Listerman, Highlands (Sr.) 10.1 ppg, 2.8 rpg

 

Owen Ebert, Highlands (Sr.) 11.7 ppg, 2.9 rpg

 

Nathan Rickard, Highlands (Sr.) 10.2 ppg, 4.5 rpg

 

Mark McCutchen Jr, Holmes (Sr.) 18.2 ppg, 9.6 rpg

 

Brady Gabbard, Holy Cross (Sr.) 13.5 ppg, 6.4 rpg

 

John Luhn, New Cath (Jr.) 14.8 ppg, 3.0 rpg

 

AJ Davis, Ryle (Sr.) 11.9 ppg, 6.7 rpg

 

 

 

Too many players had seasons worth recognizing here, so I’ve added an additional 15 names, many of which were considered for the 3^rd team. Outside of Myrick, Owen McCormack might be the best pure shooter that I saw this season, while the numbers for teammate Kingston Brockett don’t adequately reflect the impact he has on games, especially on the defensive end. Julienne Knuckles (Cooper), Tyler Warner (Conner), and Teegan Stave (CCH) are three other players whose numbers don’t capture the impact they have on the floor. Stava and Brockett are the two best on-ball defenders that I saw this season. I expect all four of these players to be among the top 10 players in the region next season. Cash Harney has sacrificed personal statistics for team success, but his defense, ball handling, and passing are essential for Cov Cath to compete for a state title. Metzger and Seng both had solid years for Dixie, while any (or all) of Listerman, Ebert, or Rickard could have put up big numbers for other teams in the region if not for the deep, unselfish, and balanced approach of Highlands. Mark McCutchen put together another great year for an undermanned Holmes team (that did capture the NKAC Conference Championship), and Brady Gabbard battled injuries all season to finish with solid numbers for Holy Cross. John Luhn was the leading scorer for a scrappy New Cath squad, and finally, AJ Davis did a little bit of everything (scoring, rebounding, defense) to help Ryle put together a dominant second half of the season.

 

 

 

Top Players for Other Teams (not already mentioned)

 

Arion Stuckey, Bellevue (Sr.) 9.9 ppg, 9.3 rpg

 

Joel Montana Brown, Boone Co. (So.) 9.6 ppg, 6.8 rpg

 

Malachi Kennedy, Dayton (So.) 18.3 ppg, 6.2 rpg

 

Trent Stone, Heritage (Sr.) 17.2 ppg, 7.5 rpg

 

Logan Day, Ludlow (So.) 16.9 ppg, 4.1 rpg

 

Michael Popham, Villa (Sr.) 14.1 ppg, 8.6 rpg

 

I didn’t get a chance to catch many of the games for schools in the bottom third of the rankings this season, but above are few names worth recognizing for their strong seasons.

 

 

 

*Effective Field Goal Percentage (eFG)*

 

eFG% = [FGM + (0.5 X 3FGM)] / FGA

 

FGM -> All field goals made (both 2 and 3 point FGs)

 

FGA -> All field goal attempts (both 2 and 3 point FGs)

 

3FGM -> 3-point field goals made

 

I don't know if I told you this before Mr. Knight Owl but your pretty good at what you do. 

On 2/16/2026 at 3:41 PM, Knight Owl said:

Thanks all! I'd love to hear others thoughts on who I may have overlooked.

I see a lot of agreement with my All-Region teams to the NKBBCA All-Division Teams, though one player I think I overlooked was Tyler Detzel from St. Henry, who at least is worthy of an Honorable Mention.

To repeat a post from the NKBBCA thread, I think Blaackar was deserving as Co-Player of the Year in the 9th Region. Blaackar led Lloyd to a 20-4 record while putting up insane numbers (25.1 ppg, >60%FG, >50%3FG, >80%FT). Does anybody have any info on how he is being recruited? Seems to me he should be playing high-level college ball somewhere.

7 hours ago, Knight Owl said:

I see a lot of agreement with my All-Region teams to the NKBBCA All-Division Teams, though one player I think I overlooked was Tyler Detzel from St. Henry, who at least is worthy of an Honorable Mention.

To repeat a post from the NKBBCA thread, I think Blaackar was deserving as Co-Player of the Year in the 9th Region. Blaackar led Lloyd to a 20-4 record while putting up insane numbers (25.1 ppg, >60%FG, >50%3FG, >80%FT). Does anybody have any info on how he is being recruited? Seems to me he should be playing high-level college ball somewhere.

Spot on. TD certainly was overlooked. He's only a sophomore will be a top player next year without a doubt the next 2 seasons.

When you look Blaakar's body of work and having to do more with a far less supporting cast than what McGillis has (I.e. two other players on the 1st team) he was very deserving. Both players absolutely are deserved to share that award IMO.

Blaackar had a great year — no question. He’s a really good player, even greater young man, and put up strong numbers.

That said, context matters.

McGillis played roughly 2.5 quarters in the majority of games this season and still averaged 22.8, 5 APG, 3 RPG while running the point for the top team in the State. He wasn’t just scoring — he was the primary decision maker, averaging 5 assists per game and controlling tempo against high-level competition.

In the two losses to Top-5 teams (Male and Madison Central), he had 35 & 6 rebounds vs Male and led the team with 20 vs Madison Central.. And that was when others struggled. Those are big-stage performances.

I'm happy the award wasn’t diluted with a co-MVP. A few years back Ipsaro was a Co with Jacob Meyer, and I thought the same thing. The scehdule was tougher for CCH, stats didn't tell everything and in my opinion, Ipsaro was the clear winner and should have been the only MVP. Alot of parallels to the 2022-2023 season comparison of those two, as Meyer was the only scorer on that Holy Cross team. He had a great year but like I said, nobody was a better competitor that year than Ipsaro... Statewide!

Coaches and writers voted, and there was one MVP. That doesn’t take away from anyone else’s season - but suggesting co-deserving after the vote tends to diminish the one who earned it.

Numbers without context can be misleading. Role, schedule, usage, efficiency, and impact on winning all matter.

Good debate though. That’s what these boards are for.
 

20 hours ago, Shotwhisperer75 said:

Blaackar had a great year — no question. He’s a really good player, even greater young man, and put up strong numbers.

That said, context matters.

McGillis played roughly 2.5 quarters in the majority of games this season and still averaged 22.8, 5 APG, 3 RPG while running the point for the top team in the State. He wasn’t just scoring — he was the primary decision maker, averaging 5 assists per game and controlling tempo against high-level competition.

In the two losses to Top-5 teams (Male and Madison Central), he had 35 & 6 rebounds vs Male and led the team with 20 vs Madison Central.. And that was when others struggled. Those are big-stage performances.

I'm happy the award wasn’t diluted with a co-MVP. A few years back Ipsaro was a Co with Jacob Meyer, and I thought the same thing. The scehdule was tougher for CCH, stats didn't tell everything and in my opinion, Ipsaro was the clear winner and should have been the only MVP. Alot of parallels to the 2022-2023 season comparison of those two, as Meyer was the only scorer on that Holy Cross team. He had a great year but like I said, nobody was a better competitor that year than Ipsaro... Statewide!

Coaches and writers voted, and there was one MVP. That doesn’t take away from anyone else’s season - but suggesting co-deserving after the vote tends to diminish the one who earned it.

Numbers without context can be misleading. Role, schedule, usage, efficiency, and impact on winning all matter.

Good debate though. That’s what these boards are for.
 

Where did you find the minutes played per game?

Excellent write up! 

Agree, that final spot on the first team is super tough to pick. I probably would have gone with either Topmiller or Lowe just based on what they mean to their team's overall success. I think if you remove those two from their teams, both squads are in some pretty serious trouble. CovCath is still dominant if they don't have Bradshaw. That said, Bradshaw is a senior and his improvement has been pretty remarkable.