(Bryan Walters/file photo) Eastern senior Jake Lynch (10) releases a shot attempt over a Symmes Valley defender during the first half of this Tuesday, March 2, file photo of a Division IV sectional final at Wellston High School. Lynch, a four-year starter for the Eagles, was named the Division IV Player of the Year by the District 13 Basketball Coaches Association.
District 13 encompasses high school programs located in Gallia, Meigs, Jackson, Vinton, Washington, Hocking, Athens and Lawrence counties. The teams — which are broken down by division for both boys and girls — are selected by the coaches from those respective areas.
From Gallia and Meigs counties, there were a combined 12 girls and 12 boys selected to this winter’s annual squads — as well as one coach of the year from each of the Division IV lists. Those coaches were Howie Caldwell for boys and John Burdette for girls, both of whom led Eastern to 20-win seasons.
There were 11 first team selections, six second team honorees and seven players who were named special mention.
Starting with the boys.
There were six first team honorees to come from the boys’ side, with EHS senior Jake Lynch being the lone area representative to earn player of the year honors. Lynch, who was honored as the top D-4 player, was joined by senior Kelly Winebrenner (Eastern), seniors Sean Coppick and Cyle Rees (Southern), and senior Brandon Harrison (South Gallia) as first team selections in Division IV.
Senior John Troester of Gallia Academy was also a first team selection in Division I-II.
The three second team honorees all came from Division IV and all were seniors. EHS landed two in Titus Pierce and Mike Johnson, while Southern had the other with Michael Manuel.
Each division was also represented in the special mention category. River Valley’s lone representative was senior Cody McAvena in Division III, while SGHS sophomore Dalton Matney (D-4) and GAHS junior Ethan Moore (Division I-II) were also selected.
There were five first team honorees to come from the girls’ side, with Division IV landing three of those in seniors Kasey Turley and Audrionna Pullins from Eastern and South Gallia senior Hailee Swain.
Senior Allie Troester (GAHS) and junior Morgan Howard (Meigs) were also named first team in Division I-II.
There were three second team honorees from the area, two of which came from D-4 in Eastern junior Emeri Connery and Southern senior Cheyene Dunn. Gallia Academy senior Amy Noe was also a second team selection in Division I-II.
There were four special mention selections from the area, with three of those coming in Division IV. Senior Jasmine Waugh and sophomore Chandra Canaday both earned special mention honors for South Gallia, while junior Beverly Maxson did the same for Eastern.
Junior Miranda Grueser also earned special mention accolades for Meigs in Division I-II.
Other players of the year in boys included Dylan Newsom of Jackson (Division I-II) and Todd Kochendoerfer of Ironton (D-3). Other coaches of the year in boys were Jeff Skinner of Athens (Division I-II) and Mark Lafon of Ironton (D-3).
Other players of the year in girls included LeAnne Ross of Marietta (Division I-II), Karissa Adkins of Oak Hill (D-3) and Sina King of Waterford (D-4). Other coaches of the year in girls were Scott Cozzens of Marietta (Division I-II) and Doug Hale of Oak Hill (D-3).
Seniors that have been selected will participate in the District 13 All-Star game to be played at the Gallia Academy High School gymnasium on Monday, March 22. The girls game will begin at 6 p.m., with the boys following.
There will also be a three-point shoutout and slam dunk contest in between games. Admission for the event is $5.
Complete lists of the D-13 Basketball Coaches Association teams are available in the Thursday sports editions of the Gallipolis Daily Tribune, The Daily Sentinel and the Point Pleasant Register.
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