Mitchell named District 5 Division III best player
Harrison Central's Kobe Mitchell has added another award to his growing list of postseason honors.
The junior dandy, an All-Ohioan as a sophomore, has been selected as the Division III player of the year by the District 5 Basketball Coaches Association. Earlier, Mitchell was named the Eastern District's Division III co-player of the year. He shared that honor with Barnesville's Luke Powell.
Mitchell averaged 31.4 points per game for coach Justin Clifford's Huskies. On Jan. 7 against Bellaire, he became the all-time leading male scorer in Harrison Central history.
"There are guys who are good, but when you're able to make other players better, you're really good," Clifford said about Mitchell. "Kobe is more than just a scorer. He's actually a little bit too unselfish."
Edison senior Alec McBane joined Mitchell on the first team. He averaged 17.9 points per game. Other first-teamers are Sandy Valley senior Keegan Offenberger, Tuscarawas Valley senior Sam Ray, Ridgewood senior Trey Stoffer and Coshocton senior Gaven Williams.
Ridgewood's Troy Dolick was named Division III coach of the year.
Harrison Central sophomore Johnathan Vermillion received honorable mention, as did Edison senior Noah Woods and Buckeye Local junior Jake Mayle.
In Division II, Steubenville senior Calvin Bickerstaff landed on the first team. A second-team All-Eastern District pick, Bickerstaff averaged 14.7 points per game for Mike Haney's Big Red.
Others on the Division II first team are senior Adam Chaney of Carrollton, senior Luke Chetock from Beaver Local, senior Tresean Jackson of East Liverpool, senior Jent Joseph from New Philadelphia, junior Nathan Ravine of Dover, senior Kade Ruegsegger from Dover and junior Noah Sallade of Minerva.
Ruegsegger was selected as player of the year, and his coach, Bob VonKaenel, is the Division II coach of the year.
Earning honorable mention were Big Red senior Micah Krause and Indian Creek junior Isaiah Vandine.
Toronto senior Brendan Matyas earned a spot on the Division IV first team. He averaged 15.4 points per game for coach Sean Tucker's club.
The rest of the Division IV first team included Minerva junior Johnny Browning, also the player of the year, Strasburg junior Tayshaun Curtis, Hiland senior Sam Habeger, Malvern junior Derk Hutchison, Tuscarawas Central Catholic sophomore Landon Potopsky and Hiland junior Hunter Sommers.
A.J. Clegg, also a senior at Toronto, landed on the second team.
Divsion IV honorable mention went to Catholic Central senior Luca Connor and Toronto sophomore Shane Keenan.
Dennis Tucci of Malvern was named the Division IV coach of the year.