By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
Cooper guard Sean McNeil
After missing 11 games with a knee injury, Cooper senior guard Sean McNeil finished the regular season with an impressive run and was voted Division I Player of the Year by the Northern Kentucky Boys Basketball Coaches Association.
McNeil was a double-figure scorer in seven consecutive games after he returned to the Jaguars’ lineup. During that run, he netted 137 points for a 19.5 average and shot well over 50 percent from the field. He finished the regular season averaging 18.4 points and six rebounds per game.
The Cooper senior heads an impressive list of players on the Division II all-star team, including Scott guard Jake Ohmer, the area’s leading scorer for the third consecutive season, and Covington Catholic senior guard Cole VonHandorf, a four-year starter who broke his team’s career scoring record this season.
Newport Central Catholic junior guard Brennan Hall was voted Division II Player of the Year by the local coaches. He’s the leading scorer and floor leader for the Thoroughbreds, who won the 9th Region All “A” Classic title for the fifth straight year.
Villa Madonna guard Thomas Schutzman
The top vote-getter on the Division III ballot was Villa Madonna senior guard Thomas Schutzman. He’s the leading scorer on the Blue Lightning team that finished first in the Division III standings.
Players voted to the three division all-star teams will be honored at the coaches association awards ceremony at 1 p.m. Sunday, March 12 at Covington Catholic High School. The coaches will also recognize winners of the Best Defensive Player, Mr. Hustle Award and Academic Award in each division.
The first recipient of the Mike Swauger Hardship Award is Dayton senior Draven Garcia, who will receive $350 to be used toward his college education at the awards ceremony.
Ballots for the Coach of the Year in each division and the 9th Region Player of the Year will be turned in after the regional playoffs. Those winners will also be announced on March 12.
Here are the award-winning players in each division. The all-star teams are listed according to votes received:
DIVISION I
Sean McNeil (Cooper), Cole VonHandorf (CovCath), Adam Kunkel (Cooper), Cole Hegyi (Campbell County), Jake Ohmer (Scott), Spencer Hemmerich (Conner), Garren Bertsch (Campbell County), C.J. Fredrick (CovCath), Hunter Meyer (Dixie Heights), Reed Bradfield (Dixie Heights), Dante Hendrix (Cooper), Aiden Ruthsatz (CovCath).
Best Defensive Player – Dante Hendrix (Cooper)
Mr. Hustle Award – Brayden Runion (Cooper)
Academic Award – Spencer Hemmerich (Conner)
DIVISION II
Brennan Hall (NewCath), Sterling Hamilton (Lloyd), MeKell Burries (Newport), Ben Toebbe (Beechwood), Kyle Finfrock (Highlands), Luke Moeves (NewCath), Jaiden Greene (Holmes), Owen Alcorn (Beechwood), Donnie Miller (Newport), Stephen Maley (St. Henry), Derrick Cipollone (Lloyd), Nolan Schrand (Holy Cross).
Best Defensive Player – Jamal Neal (Lloyd)
Mr. Hustle Award – Steve Pangallo (NewCath)
Academic Award – Luke Flottman (Brossart)
DIVISION III
Thomas Schutzman (Villa Madonna), Brett Maehren (Bellevue), Draven Garcia (Dayton), Adrian Hall (Dayton), T.C. Eades (Ludlow), Tommy Ratterman (Bellevue), Justin Wade (Calvary Christian), Mason Rusch (Calvary Christian), Sean McIntyre (Villa Madonna), Justin Blackburn (Ludlow).
Best Defensive Player – T.C. Eades (Ludlow)
Mr. Hustle Award – Adrian Hall (Dayton)
Academic Award – Will Martin (Villa Madonna)
