Stark players, coaches ready for Ohio North-South All-Star games
Three of Stark County’s top basketball players from this past season will take part in the Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association North-South All-Star games Sunday at Ohio Dominican University in Columbus.
Mitch Spotleson of Lake and Evan Bailey of Jackson will play for the North in the Boys Division I-II game at 5:30 p.m. Lake’s Tom McBride will coach the North.
In the Girls Division I-II game, which is at 1:45, Hoover’s Julie Worley will play for the North. Central Catholic’s Gary Isler will coach the North in the Girls Division III-IV game, which opens the day at noon.
Spotleson was named the Repository Stark County Player of the Year, as well as being chosen player of the year by the Federal League, Northeast Inland District and District 4 Coaches. He earned first team All-Ohio honors. Spotleson averaged 19.3 points and 8.0 rebounds per game for the Blue Streaks, helping them win their first district title and reach a regional final. He is headed to Malone University.
McBride guided Lake to back-to-back Federal League titles the last two seasons, the first two in school history. He also was selected as the state boys coach of the year in Division I by the OHSBCA. McBride will be honored Sunday along with the coaches of the year in the other divisions.
Bailey was named second team All-Ohio and averaged 18.1 points and 5.0 rebounds per game, shooting 39.3 percent on 3-pointers. He helped Jackson win a district title. He is a College of Charleston recruit.
Worley was named second team All-Ohio this season and helped Hoover reach the Division I state championship game. Worley averaged 13.7 points and 7.0 rebounds, shooting 56.9 percent from the field and 82.2 percent from the foul line. She was the coaches association’s District 4 Player of the Year and is headed to Ashland University.
For Isler, a veteran of 28 years as a head coach, this will be the first time he coaches in a North-South game. Isler has coached 38 years overall and guided GlenOak to a Division I state championship in 1989 in the midst of three straight trips to the state final four.
Also, Malvern’s Trey Tucci will play for the North in the Boys Division III-IV game. Tucci helped Malvern win a district title, averaging 16.7 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game.
MORE HONORS FOR TUCCI
In addition to playing in the game, Tucci will be honored as one of 15 winners of an OHSBCA $1,000 scholarship.
He also made the Division IV Academic All-Ohio team.
STARK’S ACADEMIC HONOREES
Bailey and Worley are among eight Stark County boys and girls to make the OHSBCA Academic All-Ohio teams. All eight from the county had grade-point averages of 4.0 or above.
Bailey is on the Division I team along with Jackson teammate Kyle Mottice.
Worley is part of a trio of Hoover Vikings on the Division I girls team, as she is joined by Kaylee Stroemple and Kelsey Lensman.
Thomas Mason of Marlington made the Division II boys team.
Central Catholic teammates and sisters Hannah Miller and Katie Miller made the Division III girls team.
LOCKE RECEIVING SCHOLARSHIP
High-scoring Minerva guard Jantsen Locke also will receive one of the OHSBCA $1,000 scholarships and a plaque Sunday. The scholarships are awarded each year to the senior sons and daughters of active OHSBCA members. His dad, Pepper Locke, was his coach at Minerva.
North-South rosters
Boys
North Division I-II Roster
Jarret Vrabel, Canfield; Alex Brown, Berea; Ryan Badowski, Brunswick; Mitch Spotleson, Lake; Brady Arnold, West Holmes; Cameron Kuhn, Vermilion; Nick Moschetti, Perrysburg; Dakota Mathias, Elida; Dave Bell, Garfield Heights; Evan Bailey, Jackson
Coaches—Steve Mehalik, Brecksville; Tom McBride, Lake
South Division I-II Roster
Ben Stucke, Tippecanoe; Javon Bess, Gahanna Lincoln; Todd Metzen, Newark; J.T. McFarland, Zanesville; Evan French, Warren Local; Conner Eckles, Washington CH; Vincent Edwards, Middletown; Kevin Vannatta, Upper Arlington; Mike DeLeon, Olentangy; Dazhontae Bennett, Trotwood Madison
Coaches—Chris McGuire, Shawnee; Blane Maddox, Warren
North Division III-IV Roster
Peyton Aldridge, LaBrae; Hunter Perry, Old Fort; Jay Banyasz, Columbia; Tyson Stoudmire, Norwayne; Trey Tucci, Malvern; Connor McCreary, Colonel Crawford; Derek Drewes, Tinora; Jimmy Hanley, Bishop Ready; Geoff Beans, Ottawa Hills; Martyce Kimbrough, Lima Central Catholic
Coaches—Chris Sheldon, Western Reserve; David Sheldon, Colonel Crawford
South Division III-IV Roster
Jesse Philipot, Houston; Chris Moxley, Bishop Hartley; Steven Carpenter, Fairfield Christian; Jonathan Wiechman, Caldwell; Brandon Barnes, South Point; Hayden Dunn, Lucasville Valley; C.J. Riazzi, Chaminade-Julienne; Antonio Woods, Summit Country Day; Nathan Scott, Eastern Brown; Robert Vargo, Martins Ferry
Coaches—Mark Romick, River; Rob Beucler, Eastern Brown
Girls
North Division I-II Roster
Megan Sefcik, Austintown Fitch; Kristen Confroy, Solon; A’shanti Abshaw, Cle. Heights; Baleigh Reid, Twinsburg; Peyton Booth, Wadsworth; Julie Worley, Hoover; Laina Snyder, West Holmes; Moriah Monaco, Dover; Amanda Cahill, Clyde; Sarah Baer, Perrysburg
Coaches—Mike Walsh, Elyria; Pat Pavlansky, Canfield
South Division I-II Roster
Jazmyn Haley, Bellefontaine; Stefanie Davis, Kenton Ridge; Alyssa Rice, Reynoldsburg; Nicole Orr, Reynoldsburg; Maggie Mitchell, Newark; Natalie Carpenter, Johnstown Monroe; Mallary Trout, Philo; Josie Cobb, Washington CH; Sydney Brackemyre, Clinton-Massie; Carli Pogue, Princeton
Coaches—Rob Matula, Mason; Dean Washington, Columbus Northland
North Division III-IV Roster
Sarah Cash, Lordstown; Jess Janota, Gilmour Academy; Mikah Aldridge, Beachwood; Olivia Besancon, Smithville; Regina Hochstetler, Berlin Hiland; Courtney Putt, Garaway; Macey Sheerer, Bucyrus; Cassidy Wyse, Archbold; Haley Horstman, New Knoxville; Rachel Myers, Liberty Benton
Coaches—Gary Isler, Central Catholic; Jason Waldvogel, Pettisville
South Division III-IV Roster
Faith Johnson, Toledo Christian; Darian Rose, Fort Loramie; Alexandra Spayde, Worthington Christian; Emily Williams, Fredericktown; Brooke Borich, Beverly Fort Frye; Jenna Burdette, Reedsville Eastern; Terra Stapleton, Proctorville Fairland; Sidney Pell, Peebles; Abby Wolford, Cin. Christian; Marissa Koob, Cin. Hills Christian Academy
Coaches—Christy Dodane, Mechanicsburg; John Burdette, Reedsville Eastern
SUNDAY
Girls Division III-IV, noon
Girls Division I-II, 1:45 p.m.
Boys Division III-IV, 3:45 p.m.
Boys Division I-II, 5:30 p.m.