The Southern Buckeye Conference announced their All-Conference teams last week with Clermont County accounting for 10 First Team selections and 10 Second Team Selections. Amelia and New Richmond were both honored with four All-Conference selections apiece to lead the way.
In the American Division, Amelia put two sophomores on the First Team, Tommy Hacker and Trevor Simon. New Richmond also boasted two First Team picks in sophomore John Ernst and senior Jake Gundler. Bethel’s Tyler Atkins, Clermont Northeastern’s Lucas Wolfe and Goshen’s Austin Fischer rounded out the First Team.
New Richmond’s inside-out combination of John Ernst and Jake Gundler were honored by the conference as First Team selections for the first time in their careers.
Ernst, a 6-foot-3 sophomore, led the Lions with 10.7 points per game an 8.2 rebounds.
“John Ernst has an outstanding work ethic and in the post, if you work hard, you can be a great post player,” New Richmond coach Brian McMonigle said. “John has that work ethic.”
Gundler, a senior, was an outside threat for the Lions. He averaged 8.4 points per game and 3.7 rebounds. Gundler was efficient as well, shooting 45.2 percent from the field and 35.7 percent from three-point-land.
Amelia’s two First Team selections, Hacker and Simon, are underclassmen who matured as the season progressed to lead the Barons to a 9-12 record and a sectional tournament appearance.
“Both are sophomores that grew up a lot during the season and came alive in the second half (of the year),” Amelia coach Craig Mazzaro said. “Tommy did a little bit of everything. He’s a good scorer, averaging about nine (points) per game. He led us in rebounding and took a school-record 19 charges.
“Simon was a three-point shooter for us, led us in scoring. He shot 75 percent from the foul line, which was huge.”
From Clermont Northeastern, Lucas Wolfe was a First Team selection. The senior led the Rockets in scoring (12.3 ppg), rebounding (6.9 rpg) and blocks (1.2 bpg).
““Wolfe’s a great player, he’s one of the most coachable kids I have on the team,” CNE coach Jason Iles said. “It seems like he comes everyday ready to play, ready to practice. He’s turned into one of the best players in the league.”
Goshen junior Austin Fischer averaged 14.2 points per game and 11.2 rebounds to lead the Warriors to the sectional tournament.
“He works hard and does everything we ask him to do,” Goshen coach Scott Wake said. “Fisch battles on the boards and keeps working hard. If we can get his technique better, he can continue to dominate inside.”
Rounding out the American Division First Team, Bethel’s Tyler Atkins averaged 12.8 points per game, 3.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists.
On the American Division Second Team were Amelia’s Keegan Carson and Dale Luginbuhl, Bethel’s Jason Adams, CNE’s Alex Gilkerson, Goshen’s Kyle Wake and New Richmond’s Austen Craig and Nick Hill.
In the National Division, Clermont County had three First Team selections in Batavia’s Dwayne Smith, Felicity’s Trevor Shouse and Williamsburg’s Kendal Young.
Batavia’s Smith, a senior, averaged a team-best 10.3 points, five rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.6 steals per game.
“(Smith) always gave us a spark,” Batavia coach Mike Hatfield said. “He goes hard to the basket and plays hard on defense.”
Felicity Trevor Shouse gave the Cardinals some much-needed senior leadership as he led the team with 16.1 points per game. He also averaged 5.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 2.6 steals per game.
The last selection on the National Division First Team was Williamsburg’s Kendal Young. Young was Mr. Everything for the Wildcats, averaging a league-high 22 points per game. He also led Williamsburg in rebounding, grabbing 8.2 per game.
Young scored his 1,000th career point in a game versus Blanchester towards the end of the season.
On the Second Team in the National Division were Batavia’s Alex White, Felicity’s Jeremy Moore and Williamsburg’s Jacob Herren.
