Bocook, Rackley heads All-East District picks

Many familiar names highlighted the All-East District selections announced on Tuesday by the Associated Press.

The teams are picked by a panel of voting media within the district.

Zanesville seniors Malik Bocook and Ramon Wilson headlined the Division I boys first team, along with Tri-Valley senior Camden Craig and junior teammate Marcus Dempsey and New Philadelphia junior John Marshall.

Bocook, a 6-4 forward, was named player of the year after averaging 19.5 points and 7.6 rebounds while shooting 54 percent from the field. He had 14 games of at least 20 points, including two of 30 or more.

Coach Scott Aronhalt, who earned his 400th win earlier this season, was named Division I coach of the year after leading a team with one returning starter to a 17-5 record and No. 11 seed in the Central District tournament.

In Division II, John Glenn junior Drew Rackley was a first-team pick and classmates Matt Weir and Tanner Slack a second-teamer and third-teamer, respectively.

The 6-1 Rackley also earned player of the year honors after averaging an area-best 20.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.7 steals and 2.3 assists while shooting 54 percent from the field and 77 percent at the line. He also made 40 percent of his 3s.

In addition, Muskies coach Greg Woodard was coach of the year after leading the Muskies to their first unbeaten regular season since 1984-85 and the top seed in the East District tournament.

Maysville junior Chase Roberts and Philo senior Layke Fletcher were named to the third team in Division II.

Others on the first team in Division II included Dover senior Blake Blair, Richmond Edison senior Erik Lee, Steubenville sophomore Charles Reeves, Meadowbrook senior Isaiah Green and East Liverpool junior Isaac Davidson.

Second-teamers included Dover senior Cory Contini, Cambridge junior Josh Lewis and Lisbon Beaver Local senior Chase Hilliard.

Rosecrans sophomore Aaron Gehlken was a second-team selection in Division IV after averaging 17.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. He also made 40 3-pointers.

His classmate, Michael Fisher, was a special mention pick after averaging 13.3 points with 77 3-pointers.

The Division IV first team included Player of the Year Mitchell Herron of Tuscarawas Central Catholic, Bellaire St. John’s Chaice Truex, Toronto’s Blaze Glenn, Hannibal River’s Lukas Isaly, Malvern’s Mitch Loomis and Bridgeport’s Q.J. Williams.

Herron, who averaged 18.8 points and shot 50 percent from the field, was player of the year. TCC’s Tyrone Miller was coach of the year.

GIRLS

Zanesville junior Devyn Bonner was named to the first team in Division I after leading the Lady Devils in scoring (15.8) and rebounding (6.0) while shooting 48 percent from the field.

She was the only player on the team to average more than six points per game.

New Philadelphia, which finished undeafeated, had two players on the first team in seniors Jaida Carter (16.5 points) and Tori Moreland (13.6).

In Division II, Maysville had senior guard Brooke Smith named to the first team and junior forward Kori Sidwell to the second after leading the Panthers to a 21-1 regular season record and the top seed in the tournament.

Philo’s Corrie Burkhardt was a first-teamer and junior teammate Kara Hutcheson a second-teamer after leading the Electrics to an 18-4 regular season mark — the best in school history.

In addition, second-year Electrics coach Danny Hilty earned coach of the year honors after his team earned the No. 3 seed in the district tournament.

East Liverpool’s Nikayla Edgell, Wintersville Indian Creek’s Bre Berryman, Steubenville’s Lysaih Rice, Rayland Buckeye Local’s Lauren Swiger and Dover’s Olivia Belknap rounded out the first team.

The 6-5 Berryman, who averaged 22.2 points and 13.8 rebounds per game, was player of the year.

In Division IV, Rosecrans sophomore Abby Hutcheson was a third-team selection after averaging 12.1 points per game and leading the team in rebounding. Classmate Riley Hagy, who also averaged 12 points per game, was a special mention pick.

Others on the first team included Bowerston Connoton Valley’s Olivia Bower, the player of the year, Hannibal River’s Jensen Caretti, Bridgeport’s Caitlyn Kroll, Malvern’s Sara Loomis and Berlin Hiland’s Megan Beachy.

Bridgeport’s Rob Zitzelsberger was coach of the year after leading the Bulldogs to a 21-2 record despite losing a pair of 1,000-point scorers.