Cream of the crop: Jarrett, Howe lead TR Prime Time team

It was a basketball season filled with close finishes and teams that made deep tournament runs.

It also featured a glut of quality players that littered the All-East and All-Southeast district teams. In no small coincidence, many of those faces also lead our Prime Time Player squad picked by sports writers Brandon Hannahs and Sam Blackburn.

Here is a rundown of who made the cut.

Boys

Maysville's Hayden Jarrett was a clear-cut choice for Player of the Year after wrapping up a four-year varsity career that saw him total 1,358 points to rank at the top of a long list of 1,000-point scorers in Southtown.

He and teammate Alex Bobb, a 6-1 junior guard, were the driving forces for the Panthers' 21-1 regular season and Division II district title.

The 6-2 Jarrett averaged 21.8 points. 6.3 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game to rank among the area's best in three categories. He shot 50 percent from the field, including 49 percent on 3s, and was a 78 percent shooter at the free-throw line. He also averaged almost three steals per game.

Bobb, who also made the team, posted a 17.3 scoring average to go with 4.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists. Arguably the area's best 3-point shooter, he hit seven in a 34-point effort during the district finals against East Liverpool, which helped clinch the team's first regional berth since 2008.

There was plenty of offensive firepower on the squad overall, including three 20-point scorers from the Muskingum Valley League in Morgan junior Carson Mummey (20.7), River View senior Owen Emig (20.9) and Philo senior Cade Searls (20.1).

Mummey, joined on the team by senior teammate Rowdy Williams, also pulled down a team-high 6.7 rebounds and handed out 3.3 assists. He shot 45 percent from the field.

Emig, who saw classmate Brody Border also make the list, was among the area's top 3-point shooters at 41 percent and also shot 81 percent at the line.

Border bounced back from a sprained foot that cost him more than a month to average 19.2 points and shoot 53 percent from the field. He and Emig combined for 84 3-pointers, as only Jarrett and Bobb scored more points as a backcourt tandem this season.

Searls was one of the most productive all-around performers in the league, using a strength advantage to outmuscle weaker defenders for shots in the lane. He also shot 77 percent at the line and hit 60 3-pointers, which established a new school record for a single season.

Tri-Valley's 1-2 punch of sophomore Max Lyall and junior Terrell Darden were the centerpieces of the Scotties' 19-win season that fell just shy of an Elite Eight berth.

The 6-4 Lyall, a first-team All-East District pick, put up 13.3 points and shot 49 percent from the field, while the 6-4 Darden checked in at 12.5 points and 5.8 rebounds.

Darden finished as one of the league's most troublesome matchups, shooting 64 percent from the field in the regular season while showing more consistent outside shooting down the stretch. It was no more apparent than in the regional semifinals against Fairfield Union, when he scored a game-high 24 points in a 37-33 loss.

Sheridan had two of the best guards in the Big School Division in 6-1 senior Reed Coconis, a repeat performer, and lefty Raine Rodich.

Coconis fought multiple injuries to lead the Generals with 13.9 points, 5.1 assists and 5.0 rebounds per game while serving as the team's top backcourt defender. Rodich chipped in 12.1 points and was the team's second-leading rebounder at 4.2 per game.

John Glenn's Nathan Walker also made his second Prime Time appearance, pacing the Muskies with a 16.5 scoring average, along with 6.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.3 steals. He shot 44 percent from the field, as John Glenn made a surprise run to the district finals after an upset of New Philadelphia in the semifinals.

New Lexington senior Lukas Ratliff and sophomore guard Isaiah Stephens were the focus of opposing defenses each night during the Panthers' 20-win campaign that featured its first district final berth in 25 years.

Ratliff, a four-year letterman, was a first-team All-Southeast District pick after averaging 11.8 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. He shot 35 percent on 3s and 76 percent at the line, including clutch fourth-quarter performances against Jackson and Ironton in the sectional tournament.

The lefty Stephens, a point guard, used deft ball handling and acrobatic shots in the lane to average 16.4 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. He was deadly at the line, averaging 82.5 percent, including a 9-of-10 effort in a district semifinal win against top-seeded Washington Court House.

As good as the Panthers were, Jack Porter and West Muskingum handed them a pair of regular-season losses to claim the Small School crown.

Porter, a senior guard, joined the team with classmate Noah Ray, who used improved athleticism and shooting to average 13 points, seven rebounds and three assists.

His scoring averaged trailed only Porter, who posted 15 per game with four assists and four rebounds as West won a Division III sectional for the second straight year.

Coshocton's Colton Conkle, just a sophomore, paced the team with averages of 17.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.9 steals and 3.4 assists to lead a youthful group; Crooksville senior Ryan Moore was a Southeast District special mention pick after averaging 12 points and four rebounds

Rosecrans sharpshooters Weston Hartman, a senior, and Grady Labishak, a junior, posted impressive numbers from the outset for the Bishops' 19-4 squad. They combined for 154 of the team's 222 3-pointers.

Labishak, who hit 71 3s, averaged an area-best 22.7 points and 4.9 assists per game game, while he shot 49 percent from the floor and 83 percent at the line. His 40 percent shooting on 3s also was a team best.

Hartman's 83 triples led all area players, as did his 8.3 rebounds per game. He averaged 18.5 points as he set the school's single-game scoring record against Miller and put up 30 with eight 3s in a home win against Fairfield Christian.

Zanesville's Rashaud Hampton and Drew Doyle, both juniors, made the team from a Blue Devil team that was haunted by a gaggle of close losses.

Hampton, a junior shooting guard, was runner-up for Player of the Year honors in the Licking County League-Buckeye Division after averaging 15 points, three rebounds and two assists. Doyle, point guard, overcame a broken leg suffered in football to average 9.0 points, 4.5 assists and four rebounds.

Maysville's Dave Brown and West Muskingum's Jeff Rinkes are the Co-Coaches of the Year, with New Lexington's Jeremy Duerr and Tri-Valley's Todd McLoughlin also receiving consideration after both teams made deep tournament runs.

Girls

Tri-Valley senior Lexi Howe was recognized for another stellar season in being tabbed our Girls Player of the Year, and West Muskingum's Josh Middleton earned our Coach of the Year award.

Howe's all-around ability gave the Scotties a chance in every game, highlighted by reaching the Division I district final against Pickerington Central, which went to the state final four. The four-year letter winner became the school's all-time leading scorer with 1,598 points as she averaged 17.5 points, 7.4 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 3.4 steals.

Howe was named the Muskingum Valley League Big School and District 12 Player of the Year. Her talent and skill were easy to notice on the court, and those traits will follow her to the collegiate level where she will play basketball and volleyball for Ashland University.

Sheridan's JD Walters and Tri-Valley's Kurt Kaufman were considered for our coaching award, but Middleton received the honor by taking over the Tornadoes, who were replacing four of five starters, and leading them to an 18-7 record and the district tournament. West M relied on a balanced roster and was in contention for the MVL Small School title until the final week of the season. His achievements were recognized by others, as he was tabbed the Division III Coach of the Year for the East District and District 12.

The MVL champions highlighted the squad, as Sheridan's Jamisyn Stinson and Nora Saffell and New Lexington's Aubri Spicer and Kim Kellogg made the team. All four were recognized by the MVL, District 12 and the East and Southeast Districts for their efforts.

Stinson, who was considered for our Player of the Year honor, continued her impressive display of long-range shooting, knocking down 42% of her shots behind the arc. She led the area with 21 points per game, but also shined in other areas with 6.0 rebounds, 4.2 steals and 3.0 assists. Saffell developed into a force inside for the Generals, contributing 11.5 points and 4.8 rebounds.

Spicer and Kellogg were a 1-2 punch who revitalized the Panthers' program. Both were known for their defensive prowess, while leading the offensive charge. Spicer scored more than 15 points per game to go with 6.2 assists, while Kellogg tallied nearly 10 points, 8.6 rebounds and 4.5 steals.

John Glenn's Mya Oliver and Mckinzi Linscott joined our squad after leading the Muskies to back-to-back district championships and regional tournament appearances. Oliver, an All-Ohioan, took a big step in her sophomore season and paced John Glenn with 15.6 points, 3.2 assists and 3.0 steals. Linscott was a factor on both ends of the floor and finished with 10.6 points, 10 rebounds and 2 steals.

West Muskingum's Caitlyn Drake and Laney Johnson paced a total-team effort. The duo combined for 15 points per game for the Tornadoes, who leaned on defense and scrappiness. Drake also pulled down five boards and Johnson was a steady force at guard before being sidelined late in the year with an injury.

Zanesville's Jersey Draughn and Kandrea Sowers and Rosecrans' Jenna McLaughlin and Alaina Berry were key players for their respective teams. Draughn carried the Lady Devils with 15 points and grabbed three steals; Sowers helped in all phases with 11 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.7 steals and 2.9 assists; McLaughlin averaged nearly a double-double of 9.1 points and an area-high 13.4 rebounds; and Berry developed into a strong offensive threat, scoring a team-best 10.2 points to go with 6 boards.

Tri-Valley's Mackenzie Harvey, Philo's Olivia Dement and Bailey Dement, Morgan's Odessa Smith, Meadowbrook's Kenli Norman and Karly Launder, Coshocton's Savannah Bartlett and River View's Lily Yoder rounded out the squad.

Harvey took pressure off Howe with her outside shooting and scoring nearly 10 points; the Dements led the way for the Electrics, combining for nearly 20 points, five rebounds and three assists a night; and Smith was a bright spot for the Raiders with 10 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.9 steals and 2.5 assists.

Norman and Launder aided the Colts' rise, as they averaged 24 points and 14 rebounds between them; Bartlett tallied 14 points and 6 boards for an improved Redskins' squad; and Yoder was a post presence for the Lady Bears, with nearly 10 points and 5 rebounds per game.

The Times Recorder wanted to acknowledge help from area photographers with photo contributions from Leonard Hill Photography; Zach Carney; Michelle Brown (Creative Lens Photography); Bob Murphy (Murphy Beadling Photography); Kim Carter (BonTon Photo Studio); Wes Jones; Jim Rudloff; Kaleb Graham; Janis Keller (Morgan County Herald); and Crooksville Schools.

This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: Cream of the crop: Jarrett, Howe lead Times Recorder Prime Time team