SHELBY — She wasn’t her team’s leading scorer or rebounder, but Shelby’s Sophie Niese was indispensable.
An Ashland University recruit, Niese was selected the Northwest District Player of the Year in Division II when the all-district teams were announced Wednesday evening.
The 5-foot-6 senior averaged 9.1 points a game for the Whippets, who won a Division II poll championship and reached the regional final. Niese led the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference in assists (5.2) and steals (3.3) during the regular season. She was the District 6 Player of the Year in Division II.
Clear Fork’s Scott Sellers was selected the Northwest District Coach of the Year in Division II. Sellers led the Colts (21-5) to a district runner-up finish.
Niese was joined on the Northwest District first team by Shelby teammate Olivia Baker. The 5-foot-8 senior averaged 15.3 points and 5.2 rebounds a game.
Clear Fork’s Bekah Conrad earned a spot on the all-district second team. Conrad averaged 17.2 points and 11.5 rebounds a game.
Shelby’s Haylee Baker, Clear Fork’s Lilly Wortman and Mansfield Senior’s Kiersten Bradley were third team picks. Baker averaged 12.5 points a game, while Wortman averaged 10.1 points a night and Bradley was good for 12.2 points a game.
Mansfield Senior’s Kiyah Wentz and Monetta Hilory were honorable mention selection, along with Shelby’s Audi Albert and Galion’s Teanna Greter and Natalee Perkins. Wentz averaged 10.1 points a game, while Hilory averaged 10.2 points and 5.2 assists a night. Albert averaged 11.3 points a game, while Greter averaged 9.1 points and Perkins was good for 11.2 points a night.
On the boys side, Shelby coach Greg Gallaway was selected the district Coach of the Year, sharing the award with Toledo Central Catholic’s Mike Floyd. Gallaway led the Whippets to the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference crown in his first season in charge.
Shelby’s Alex Bruskotter earned a spot on the All-Northwest District first team. The 6-foot-6 sophomore swingman led the MOAC in scoring at 20.2 points a game.
Lexington’s Baden Forup was a second-team pick. The 6-foot-7 junior averaged 15 points a game for the Minutemen, who reached the district championship game.
Mansfield Senior’s Maurice Ware and Shelby’s Andre Hill were third team picks. Ware averaged 19.1 points a game, while Hill was good for 12.8 points a night.
Honorable mention selections included Ontario’s Darian Delbrugge, Lexington’s Caden Eichler and Hudson Moore and Galion’s Rece Payne and Hudson Miller.
