2016-17 All-Southwest Missouri Awards
Now that the season is over it’s time to reflect on what was. Here are the All-Southwest Missouri Awards for the 2016-17 campaign.
Co-Player of the Year: Jared Ridder & Cam Davis, Kickapoo
It’s too hard to pick between the two so why do it? Ridder (24 PPG, 6.9 RPG) pulled in Gatorade Player of the Year honors, was the Ozark Conference POY and broke Kickapoo’s career scoring record. But, Davis (20 PPG, 5.2 APG, 4.1 RPG) was the Ozarks’ version of Frank Mason and made it nearly impossible to completely focus on stopping Ridder. Davis was also the team’s best defender, showing the ability to defend 1-4. They will go down as two of the best to ever wear a Kickapoo uniform thanks to a 78-13 record over the last three years and back-to-back Class 5 Final Four runs.
Defensive Player of the Year: Dune Piper, Hartville
I can’t be convinced that there was a more tenacious defender in the Ozarks than Piper. He allowed Hartville to run-and-jump because of his ability to get turns. Few were better at sliding over in help and taking a charge. His defense is a large reason why Hartville went 79-11 with a state championship over the last three years.
Most Improved Player of the Year: JT Brown, Parkview
You’d never have known that one of the Ozarks’ most efficient scorers this year struggled as a junior. Brown torched the Ozarks for 17.4 PPG, shooting 57% from the field, 47% from 3 and 85% from the line. That was more than double Brown’s 8.5 points as a junior, coming on 37% shooting from the field and 21% from deep. The 6-foot-2 guard delivered one of the best performances of the season, scoring 47 points on 15-for-23 shooting against Willow Springs in the Blue & Gold Tournament.
Performance of the Year: Conley Garrison vs. Grandview
It might have been the most clutch performance that Bolivar has ever seen. With a Final Four spot on the line, Garrison scored 31 of Bolivar’s 59 points in a 59-52 win over Grandview in the Class 4 quarterfinals. It wasn’t the total that was staggering, but how Garrison got it. He scored every single Liberator point in the third and fourth quarters, including a game-tying 3 just before the end of regulation. He hit another triple in overtime that helped ignite Bolivar’s game-clinching run. Garrison edged out a 45-point bomb by Greenwood’s Julius Walker in a Class 2 Sectional win over Iberia.
Freshman of the Year: Quenton Shelton, Lebanon
The 6-foot-1 guard put together one of the best freshman campaigns in state history, becoming the second Class 5 freshman to ever score 500 points in a season. Shelton is a bucket getter, averaging 18.2 points and breaking Lebanon’s single-season 3-point record (89). He will have a chance to rewrite several scoring records.
Newcomer of the Year: Kobe Meyer, Thayer
When Cecil Martin took over as Thayer’s girls coach, the Bobcats got a super transfer in his son, junior guard Kobe Meyer. Just a year after helping Hartville win a state title, Meyer averaged a team-high 12.9 points to help Thayer to a 26-4 season. Meyer had 23 double-figure scoring games, including a season-high 22 points vs. MV-BT/Liberty.
Coach of the Year: Darin Meinders, Walnut Grove
He’s not the most well-liked guy ever, but you can’t argue with his results; he wins. Walnut Grove was able to navigate a season that saddled the Tigers with a bullseye from start to finish after a Class 1 runner-up last year and returning nearly everyone from that time. With that being said, replacing Dallas Meinders and rolling through a tough schedule with a 30-3 record is impressive. This team also set the state’s single-season 3-point record, one they might crush next season.
All-Ozarks
Cam Davis, Kickapoo
Brandon Emmert, Bolivar
Tyem Freeman, Hillcrest
Monty Johal, Glendale
Treydon Rackley, Republic
Jared Ridder, Kickapoo
Logan Thomazin, Walnut Grove
All-Defensive Team
Dylan Caruso, Mansfield
Kenny Chambers, Willard
Cam Davis, Kickapoo
Hunter Gilkey, Walnut Grove
Dune Piper, Hartville
Connor Sechler, Bolivar
Ty Stevens, Republic
All-Freshman Team
Ethan Farge, Richland
Cole Gilpin, Fair Grove
Terrel Kabala, Webb City
Quenton Shelton, Lebanon
Arlo Stump, Golden City
Dontae Taylor, Parkview
Tanner Thouvenot, Lighthouse Christian