1) University Heights def. 3) Owen County 123-116
1) Southern def. 1) Boyd County 83-71
University Heights def. Southern 107-93
So for the seniors in this class, they've been so close and can't get it done when it matters most. Meanwhile, University Heights caps their third straight Final Four appearance with their 2nd championship, meaning next year's freshman get to try for a 4th Final Four next year and maybe a third title?
Let's take a look at the best players from this season from around the state based on performance -- both by the players and their teams -- and deviating a bit from how the game generates these teams since honestly the computer looks heavily to seniors over anything else.
Code:
1980 OVERALL AWARDS
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Player of the Year:
SR SG Robert Almeida University Heights 19.7 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 7.0 APG 3.7 SPG, 0.2 BPG
Freshman of the Year:
FR SF Cornell Bonin University Heights 15.8 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 2.0 APG 2.6 SPG, 0.3 BPG
Coach of the Year:
Charles Swanger Russell 26 - 5 (12 - 2)
All-league 1st Team:
C SR Raymon Fairley Breckinridge County 18.0 PPG, 10.6 RPG, 2.6 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.5 BPG
PF JR Michael Parker Franklin-Simpson 18.7 PPG, 11.4 RPG, 1.6 APG, 1.0 SPG, 2.0 BPG
SF SR Miquel Gayton Knott County Central 20.9 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 2.9 APG, 1.8 SPG, 0.4 BPG
SG SR Robert Almeida University Heights 19.7 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 7.0 APG, 3.7 SPG, 0.2 BPG
PG SR Joshua Wilk University Heights 18.2 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 7.6 APG, 3.2 SPG, 0.2 BPG
All-league 2nd Team:
C JR Jerry Kowal Crittenden County 11.4 PPG, 11.4 RPG, 2.0 APG, 0.4 SPG, 4.2 BPG
PF SR Julio Marquez Knox Central 17.7 PPG, 9.6 RPG, 2.2 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.5 BPG
SF SR Erasmo Laux Ludlow 15.1 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 5.5 APG, 2.0 SPG, 0.2 BPG
SG SO Ellis Ballard Ludlow 17.9 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 5.8 APG, 2.8 SPG, 0.1 BPG
PG SR Hubert Audet Southern 14.8 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 10.4 APG, 2.9 SPG, 0.1 BPG
All-league 3rd Team:
C JR Keenan Dejong Whitefield Academy 10.3 PPG, 11.8 RPG, 2.0 APG, 0.8 SPG, 2.6 BPG
PF SR Michael Jessie Estill County 7.6 PPG, 11.0 RPG, 2.2 APG, 0.6 SPG, 4.3 BPG
SF SR Arlie Flory Southern 19.9 PPG, 9.9 RPG, 2.9 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.4 BPG
SG SR Jean Wert DuPont Manual 26.2 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 3.5 APG, 2.7 SPG, 0.1 BPG
PG SR Jacob Charles Gallatin County 18.5 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 8.0 APG, 2.1 SPG, 0.3 BPG
All-freshman Team:
C FR Jamaal Casper Hart County 7.5 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 1.3 APG, 1.1 SPG, 3.9 BPG
PF FR Floyd Diaz Washington County 16.3 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 1.8 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.6 BPG
SF FR Cornell Bonin University Heights 15.8 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 2.0 APG, 2.6 SPG, 0.3 BPG
SG FR Steve Henry Highlands 18.3 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 2.7 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.2 BPG
PG FR Steven Haupt Doss 19.9 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 3.6 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.1 BPG
Now that the computer has made its selections, let's look at the honorable mention team that I'm curating myself:
Average 15.7 PPG in his senior year, led Calvary to the Region 19 championship and into the state tournament with a 16-16 record. A playmaker and a leader who could benefit from a firm coach in college.
Was a big part of why second-year program Stovall County South HS managed to finish the year at 18-13, after winning only six games last year. Average 19.5 PPG to lead all comers in Region 5 this season. Did I mention he's only a freshman? Maybe that's why he got no respect. Left off of the all-region freshman team and no voters for Freshman of the Year either. I'd watch out if I were other teams, you've got three more years of this kid. Only a three-star prospect at the moment, but he's legit.
Another overachiever on a bad team, Hodges was the 3rd leading scorer in the state this year (26.6 PPG) but he had no help as Hodges limped to a 10-18 record in Region 18 play this year, finishing 9th overall, without even a regional appearance to his credit in his senior year. Just at two-star recruit, but I bet he could make a mid-major program very happy.
This class of juniors and seniors from Adair County are responsible for making two state tournament appearances ('78 and this season) for a program that hadn't made state since 1968. Estrada is a big part of that equation. This 5-star prospect was a 1st team All-Region in Region 10 after averaging 12.6 PPG and 11.8 RPG as well as 2.9 BPG, making his a triple threat. With one more year to go, he should be a very attractive option for top programs.
If there's a program that's flown more under the radar statewide than Boyd County, I'm not sure where it is yet. Billy Smith is a four-star recruit who many pan as one-dimensional, because he's not much of a scorer (5.6 PPG) but he's a glass eater (10.4 RPG) and a defensive stopper and at 6'11" a guy you can really use to block up in the inside. Maybe that's why Boyd County made it to their 3rd straight Final Four (and 4th Elite Eight and 6th Elite 8 in seven years) thanks to the work of Smith and his teammates who if I wanted to, could make an entire Honorable Mention list filled with Boyd County guys.