ASHLAND — Luke Denbow’s reign continues.
Ashland’s high-scoring senior guard, Denbow was selected the Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association District 6 Player of the Year in Division I for a third straight season when the teams were announced Tuesday.
The West Liberty (West Virginia) University recruit averages an area-best 28.4 points a game for the Arrows (12-7), who can clinch an outright Ohio Cardinal Conference crown with wins over West Holmes and Mansfield Senior this week. Denbow also averages 6.4 rebounds and 6.1 assists a night.
“Luke is really special. I’ve been fortunate to watch that and experience that for four years,” Ashland coach Jason Hess said after Denbow scored 30 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and handed out eight assists in a 71-57 win at Mount Vernon last week.
“He’s one of those kids that does so many things and scores in so many ways.”
Denbow is joined on the District 6 Division I first team by teammate Grayson Steury and Madison’s Jayden Jeffries and Levi Zehner. Steury averaged 18.6 points a game for the Arrows. Jeffries lead Madison at 17.8 points a game, while Zehner averages 10.7 points a night.
Madison’s Chris Armstrong was selected the Coach of the Year. The Rams are 11-8 this season.
Madison’s Isaac Brooks and Ashland’s Luke Jurjevic were second-team picks.
Division II
In Division II, Shelby sophomore Alex Bruskotter, Lexington’s Baden Forum and Mansfield Senior’s Maurice Ware were first-team selections.
A sophomore, Bruskotter averages 20.2 points, 7.7 rebounds and 2.4 assists for the Whippets. Shelby (17-3) lead the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference with two games to play.
The 6-foot-7 Forum averages 15 points and eight rebounds a night for the Minutemen. Lex (13-8) trails Ashland by one game in the loss column in the chase for the Ohio Cardinal Conference crown.
It’s been a tough season for Mansfield Senior (4-14), but Ware has been a steady scorer. The 6-foot-2 guard averages 19 points and nine rebounds a game.
Huron’s Dylan Hohler was the Division II Player of the Year. Huron’s Bobby James was the Coach of the Year.
Shelby’s Andre Hill was selected to the second team, along with Ontario’s Darian Delbrugge and Lexington’s Caden Eichler.
Honorable-mention selections included Lexington’s Hudson Moore, Shelby’s Jeremy Holloway and Galion’s Rece Payne, Cooper Kent and Hudson Miller.
Division III
Mason Studer, the point guard for Division III poll champ Colonel Crawford (21-0), was selected the Division III Player of the Year in District 6. Studer averages 17.9 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.6 assists a game.
Studer’s teammate, Carter Valentine, was a first-team pick in Division III. The Ashland University-bound Valentine averages 18.2 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.7 assists a game.
Western Reserve’s Chris Sheldon was selected the Division III Coach of the Year. The Roughriders (19-0) finished second to Colonel Crawford in the final Division III state poll.
Colonel Crawford’s Braxton Baker, Wynford’s Jarron Filliater and Crestview’s Owen Barker were second team picks.
Crestview’s Heath Kash and Jarek Ringler were honorable-mention selections, along with Bucyrus’ Malachi Bayless and Wynford’s Sam McMillan.
Division IV
A pair of Richland County sophomores, Mansfield Christian’s Amarr Davis and Lucas’ Logan Toms both earned spots on the District 6 first team in Division IV.
Davis averages 22 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists a game for the Flames. Toms averages 15.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists a game for the Cubs (16-4), who won their fourth straight Mid-Buckeye Conference crown.
Tiffin Calvert’s Jon Otterbacher was selected the Coach of the Year.
Lucas’ Corbin Toms, Crestline’s R.J. Johnston and Plymouth’s Clayton Miller were second-team picks.
Crestline’s Lucas Cochran and Conner Lusk, Buckeye Central’s Aiden McDougal and Alex Kannety, Mansfield Christian’s Billy Killian and Plymouth’s Zeth Goth were honorable-mention selections.
