12 Highland County boys basketball players selected OPSWA All-District; Friend on first team

The Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association announced the 2023-24 All-Southeast District boys basketball teams Saturday, as Highland County was well represented with 12 players.

Highland County’s selections were led by one first-team honoree in Division IV, Fairfield senior Larkin Friend. Friend is averaging 14.8 points per game for the Lions in their district championship season.

Earning second-team honors in Division II was Hillsboro junior Tate Davis (15.5 ppg.). In Division III, Lynchburg-Clay sophomore Denver Clinton (17.7 ppg.) was selected, and in Division IV, Fairfield senior Trey House (11.2 ppg.) was named to the second team.

Hillsboro freshman Jack Howland (14.9 ppg.) was selected to the Division II third team. Division IV’s third team included Fairfield junior Logan McIntosh (12.1 ppg.) and Whiteoak senior Weston Blair (10.9 ppg.).

Three Highland County seniors were named to Division II special mention in Hillsboro’s Steven Kibler and McClain’s Seth Weller and Andrew Potts. In Division III, Lynchburg-Clay’s Cody Bell was named Special Mention, while in Division IV, Whiteoak’s Zander Roades was honored.

The complete lists are below.

Division I

First Team
None selected

Player of the Year
None selected

Coach of the Year
None selected

Second Team
None selected

Third Team
Cooper Stoneking, Chillicothe, 6-2, So., 13.0

Special Mention
Owen Bell, Logan.

Division II

First Team

Alex Kendall, Marietta, 6-8, Sr., 21.6; Trent Taylor, Vincent Warren, 6-7, Sr. 15.5; Julian Stadelman, Vincent Warren, 6-0, Jr., 20.0; Briley Cramer, Circleville, 6-3, Sr., 20.1; Garrett Brown, Vinton County, 6-2, Sr., 18.6; Isaiah Haithcock, Wash. Court House, 6-5, Sr., 15.0; Caleb Schmelzer, Fairfield Union, 6-6, Sr., 18.5; Raine Rodich, Sheridan, 6-0., Sr., 19.1; Isaiah Stephens, New Lexington, 6-1, Jr., 21.0

Player of the Year
Alex Kendall, Marietta

Co-Coaches of the Year
Austin Gardner, Marietta; Jeremy Duerr, New Lexington

Second Team
Reed Brinager, Meigs, 6-0, Fr., 17.0; Zaiden Wittekind, Marietta, 6-1, So., 9.1; Nemiah Waugh, Circleville Logan Elm, 6-2, Jr., 14.9; Blake Fitch, Chillicothe Unioto, 5-11, So., 12.5; Boston Campbell, Jackson, 6-1, Sr., 13.0; Adam Guthrie, Miami Trace, 6-7, So., 14.0; John Wall, Wash. Court House, 6-1, Sr., 13.0; Garrett Rickman, Wash. Court House, 6-1, Sr., 16.0; Tate Davis, Hillsboro, 5-10, Jr., 15.5; Bentley Hanson, New Lexington, 5-11, Jr., 16.0

Third Team
Cade Mock, Gallipolis Gallia Academy, 6-7, Jr., 11.0; Kenyon Franklin, Gallipolis Gallia Academy, 6-1, Sr., 11.0; Braden Bennett, Bidwell River Valley, 6-2, So., 14.0; Dustin Vance, Meigs, 6-5, Jr., 11.0; Elyjah Lieras-Kelley, Marietta, 6-0, Sr., 7.6; Slater Search, Circleville, 6-5, Sr., 10.0; Blake Hoops, Chillicothe Unioto, 6-2, Jr., 9.4; Bodhi Wolford, Jackson, 6-2, So., 12.2; Cobra Sharp, Vinton County, 5-11, Jr., 13.5; Caden Nibert, Waverly, 5-11, Sr., 11.0; Bryson Osborne, Miami Trace, 6-2, Sr., 10.0; Jack Howland, Hillsboro, 5-10, Fr., 14.9; Mason Morris, Alexander, 5-6, Jr., 13.0; Caleb Redding, Fairfield Union, 6-4, Sr., 11.0

Special Mention
Gary Truance, Bidwell River Valley; Cayden Gheen, Meigs; Izak Knighten, Marietta; Jacob Sealey, Vincent Warren; Brody Sabine, Circleville Logan Elm; Tyler Speas, Circleville Logan Elm; K.B. Perkins, Chillicothe Unioto; Zeke Schobelock, Chillicothe Unioto; Stephen Jenkins, Jackson; Landyn Russell, Waverly; Steven Kibler, Hillsboro; Seth Weller, Greenfield McClain; Andrew Potts, Greenfield McClain; Leo Martin, Athens; Jerek Braglin, New Lexington.

Division III

First Team
Braden Schreck, Ironton, 6-2, Jr., 18.8; Caleb Lovely, South Point, 6-3, Sr., 19.2; Chase Allen, Fairland, 5-10, Sr., 18.2; Maddox Kazee, Chesapeake, 6-2, Fr., 12.6; Brody Clark, Westfall, 6-1, Sr., 20.5; Bransyn Copas, North Adams, 6-1, Sr., 17.5; Keagan Swope, Nelsonville-York, 5-10, Sr., 17.8; Jace Copley, Lucasville Valley, 6-3, Sr., 24.4; Connor Lintz, Northwest, 6-2, Sr., 18.4; DeAndre Berry, Portsmouth, 6-2, Sr., 24.5; Myles Montgomery, Minford, 5-10, Jr., 22.7; Bennett Kayser, Minford, 6-5, Jr., 19.1; Devon Lattimore, Wheelersburg, 6-1, Sr., 20.5

Player of the Year
Bransyn Copas, North Adams

Co-Coaches of the Year
Steven Ater, Chesapeake; Alex Prater, Wheelersburg

Second Team
Junior Bass, Belpre, 6-3, Jr., 16.0; Derek Liston, Belpre, 6-0, Sr., 16.0; Shaun Terry, Ironton, 5-10, Jr., 12.9; Brody Buchanan, Fairland, 5-10, Jr., 17.1; Dannie Maynard, Chesapeake, 5-8, Sr., 11.5; Blake Porter, Rock Hill, 5-9, Sr., 15.0; Owen Johnson, Coal Grove, 6-2, Jr., 22.5; Joedy Ater, Adena, 6-2, Sr., 13.9; Landen Jarrell, Zane Trace, 5-8, Jr., 16.1; Grady Barber, Eastern Brown, 6-2, So., 13.0; Brent McGuire, Piketon, 6-3, Sr., 13.8; Denver Clinton, Lynchburg-Clay, 6-2, So., 17.7; Carson Reed, Peebles, 6-2, Jr., 14.0; Breestin Schweickart, North Adams, 5-11, Jr., 11.6; Konlan McIntyre, Crooksville, 6-0, Jr., 18.5; Jeffery Bishop, Portsmouth West, 5-11, Sr., 18.3; Tanner Bolin, Northwest, 6-3, Sr., 20.3; Donnovan Breech, Portsmouth, 6-2, Sr., 13.1; Braylon Rucker, Wheelersburg, 6-0, So., 12.0

Third Team
Carter Smith, South Point, 6-3, Sr., 12.4; Wes Briggs, Wellston, 6-3, Fr., 15.4; Noah Potter, Chillicothe Huntington, 6-2, Sr., 10.2; Lane Williams, Southeastern, 5-7, Jr., 10.0; Lucas King, Adena, 6-3, So., 12.3; Landon Robertson, Zane Trace, 6-2, Jr., 10.9; Carson Free, Paint Valley, 6-3, Jr., 16.9; Gavin Jarvis, West Union, 6-3, Jr., 11.2; Jayce Rothwell, North Adams, 6-1, Jr., 10.7; Malachi Loper, Portsmouth, 5-10, Jr., 10.6; Jackson Shoemaker, Minford, 6-4, Jr., 11.9

Special Mention
Blake Church, Belpre; Bailey Thacker, Ironton; Xathan Haney, South Point; Will Davis, Fairland; Isaak Cox, Rock Hill; Will Briggs, Wellston; Jeremiah Layton, Westfall; Bryan Craig, Westfall; Garrett Legg, Piketon; Cody Bell, Lynchburg-Clay; Carson Osborne, North Adams; Gage Grooms, Peebles; Briant Call, Nelsonville-York; Alec Thompson, Nelsonville-York; Jace Thompson, Crooksville; Brenden Vice, Lucasville Valley; Trevor Fike, Portsmouth West; Jay Jenkins, Northwest; Logan Wolfenbarker, Northwest; Landon McGraw, Wheelersburg

Division IV

First Team
Ethan Smith, Symmes Valley, 5-11, Jr., 15.3; Jarrett Armstrong, Waterford, 6-1, Sr., 17.1; Larkin Friend, Leesburg Fairfield, 6-1, Sr., 14.8; Jace White, Beaver Eastern, 6-0, Sr., 21.3; Tariq Cottrill, Federal Hocking, 5-8, Sr., 23.1; Andrew Airhart, Federal Hocking, 6-0, Sr., 21.0; Cody Metzler, Portsmouth Notre Dame, 6-2, Sr., 12.6; Eli Roberts, South Webster, 6-7, Jr., 23.6; Tyler Sommer, South Webster, 6-3, Sr., 15.8.

Player of the Year
Eli Roberts, South Webster

Coach of the Year
Norm Persin, South Webster.

Second Team
Tanner Boothe, South Gallia, 6-2, Sr., 15.4; Trey House, Leesburg Fairfield, 5-10, Sr., 11.2; Connor Darnell, Manchester, 6-3, Sr., 13.3; Tucker Leist, Beaver Eastern, 5-11, Jr., 15.9; Drew Haggy, Western, 5-11, Jr., 19.1; Logan Doughty, Miller, 6-2, Jr., 18.9; Levi Weber, Trimble, 5-10, Sr., 10.5; Devin Allard, New Boston, 6-3, Sr., 16.0; Jon Knapp, Green, 6-4, Jr., 17.2; Kenny Fowler, Portsmouth Clay, 6-6, Sr., 15.0

Third Team
Drew Brown, Ironton St. Joseph, 6-1, Sr., 10.0; Evan Balestra, Ironton St. Joseph, 6-3, Sr., 9.6; Will Jones, Symmes Valley, 6-3, Jr., 8.0; Alec Johnson, Waterford, 6-1, Sr., 10.0; Gabe Frazee, South Gallia, 6-2, Sr., 14.8; Brycen Stanley, South Gallia, 5-10, Sr., 14.3; Colton Lloyd, Reedsville Eastern, 6-2, So., 13.4; Andre Chandler, Racine Southern, 5-8, So., 12.6; Logan McIntosh, Leesburg Fairfield, 6-4, Jr., 12.1; Weston Blair, Whiteoak, 6-3, Sr., 10.9; Drew Kennedy, Manchester, 6-3, Sr., 10.3; Parker Hayslip, Manchester, 5-10, So., 10.8; Kameron Janes, Western, 6-1, Jr., 17.5; Bryce Dorsey, Miller, 6-2, So., 17.4; Cole Wright, Trimble, 6-1, Sr., 10.1; Michael Clark, Trimble, 5-10, Sr., 10.3; Keagan Barker, Sciotoville East, 6-3, Jr., 12.5; Kaiden Huston, Sciotoville East, 6-0, Jr., 12.5; Jayse Tabor, New Boston, 6-1, Sr., 11.0; Landon Barbaritis, Portsmouth Notre Dame, 5-11, Jr., 10.6; Connie Thomas, Portsmouth Notre Dame, 5-8, So., 10.5

Special Mention
Eli Whaley, Ironton St. Joseph; Max Roberts, Waterford; Brayden Otto, Racine Southern; Zander Roades, Whiteoak; Teagan Werner, Beaver Eastern; Cameron Joy, Federal Hocking; Dylan Shupert, South Webster.

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