Licking County basketball players receive LCL, OCC, MOCAL honors
Carter Mallernee led the Northridge boys basketball team on an historic season, fueling the Vikings to Licking County League-Cardinal Division championship, their first league title in program history.
Mallernee has been named the LCL-Cardinal Player of the Year. His dad Bill Mallernee was named the Coach of the Year.
Granville’s Dante Varrasso was named the LCL-Buckeye Player of the Year, leading the Blue Aces to a share of their second consecutive league title. Granville shared the title with Licking Heights, which won its third consecutive title, and Granville coach Chris Powell and Heights coach Shaun Fountain shared top honors.
Harper Annarino led the Granville girls to an unbeaten run through the LCL, the Blue Aces’ third consecutive LCL-Buckeye title. Annarino was named the Buckeye girls Player of the Year.
Johnstown’s Abigail Adkins was named the Cardinal girls Player of the Year. Granville’s Tate Moore and Heath’s Katy Barry were named Coach of the Year in their respective divisions for leading teams to the title.
Joining Carter Mallernee on the Cardinal boys first team were teammate Justin Townley, Johnstown’s Caleb Schneider and Cody Siegfried, Heath’s Jaxon Duston, Utica’s Trenton Collins, Newark Catholic’s Eli Morris and Lakewood’s Adam Crawford.
Joining Varrasso on the Buckeye boys first team were teammate Jase Becker, Heights’ Jayden Griffith and Kison Coates-Edmondson, Watkins Memorial’s Ethan Ryan, Licking Valley’s Gunner Bowman and Zanesville’s Rashaud Hampton.
Joining Annarino on the Buckeye girls first team were teammate Ava Gossman, Watkins’ Kalleigh Rennie and Cameryn Wheeler, Zanesville’s Jersey Draughn, Valley’s Avery Williams and Heights’ Amya Thompson.
Joining Adkins on the Cardinal girls first team were teammate Kylie Sharp, Heath’s Taliyah Holmes and Caroline Robertson, NC’s Kylie Gibson and Fini Kaiser, Utica’s Abby Dickson, Northridge’s Darla Dorman and Lakewood’s Charlee Palmer.
Named to the Cardinal boys second team were Northridge’s Ian Travis and Ethan Payne, Johnstown’s Brady Barb, Heath’s Ben Mason, Utica’s Roman Gamble, NC’s Braylon Bates and Lakewood’s Colton Ferry.
Named to the Buckeye boys second team were Granville’s Colt Shaw and Alex Engle, Heights’ Toure Young and Ezra Bobo, Watkins’ Sam Johnson, Valley’s Jacob Wheeler and Zanesville’s Drew Doyle.
Named to the Buckeye girls second team were Granville’s Aliyah Moore and Taylor Warehime, Watkins’ Ella Perry, Zanesville’s Kandrea Sowers, Valley’s Rylee Hillis and Heights’ Tori Diggs.
Named to the Cardinal girls second team were Heath’s Peyton Del Cecato and Allie Dunlap, Johnstown’s Lauren Baughman, NC’s Maddie Kauble, Utica’s Delaney Kerstetter, Northridge’s Ava Travis and Lakewood’s Grace Sturgell.
Named to the Cardinal boys honorable mention list were Northridge’s Zach Holder, Johnstown’s Drew Brett, Heath’s Jordan Kaminsky, Utica’s Zach Heckman, NC’s Joe Stanley and Lakewood’s Stephen Slocum.
Named to the Buckeye boys honorable mention list were Granville’s Dylan Niedermeyer, Heights’ Boubacar Conde, Watkins’ Cole Massie, Valley’s Kam Walker and Zanesville’s Xavier Riley.
Named to the Buckeye girls honorable mention list were Granville’s Ella Schneider, Watkins’ Rilyn Warner, Zanesville’s Kylie Osborne, Valley’s Cassie Orr and Heights’ Emily McCord.
Named to the Cardinal girls honorable mention list were Heath’s A’mya Royster, Johnstown’s Alexis Diehl, NC’s Sophie Peloquin, Utica’s Isabella Coulter, Northridge’s Reese Callan and Lakewood’s Rachel Crist.
Newark duo earn first-team nod
Newark’s Grant Burkholder and Steele Meister were named to the Ohio Capital Conference-Buckeye Division first team, Ethan Stare to the second team, Braylon Morris to the special mention list and Drew Oberholtzer to the honorable mention list. Oberholtzer also was named Newark’s scholar athlete.
Newark’s Brie Gingras was named to the OCC-Buckeye girls first team, Jenna Shackleford and Ally Carr to the second team and Syncere Royster to the honorable mention list. Carr also was named Newark’s scholar athlete.
Liberty duo leads MOCAL honorees
Liberty Christian teammates Evan Adair and Josh Onabanjo were named to the Mid-Ohio Christian Athletic League boys first team. Granville Christian’s Andrew Benvie joined them.
Named to the MOCAL boys honorable mention list were Liberty’s Kaden Minier and Luke Mollohan and GCA’s Eli Cooper and Zack Leija.
GCA teammates Brianna Hubbard and Ella Rhoads were named to the MOCAL girls first team. Liberty’s Shelby Carr joined them.
Named to the MOCAL girls honorable mention list were GCA’s Ellie Flowers and Natalia Locke and Liberty’s Ryleigh Christian and Greta Belair.
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