Memorable boys basketball season in the books
The high school boys’ basketball season officially ended for the Greene County teams with Carmichaels and Jefferson-Morgan exiting the WPIAL postseason against the top two seeds in the Class A bracket.
But despite the departures, the 2011-12 season was a memorable one with several tremendous individual performances, a couple of surprising upsets and a whole bunch of down-to-the-wire games with county rivals battling it out.
The Mikes and Rockets finished tied for third with a 5-5 record in Section 3-A and made trips to the WPIAL postseason for the second consecutive year.
Waynesburg Central went a perfect 5-0 against Greene County foes this year, but once again struggled in the stacked Section 5-AAA, going 0-12 for the second straight season.
The Maples had their issues in the beginning of the season, but in the last 10 games Mapletown really came together as a team under first-year coach Craig Hoone.
West Greene made strides in the 11-12 campaign with better play down the stretch and its first section victory since the 2007-08 season.
To name all the special players and moments that happened this year is a hard job, but following are some awards given out to the Player of the Year, Freshmen of the Year, Coach of the Year and Game of the Year, along with the third annual All-Greene County squads.
Player of the Year — Travis Taylor, Jefferson-Morgan, Junior forward: Several players throughout the county were in consideration for this award, but the nod goes to Taylor and his athletic play during the season. The 5-10 forward used all of his strength, power and quickness to attack the hoop on a consistent basic and become one of the most dependable scorers in all of Class A.
At any given time, Taylor could take over a game or take over a quarter. Besides his scoring ability, Taylor was a solid defender and a smart passer while in the lane. Nothing seemed to rattle this junior and more things will be asked of him in his final year with the Rockets.
Freshman of the Year — Rece Henneman, Jefferson-Morgan, Freshman forward: Whether it was from the bench or in the starting line-up, Henneman was a factor for J-M and at times looked like an upperclassmen. For his size (6-2) he has excellent speed and can run the floor like a guard.
Henneman showed his inexperience at times this year, but he made up for it with raw talent and ability to understand what defenses were giving him. It should be an interesting three years for Henneman and the Rockets to turn his potential into reality.
Coach of the Year — Don Williams, Carmichaels: This year, Williams took over a team that only had one returning starter and had several sophomores and freshmen on the roster. Despite the lack of experience, Williams got the most out of his young squad and made it to the playoffs for the eighth time in the last nine seasons.
The Mikes finished .500 in Section 3-A and posted an impressive 7-2 record against Greene County opposition. Williams has always been about defense and the Mikes only allowed 51.9 points per game, tops in all of Section 3-A.
Honorable Mention for Coach of the Year — Chris Niemiec, Jefferson-Morgan: It was year two for Niemiec at J-M and for the second straight year the Rockets qualified for the playoffs. This year’s team seemed more offensive than last year and played with more confidence.
Game of the Year — Jefferson-Morgan 61, Carmichaels 52 (Jan. 27 at Carmichaels): In this meeting of heated rivals, the Rockets were finally able to get that dreaded monkey off their backs by beating its close foe for the first time in over a decade.
In the final eight minutes of the contest, there were several ties and lead changes and a number of players from both sides stepped up when it mattered the most. Unfortunately someone had to lose this tremendous battle, but Carmichaels still had the bragging rights in this rivalry for taking two of the three games against J-M.
Honorable Mention Games of the Year — Mapletown picks up first win with a 53-49 upset of Avella (Jan. 27), Carmichaels continues dominance over J-M with a 54-50 road win (Jan. 6), West Greene beats Mapletown 52-48 for first section win in four years (Jan. 13), Carmichaels ends regular season with a 66-58 victory over rival Mapletown (Feb. 10).
First Team All-Greene County — Marcus Cumpston, Mapletown, Senior guard: The last four seasons for Cumpston and the Maples have been up and down, but it has always been entertaining. The 6-2 guard with precise court vision elevated his game when Mapletown needed him the most. Cumpston scored his 1,000 point in his last game in a Maples’ uniform.
Ty Negley, Waynesburg, Senior guard: When you see the play of Negley you think of one word: explosiveness. His energy and dedication to attack the hoop with his 5-11 frame is something to see. Win or lose, Negley takes it in stride and always seems to be a better player and a better teammate the next time out.
Josh Mundell, Carmichaels, Junior guard: If there was a Defensive Player of the Year Award, it would go to Mundell. The tenacious guard is usually matched up against the opposing team’s best offensive player and he is always up for the task. Besides his stellar defensive play, Mundell can get his points in the paint with his dribble-drive skills.
Brandon Faieta, Jefferson-Morgan, Senior forward: In this final year with the Rockets, Faieta was the go-to player and a true leader for J-M. The 6-1 forward has a streaky 3-point shot and a very underrated short jumper. When the game is on the line, any coach would want Faieta to handle the ball and be on your side.
Colton Yoders, Carmichaels, Senior center: Yoders is making his second straight appearance on the All-Greene County first-team with a terrific senior season. The center for the Mikes is the tallest player in the county, and used his size to his advantage on both ends of the court. Yoders averaged 11 points per game and was in double-figures for rebounds in most games.
Second Team All-Greene County — Dom Cage, Jefferson-Morgan, Junior guard: The aggressive guard was a catalyst for the Rockets’ fast-break offense and was a top-notch defender. When Cage was able to stay out of foul trouble, he was a dependable scorer and a defensive stopper.
Derek Riggleman, Mapletown, Sophomore guard: There was no sophomore slump for Riggleman this year, as he continued to improve his overall game. Riggleman showed no signs of being passive with the ball, as he averaged around 13 points per game.
Ben Carlisle, West Greene, Sophomore guard: The 5-5 guard might be undersized, but he is able to use his speed and vision to help the Pioneers’ offense. Carlisle can dribble around defenders for a lay-up or can settle for a shot from beyond the arc.
Brandon Lawless, Carmichaels, Sophomore forward: Lawless has an uncanny ability to do just about everything, ball-handling, rebounding and scoring from the floor and the free throw line late in games. The 6-2 guard/forward averaged 10.4 points per game.
Brennan McMinn, Carmichaels, Sophomore forward: The 5-6 guard/forward came off the bench for the Mikes this year and was an instant sparkplug. McMinn may not be the tallest or fastest player on the court, but he makes plays and can get to the hoop.
Honorable Mention All-Greene County — Zach Berkstresser (Jefferson-Morgan/Senior guard), Sean Smoggie (Carmichaels/Junior guard), Jordan Rode (West Greene/Senior forward), Michael Rumble (Mapletown/Senior forward) and Kolbi Phillips (Waynesburg Central/Senior forward).