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Wetzel County Boy’s All-Star Team Named

By Staff | Mar 25, 2009

Pictured are members of the Wetzel County Boys’ All-Star Basketball Team. Seated in the front row, from left, are Corey Kimble, Ricky Wright, Jared Blatt, Ronald Morris, Logan McDiffitt and Malakai Anderson; Second row, Matt Sapp, Jacob Smith, Ryan Thoburn, Emery Smith, Alex Henderson and Jon Rine; and back row, Magnolia High School Coach Dave Tallman and Hundred High School Coach Justin Balwanz.

This is the first time in many years that the Wetzel Chronicle has listed the top scorers in the county and named a boys’ and girls’ Wetzel County All-Star Team.

Earning top honors on the boys’ First Team is Ricky Wright and Malakai Anderson of Paden City High School; Corey Kimble and Logan McDiffitt of Hundred High School; Ronald Morris of Valley; and Jared Blatt from Magnolia.

Honorable Mentions are: Jon Rine and Matt Sapp from Magnolia; Alex Henderson and Jacob Smith from Valley High School; Ryan Thoburn from Paden City; and Emery Smith from Hundred High School.

Boy’s Co-Players of The Year was Ricky Wright and Corey Kimble. The Boy’s Co-Coach of the Year was Dave Tallman of Magnolia and Justin Balwanz of Hundred.

Wright and Kimble scored over 1,000 points in their careers and helped guide their respective teams to outstanding seasons. Wright scored 103 three pointers a season ago and tickled the twine 81 threeballs this season, while averaging 17 points a game. He also was second high scorer in the county with 390 points.

Kimble was the heart and soul of the Hornets this season and led them in almost every category in the past two seasons. He was third in the scoring department in the county and third in rebounding; sixth in three point baskets, and was the free throw percentage leader in the county with 74.7 percent, with 100 or more attempted tosses.

Blue Eagle Head Coach Dave Tallman helped guide his team to an outstanding season. With only one starter back from a season ago – and only one other with much varsity action – it looked to be a long season for Tallman.

Not only did Tallman guide his team to a 16-8 record, it finished third in OVAC Class AAA, and was ranked in the top 10 in the state all season. A good part of the time, the Eagles had five underclassmen in the lineup and several times he had four sophomores and freshmen out on the court taking names.

Hornet Head Coach Justin Balwanz is in only his second season at the helm at Hundred and has guided his cagers to the regional finals both years. He has only one senior on the squad, and lost two other starters from a season ago, to go along with one senior. But, still he managed to beat some impressive teams, including three-time OVAC Class A Champion Bishop Donahue.

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In the scoring department Magnolia junior center Jared Blatt paced the county with 410 points, while Ricky Wright followed with 390 points. The rest of the top 10 were, Corey Kimble with 331; Ryan Thoburn and Malakai Anderson from Paden City with 317 and 311 points, respectively; Logan McDiffitt of Hundred, 291 markers; and Jon Rine of Magnolia dented the scoreboard with 273 points.

In addition, Emery Smith from Hundred netted 267 points; Ronald Morris of Hundred and Alex Henderson of Valley swished the nets for 259 and 249 points, respectively.

From beyond the arc, Ricky Wright led the county with 81 baskets, while teammate Malakai Anderson and Matt Sapp of Magnolia both knocked down 72 for a second place tie. Third place went to Henderson with 70, while teammate Morris added 60 for fourth place. Places 5-7 went to Kimble, with 58; Traeh Keller of Magnolia with 56 and Andrew Robinson from Magnolia with 52.

The strongmen of the county went to Jared Blatt of Magnolia with 270 rebounds and 70 blocked shots. Blatt snatched 157 defensive boards and 113 offense rebounds. Second in rebounding belongs to Emery Smith of Hundred with 210 boards. Kimble finished in third place with 205 rebounds, while Zach Phillips of Hundred added 140.

Others with more than 100 rebounds were, Ron Morris of Valley hauled in 137 off the glass. Wes Cosper and Alex Henderson of Valley added 107 and 103 rebounds, respectively. Jon Rine of Magnolia and Malakai Anderson from Paden City both hauled in 100 boards.

The county’s leading hijacker was Logan McDiffitt of Hundred with 124 stolen basketballs, while Malakai Anderson of Paden City heisted 98. Wes Cosper, Ryan Thoburn and Ricky Wright of Paden City swiped 86, 76 and 48, respectively. Andrew Robinson of Magnolia added 47, while Ronald Morris of Valley tallied 40 swipes complete the county’s pick-pocket specialists.

The top player in the assist department goes to Andrew Robinson of Magnolia with 163, while Malakai Anderson dished off 147. Third, with 124 assists, was the Hornets’ Logan McDiffitt and fourth place went to Corey Kimble with 116.

Finishing fifth in assists was Dalton Kuhn of Hundred with 83, while Wes Cosper of Paden City tallied 69 assists. Jon Rine of Magnolia accounted for 65 assists, while teammate Matt Sapp and Lumberjack Coleman Ueltschy each recorded 63 assists. Alex Henderson of Valley and Jared Blatt of Magnolia finished ninth and tenth with 54 and 48 assists, respectively.

In the free throw department with over 100 shots attempted, Logan McDiffitt made 166, while Jon Rine went 154-228 for 67.5 percent. Emery Smith made 57.8 percent dropping in 118-190 free throws. Ryan Thoburn made 114-190 for 67.8 percent, while Corey Kimble swished 136-182 free throws for 74.7 percent, the top percentage in the county with over 100 attempts. Wes Cosper made 100-183 attempts; and Coleman Ueltschy netted 80-118 attempts.

Those attempting 64 attempts or more included Josh Yost of Magnolia with 50-64; Ricky Wright, 50-68; Dalton Kuhn, 62-86; Matt Sapp 58-88; and Andrew Robinson, 60-90.