Ahrens, Braun earn player of year honor
Two area players and three coaches received top honors for the All-Southwest District boys high school basketball teams that were released Friday.
Area players of the year in their respective divisions were Justin Ahrens of Versailles and Fort Loramie’s Dillon Braun. Coaches of the year included D.J. Wyrick of Butler, Anna’s Nate Barhorst and Springfield Catholic Central’s Cody Sarensen.
Ahrens, a 6-foot-6 guard/ forward, was the Division III player of the year. The senior averaged 25.3 points and set a school record for most points in a game (46). He also became the all-time Midwest Athletic Conference leader in career points and surpassed 2,000 late in the season.
Ahrens signed with Ohio State and is in Mr. Basketball contention.
Braun was the D-IV player of the year. A 6-1 senior, he averaged 16.5 points and is a key reason Loramie (23-2) played Middletown Christian (6-18) in a D-IV district final at the University of Dayton Arena on Friday night.
In his third season, Wyrick guided Butler to a 19-3 regular season. The Aviators tied Sidney for the Greater Western Ohio Conference American North title, both at 12-3.
Barhorst is an Anna grad in his seventh season with the D-III Rockets. He led Anna to an 18-4 regular season, which included four losses by a combined eight points. Anna also is lumped with Fort Loramie in the Shelby County League.
Sarensen led the Irish to a 19-3 regular season and an Ohio Heritage Conference South Division title. Central (21-3) played Ripley UnionLewis (17-8) in a D-IV district final at UD on Friday.
Area players chosen firstteam D-I were Wayne senior Darius Quisenberry (18.5 points), Xenia junior Samari Curtis (30.4) and Springfield junior RaHeim Moss (16.2).
Trotwood-Madison’s standout backcourt of senior Myles Belyeu (25.2) and junior Amari Davis (21.2) were on the D-II first team. Joining them was Meadowdale senior Jabali Leonard (23.0).
Other area players on the D-III first team were Anna senior Wyatt Bensman (16.5), Carlisle senior Justin Flor (20.8) and Ryan Rose (22.3), a senior from Bethel.
Joining Braun on the D-IV first team was teammate and senior Tyler Siegel (12.4), Franklin Monroe junior Ethan Conley (22.6), Russia senior Jack Dapore (13.0), Triad senior Hadley LeVan (25.3) and Ansonia junior Hunter Muir (16.6).
Players were nominated by coaches and chosen by a media panel representing the Southwest District. Players will be considered for All-Ohio honors and Mr. Basketball. Contact this reporter at 937225-2381 or email Marc. Pendleton@coxinc.com. Twitter: @MarcPendleton