Coaches White, Hammond highlight all-district honorees

Fairport's McFadden named D-IV POY

Two News-Herald coverage area coaches and a number of area studentathletes have been recognized with high honors in the Northeast Lakes District girls basketball teams selected by the Ohio Prep Sports Writers Association.

Coach Tyler Hammond of Gilmour was named the Division II coach of the year, while Coach Eugene White was named the D-IV coach of the year. Fairport’s Kara McFadden also received the district’s highest honor in D-IV as she was tapped as the district player of the year in that division.

Voting was done by members of the Northeast Lakes District. The all-district team selection is the first step in a process that leads to All-Ohio honors.

Hammond guided Gilmour to a 17-5 regular-season record in his first year as head coach of the Lancers. Gilmour played a Division I-heavy schedule throughout the season and had vast success despite being an underclassman-laden squad.

White led Richmond Heights to a 19-3 regularseason slate. The 19 wins were more than the Spartans had in the three previous years combined.

McFadden earned D-IV player of the year honors by averaging 28 points and hitting 127 3-pointers in her senior season. A senior guard, McFadden will leave Fairport with a number of program records, including the school’s alltime leading scorer.

In D-I, Riverside’s Savanah Laurenty was named first team all-district, North’s Kailey Minch was on second team while Madison’s Claire Wakim, Chardon’s Emily Noerr and Brush’s Brooklyn Vickers were all third team.

In D-II, four area players earned a first-team nod: Perry’s Grace McKoon, Chagrin Falls’ Lilly Stukus, Gilmour’s Helen Holley and West Geauga’s Alexa Hocevar. Secondteam honorees were Gilmour’s Nicci Finazzo, West Geauga’s Maggie Furst and Berkshire’s Maddy Triskett, while Beaumont’s Maeve Sommerfeld, Hawken’s Kate Bollinger and Geneva’s Brooke Richmond brought home thirdteam status.

In D-III, VASJ’s Elizabeth Dunmire was named first team, Wickliffe’s Ava Gabriel and Mia Sassano were second team, and a trio of locals — Kirtland’s Emily Ridgeway, Beachwood’s Taylor Blackwell and Lake’s Rachel Tallion — were third-teamers.

Aside from McFadden in D-IV, Richmond Heights’ Nisey Darden and Honor Hall were joined on first team by Cornerstone’s Lovey Walker and Marshae Hill. Second-teamers were Richmond Heights’ Mya Johnson and Ashia Robinson, along with Fairport’s Sam Yowell.

Numerous other players were named to the honorable mention lists.

TIM PHILLIS — FOR THE NEWS-HERALD First-year Gilmour coach Tyler Hammond was named the Northeast Lakes Division II coach of the year by the Ohio Prep Sports Writers Association.