Action on the hardwood is heating up in March

Check out the leading contenders for the Clark Kellogg Award in this week’s boys basketball player of the year watch list. Plus, girls hoops tournament capsules look at district finals.

The News-Herald will present the first Clark Kellogg Award to the area’s boys basketball player of the year as part of the Varsity Chalk Talk Show at Hooley House on March 27. The following players are leading candidates at the conclusion of the regular season. (in alphabetical order) Michael Bothwell, Cornerstone Christian:

News-Herald Player of 2016 the in a Year double-overtime scored 33 points win against and 17 in VASJ a victory on Feb. over 19 Chagrin The 6-foot-4 Falls on Furman Feb. 23. commit averages 24.6 points, 7.1 rebounds and an areabest 6.9 assists per game. Finished third in the area with 57 made 3-pointers and shoots 47 percent from 3-point range. Hugh Brown, Hawken:

Lake Erie College commit ranked seventh in the area and led the Hawks in regular-season scoring at 19.5 points per game. Brown is tied for ninth in the area with 49 made 3-pointers and averaged 3.9 assists and 2.5 steals per game. Named backto-back CVC MVP.

D.J. Dial, Brush: Led the 15-7 Arcs to a second consecutive outright Western Reserve Conference championship. Led Brush in scoring at 15.5 points per game. Luka Eller, Lake Catholic: Scored 27 points in a win over NDCL. Cougars sophomore forward averaged a double-double of 20.2 points and 10.3 rebounds per game.

Jerry Higgins, VASJ: Defending News-Herald Player of the Year surpassed Carlton Bragg for second place on the Vikings’ single-season scoring list with 502 points. Vikings senior point guard leads the team with 22.8 points on 47 percent shooting, 6.1 assists and an areabest 4.1 steals per game. Named NCL White Player of the Year for the second consecutive season. Chris Jefferson, Benedictine: Named NCL Blue MVP. Bengals senior guard averaged 15 points, six rebounds, four assists and 2.3 steals per game. Dechlan Kirincic, Gilmour:

Posted 16 points in a win against South, 19 points in a win over John Marshall at Quicken Loans Arena and 26 in a victory against Holy Name. Kirincic averages 20.5 points, 8.9 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game. Became Gilmour’s all-time leading scorer this season.

Alex Sulka, Chardon: Led the area in scoring with 27.8 points per game. Sulka owns the career scoring record at Chardon, and has posted games of 51 and 45 points this season. Shane Zalba, Mentor:

Scored 24 points in Mentor’s win over Elyria and 20 in a victory over defending Division I state champion Massillon Jackson. Led Mentor with 17.6 points, 6.2 assists, six rebounds and 2.6 steals per game.