 |
| Leesburg senior Wayne Hamilton |
By Mel Barlow
Sports Editor
March 31, 2012
To say area basketball teams had great seasons would be putting it mildly as Leesburg, Mt. Dora, and Clermont won their districts while Leesburg lost by two points in the finals of AAA, Region II.
To choose 12 players out of the group of outstanding players for this year was a gigantic task. This season could well have produced the most premiere players the area has ever had in a single year.
The team is comprised of what the Daily Commercial feels are the best players, regardless of position. So many times a super player is left off an all-star team because a player in his same position was just a little better. And yet he was much better than another player who made the team because he played a different position.
Heading this year's group are two juniors, Leesburg's Ed Chatman and Mt. Dora's Michael Ryals.
 |
| Leesburg Forward Ed Chatman |
Chatman, at 6-3 averaged just over 18 points a game as the Yellow Jackets had one of their best season's ever, going 18-9.
Micheal Ryals, at 6-6 and 195 pounds, led the area in scoring with a 22 points per game average. And possibly his 17 rebounds per outing was even more outstanding.
"Chatman is a great inside player." said Leesburg Coach Woody Clymer. "He can hit from anywhere on the floor and also played super defense all year for us. And his 10 rebounds a game certainly was a big plus for us."
Mt. Dora head coach, Gary Nicholson, feels Ryals attitude was as important to his team's success as his scoring average.
"Michael has such a fine attitude," said Nicholson. "He could be our hardest worker on the team and I believe he will be major college material by the time he graduates."
-Morris Hannah, is another junior. The Wildwood star averaged 16 points a game while stealing the ball or recovering it over eight times each contest for the Wildcats. He is 5-9.
-Henry Monroe, a 6-0 senior forward, averaged 18 points as the Eustis Panthers had their best win total record in five years, going 13-13.
Monroe also pulled down 10 rebounds a game which has to be outstanding when you consider his height.
- Gerald Smith, a 5-9, senior guard for Clermont, averaged 14 points, Smith could well be the quickest player on the All-Area team.
-Bernard Taylor, 6-1, senior guard-forward for Groveland. Taylor hit an incredible 61 percent from the field while averaging 20 points per game. He also had six assists each contest.
-Wayne Hamilton, a 6-5 senior center for Leesburg, fired the ball in the hoop at a 17 point average while pulling down 14 rebounds. Hamilton probably is the strongest player on the team as he simply overpowered, everybody this season.
-Gary Kinninger, a 6-3 sophomore forward for Tavares. Kinninger is the only sophomore to make the squad. He hit for a 17 point average while pulling down 11 rebounds per outing.
-Jay White, a 6-5 senior center for Mt. Dora Bible School. White was one of the key reasons the Bulldogs went 19-6 for the season. He averaged 11 points a game and 12 rebounds.
-Jeff Kirkpatrick, a 5-10 junior guard for Clermont. Kirkpatrick averaged 18 points each game and is one of the area's better one-on-one players.
And at last but certainly not least are Diane McDowell and Bonnie Miller.
-Diane McDowell is a 6-1, senior center for Leesburg. She average `9 points per game while pulling down 15 rebounds. The Girl Jackets went all the way to the State Semifinals before losing behind the strong play of Diane.
-Bonnie Miller is a 5-7, sophomore guard for the Jackets, Her 16 point average was one of the areas best.
HONORABLE MENTION:
Charles "Speedy" Lewis, Wildwood; Sidney Dunham, Eustis; Mike Hill, Mount Dora Bible School; Bobby Fisher, Lake Christian; Rodney Colden, Leesburg.
No comments:
Post a Comment