NTL BOYS' BASKETBALL: TROY'S BARRETT HEADLINES THE BRADFORD COUNTY ALL-STAR TEAM (March 18, 2022)Northern Tier Sports ReportIt was a boys’ basketball season for the ages for teams in Bradford County, with three district finalists, two NTL champions, and one District IV champion.
Wyalusing repeated as the District IV, Class AA champion, with Troy (Class AAA) and Athens (Class AAAA) reaching the district finals. Canton reached the Class AA semifinals, where they lost to Wyalusing, with Sayre scrapping their way into the playoffs. Towanda and NEB battled all year long with young teams.
Player of the Year - Ty Barrett, Troy
In a year with great performances Barrett stood out with averages of 26.5 PPG, 6 APG, and 6 RPG, shooting 55-percent from the field, 40-percent from 3-point land, and 85-percent from the free throw line. He is Troy’s all-time leading scorer, finishing with just under 2,000 career points, and had big games when the Trojans needed them the most to secure their second straight NTL title and their first district berth since 2004.
Offensive Player of the Year - JJ Babcock, Athens
Babcock finished the year averaging 15.7 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 4.6 APG, 1.7 BPG, and 2.0 SPG, shooting 52-percent from the field. In any other year he would be a shoe in for Player of the Year with his size, length, passing skills, and defensive instincts. Babcock led the Wildcats to the NTL Showcase title, and a district final berth.
Defensive Player of the Year - Caiden Williams, Canton
Williams anchored a tough Warriors defensive team with 2.6 BPG and 9.6 RPG - both team leading - while grabbing 1.4 SPG. He also chipped in with 11.9 PPG as Canton nearly bested Wyalusing for the NTL Division-II title and in the District IV semifinals.
Newcomer of the Year - Justice Chimics, Troy
In a year full of veteran squads Chimics was one of the few newcomers to break through, putting up 5.5 PPG and hitting over 25 three pointers as he filled in at both guard positions for the Trojans off the bench.
Co-Coaches of the Year - Brent Keyes, Wyalusing and Steve Renzi, Troy
Keyes led the Rams to an NTL Division-II title after coming up short a year ago, while they repeated as the District IV, Class AA champions. While Troy retained their core from last year, they had to incorporate younger role players, repeating as NTL Division-I champions, and reaching the District IV, Class AAA title game.
First Team
Ty Barrett, Troy - See above.
JJ Babcock, Athens - See above.
Blake Morningstar, Wyalusing - Morningstar completely remade himself into the league’s best post player, averaging a double-double of 19.3 PPG and 10.1 RPG, to go with 1.4 SPG. He shot 57-percent from the field, and got the line a team high 90-times, making 59 free throws. Morningstar also had some of his biggest games when they needed it most, leading the Rams to both a league title, and a district championship.
Grady Cobb, Wyalusing - Cobb turned things on the second half of the year to put up averages of 14.9 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 3.9 APG, and 2.2 SPG. He finished with a team 51 3-pointers made on a team that made 151 3-balls. His steady hand was key to claiming their second straight district title, along with winning an NTL Division-II championship.
Isaiah Niemczyk, Canton - Niemczyk led Canton with 17.9 PPG, to go with 8.8 RPG, 2.3 SPG, and 1.5 APG. His size and ability to score from anywhere made him one of the toughest guards in the league. His best game of the year may have been a 31-point performance in close loss at Wyalusing with the NTL title on the line.
Mason Imbt, Troy - Imbt averaged 10.0 PPG and nearly as many rebounds for the Trojans as their anchor in the middle. He was tough to keep off the boards on both ends of the court, and was a barometer for the team’s success - when he played well, they did well - having big games during NTL play and in the playoffs.
Mason Lister, Athens - Lister finished with 10.7 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 3.1 APG, and 2.0 SPG to help the Wildcats all season long. He led the team with 22 3-pointers made, and used his length and athleticism well in the Wildcat’s offensive and defensive schemes, as a big 2-guard.
Second Team
Caiden Williams, Canton - See above.
Isaiah Way, Wyalusing - Way averaged 13.6 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 1.4 SPG, 2.8 APG to go with 48 made 3-pointers. Way was a strong slasher to the rim, and solid rebounder inside, for the Rams, who came up with big plays in big moments, such as in their district title winning game over Muncy.
Ethan VanNoy, Troy - VanNoy averaged 11 PPG and hit over 50 three pointers on the year as he played wingman to Barrett. VanNoy would also get the hardest perimeter defensive cover during the game, and would occasionally play point guard, showing off his versatility.
Dante Ottaviani, Towanda - Ottaviani finished the year averaging 13.4. PPG and hit 65 three pointers on the year. His ability to shoot from deep, and get to the rim made him Towanda’s most consistent threat offensively, and he was a solid perimeter defensive player, as well.
Dom Fabbri, Sayre - Fabbri averaged 15.8 PPG, and 3.5 RPG, while hitting 53 3-pointers on the year to help lead Sayre back to the district playoffs. He was part of Sayre’s
Dan Seeley, NEB - Seeley averaged 10.5 PPG, and 6.5 RPG, as a young Panther’s team most consistent player. He had several 20 point games earlier in the year, and had a deft touch in the paint.
Tucker Brown, Athens - Brown averaged 9.3 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 2.7 APG, and 2.0 SPG as he upped his game as the Wildcat’s point guard this season. He showed a strong ability to get to the free throw line - taking 91 on the year, second on the team - and played tough defense.
All-Defensive Team
Kashawn Cameron, Wyalusing
Jackson Taylor, Troy
Nalen Carling, Athens
Weston Bellows, Canton
Abram Bennett, Wyalusing
Troy Pritchard, Athens
All-Newcomer Team
Justice Chimics, Troy
Josh Stanton, NEB
Lance Heasley, Troy
Kolsen Keathley, Athens
Colin Loveland, Troy
Grady Flynn, Towanda
