2017 All-Alpena News Boys Basketball Team
2017 Player of the Year
Gunnar Libby
Hillman
*Class D all-state second team
*North Star League first team
*Repeat All-Alpena News first team selection
*Held averages of 18.9 points, 4 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 4.7 steals per game
*Finished his career as Hillman’s No. 2 all-time scorer
*Led the Tigers to a second regional championship in three seasons
*Helped Hillman win a fourth straight North Star League Big Dipper division title and a district championship
Chris DeRocher
Alpena
*Big North Conference first team
*Averaged 20.3 points and 9.3 rebounds
*Scored in double figures in all but one of Alpena’s 20 games and scored more than 20 points in nine games
*Scored a season-high and career-high 34 points in three quarters in a win over Ogemaw Heights
Keaton Brewer
Onaway
*Ski Valley Conference first team
*Led the area with 23.4 points and 10.3 rebounds per game
*Recorded double digits in each of Onaway’s 21 games and scored at least 20 points in 14 games
*Provided leadership on a rebuilding team and helped the Cardinals reach the district semifinals
Brandon Banks
Hillman
*North Star League second team
*Averaged 13.1 points, 2.5 rebounds and 3 assists per game
*Stepped up as a leader and became a consistent scorer for a team that won a program record 24 games and advanced to the quarterfinals for the second time in three seasons.
*Ended the season with a 22-point effort in a quarterfinal loss to Powers North Central
Trevor Wregglesworth
Onaway
*Ski Valley Conference second team
*Averaged 12.7 points and 7.7 rebounds per game
*Recorded four games with more than 20 points.
*Key contributor on a team that overcame a slow start to the year and finished .500 in the regular season while staying competitive in most of its games.
Coach of the Year
Eric Muzynski
After all the Hillman boys basketball team has accomplished in recent years, it might have been impossible for the Tigers reach even higher heights. Yet during the 2016-17 season, the Tigers did just that. With Muszynski keeping the Tigers running like a well-oiled machine, the team set a new program record for wins (24) while making a second quarterfinal appearance in three years. Under Muszynski’s tutelage, the Tigers were a deadly force from outside and also found ways to beat teams inside. Backed by a tenacious defense, the Tigers nearly ran the table in the regular season and continued lengthy home and North Star League winning streaks until late in the season. Despite a second straight loss to Powers North Central in the quarterfinals, Muszynski and the Tigers should be a team to watch for next season with the bulk of the roster returning.
Second Team
Grant Huebel, Oscoda
Cam DeCaire, Alpena
Brendan Koss, Rogers City
Kory Henigan, Hillman
Jordan Steiner, Alcona
Honorable Mention
Aidan Goike, Alpena; Logan Guthrie, Alpena; Phil Grambau, Rogers City; Jacob Hilla, Rogers City; Cody Cruse, Onaway; Seth Cleeves, Fairview; Drake Willobee, Fairview; Devon Mills, Alcona; Alex Stephenson, Alcona; Antavius Mikazes, Alcona; Nathan Nagel, Oscoda; Brayden Mallak, Oscoda; Billy Kolcan, Hillman; Andrew Funk, Hillman; Izaiah Hincka, Posen; Jared Sharpe, Posen; Austin Corbin Atlanta; Nick Byarski, Atlanta; Reilly McMaster, Mio.