Tuesday, March 24, 2009
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Harding's Desmar Jackson pulls down a rebound past Mark Thornton of East.
Players from Boardman, Poland, Howland and East Liverpool were also selected.
STAFF/WIRE REPORT
COLUMBUS — Desmar Jackson, who has led Warren Harding into the Division I state tournament for the first time in 43 years, was recognized for his outstanding season on Monday by being named to the Associated Press All-Ohio first team.
Jackson, a 6-foot-5 senior, averaged 16.7 points per game this season, leading the Raiders to an 18-2 record.
Warren Harding will play in the final four for the first time since 1966 against Columbus Northland — and Div. I player of the year Jared Sullinger — in a state semifinal on Friday.
Sullinger, a 6-9 junior who has already committed to Ohio State, averaged 19.9 points and 14.8 rebounds while shooting 67 percent from the field.
Jackson’s Harding teammate, Fred Williams, and J.T. Moore of Boardman were named to the Div. I honorable mention list.
In Div. II, no area players were selected to the first, second or third teams, but Niko Fatimus of Poland Kurtis Drummond were named to the special mention list. Ben Donlow of Poland, Kyle Spence of Howland and Jason Dickey of East Liverpool were selected honorable mention.
In Div. II, the player of the year award was shared by Kenton’s Garrick Sherman and St. Paris Graham’s Josh Schuler.
The coaches of the year in Div. I were Dublin Scioto’s Tony Bisutti, Cincinnati Princeton’s Josh Andrews, Al Stacey of Lorain Admiral King and Barberton’s Ken Rector.
Sherman is a 6-10 senior headed for Michigan State who averaged 23.4 points, 16.4 rebounds and 3.4 blocked shots a game. Schuler, a 6-2 senior who will play at North Dakota, scored 24.1 points for the state’s top-ranked team.
Sharing coaching honors in Div. II were Don Vogt of Cambridge, Circleville Logan Elm’s Doug Stiverson and Dru Joyce II of Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary. Logan Elm and SVSM both made it to the state semifinals.