Hughes, Spitler, Trimmer earn district player of the year honors

Staff report

Friday was a very good day for Ursuline senior Mark Hughes.

Hours before the Wright State recruit led the Irish to their second straight district title, he was named the Northeast Inland District player of the year by the Associated Press.

The 6-foot-3 Hughes averaged 24.5 points per game for Ursuline (21-5), which defeated Girard 62-36 on Friday night. Junior teammate Greg Parella (17.3 ppg) joined him on the first team, as did Springfield junior Graham Mincher (20.4 ppg) and Girard senior Dylan O’Hara (19.5 ppg).

Springfield coach Eric Fender, who led the Tigers to a 22-0 regular season record, was named the Division III coach of the year.

Poland seniors Danny Black (12 ppg) and Kyle Dixon (10 ppg) both made the first team in Division II, as did Struthers senior Ray’Quan Phifer (27 ppg) and Canfield senior Mike Yourstowsky (17.8 ppg).

In Division IV, Maplewood senior Nate Spitler shared player of the year honors with St. Thomas Aquinas senior Anthony Moeglin. Spitler averaged 22 points per game for the Rockets, who lost to Cornerstone Christian in the district semifinals. Lowellville senior Paolo DePasquale (22.6 ppg), Western Reserve senior Joe Falasca (18.0 ppg), McDonald senior Anthony Pugh (21.2 ppg) and Leetonia senior Trent Ferry (22.4 ppg) were also on the first team.

On the girls side, West Branch senior Melinda Trimmer earned player of the year honors after leading the Warriors to today’s Division II regional final against Geneva.

Trimmer, a Youngstown State recruit, averaged 20.4 points per game this season. Senior teammate Pavin Heath (13.0 ppg) also made the first team.

Howland sophomore Sara Price (20.0 ppg) made the Division I first team.

Newton Falls junior Gabby Kline (19.5 ppg), South Range senior Ashley Sharp (13.7 ppg) and Springfield senior Callie Ford (23.2 ppg) made the first team in Division III.

In Division IV, Maplewood senior Miranda Sloan (15.3 ppg), Warren JFK sophomore Antonella LaMonica (21.9 ppg), Columbiana senior Baylie Mook (20.2 ppg) and Western Reserve senior Aleah Hughes (17.0 ppg) made the first team.