Warriors’ Trimmer is Division II co-player of the year

March 17, 2015 at 12:00a.m.

Friday’s girls Division II state semifinal had the chance to be a showdown between co-players of the year.

As it turns out, one will be on the floor while the other has to watch from the sideline.

West Branch’s Melinda Trimmer and Toledo Rogers’ Akienreh Johnson were given the state’s top honors by the Associated Press on Monday. They were joined by Maddie Bazelak of Kettering Archbishop Alter as co-players of the year.

Trimmer and the Warriors (27-1, AP No. 5) are set to play Johnson’s Rams in a state semifinal at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Friday at 3 p.m. However they’re not going to have to face Johnson, who will be sidelined after suffering a torn ACL in last weekend’s regional final.

The junior guard had to exit in the third quarter of the Rams’ 58-53 win over Bellevue. Johnson, who is committed to Michigan, underwent an MRI on Monday that revealed a tear in her left knee.

The loss is a tough break for Rogers, who will be without its top scorer at 14.5 points per game. Former Ursuline High School standout Tanaya Beacham, who earned honorable mention and has commited to Xavier, will have to pick up the slack for the Rams (23-5, AP No. 10).

Joining Trimmer on the All-Ohio list is Warriors teammate Pavin Heath. The 5-foot-10 senior was named to the third-team after averaging 13 points per game this season. Along with player of the year honors, Trimmer also made first-team All-Ohio with 20.4 points per game.

In the other Division II state semifinal on Friday, Archbishop Alter (28-0, AP No. 1) will face West Holmes (24-3, AP No. 8).

Bazelak is joined by Alter teammate Emma Bockrath, who earned special mention, on the All-Ohio list. The co-player of the year averaged 11.4 points per game this year.

Hannah Clark was an honorable mention for West Holmes. A complete list can be found on B2.

All-Ohio teams for girls Divisions III and IV are scheduled to be announced today at 6:30 p.m. The AP Ms. Basketball will be selected on Wednesday.

Boys honors will be announced next week.