You might want to rename our 2014-2015 Evening Sun boys’ basketball all-stars the “junior all-stars.” Seven of the 11 players named to this year’s squad are juniors, a fact that indicates a senior-dominated all-star team next year.
Fresh faces also dot our elite eleven with eight first-time all-stars named to the squad. Incumbents from last year are triple-double machine, Oxford’s Kevin Davis, and Norwich all-stars Michael Oralls and Zan Stewart.
Oralls and Stewart deserve a little extra attention in this space as each proved consummate winners in matching three-year varsity careers for the Purple Tornado. In three varsity seasons, the duo made large contributions to 53 Norwich wins, multiple tournament titles, three STAC division titles, two overall STAC titles, and two Section IV championships.
“Michael and Zan leave a great legacy behind them,” said Norwich fourth-year varsity coach Tom Collier. “I have coached both of them since the seventh grade, and one thing you can say about them is that they won at every level. To have that many wins against the caliber of teams they played is phenomenal.”
This section is reserved for the elite individual players in our area, but to combine that with a consistent level of winning deserves a hearty pat on the back for Oralls and Stewart.
The other two seniors on our all-star list, S-E’s Ben Khoury and Otselic Valley’s Matt Neal, made the most of their final season to shine. Playing more complementary roles in previous years, the 2014-2015 season was one in which Khoury and Neal became unquestioned go-to players. Khoury doubled his scoring average, and Neal was his club’s top returning scorer, but did so with erratic shooting. Khoury and Neal became consistent players for their teams displaying quiet leadership on both ends of the floor.
Then there are our juniors led by Davis, a return pick, who won the area scoring title at 16.7 points a game. Juniors joining Davis are Greene’s Joe Miranda and Jordan Harrington; G-MU’s Nate O’Hara, Sherburne-Earlville’s Gavin Giroux, and Unadilla Valley’s Ryan Postma and Brett Hanslmaier.
Five of the eight teams we covered reached the postseason with .500-or-better records. We’re expecting even better performances next year with a veteran corps of all-stars expected back.
As always, all-star selections were chosen by Evening Sun Sports Editor Patrick Newell along with recommendations from area coaches. Statistics and honorable mention picks also appear on today’s pages.
Kevin Davis, jr., Oxford
The scoring champion in the area this year - and likely the rebounding leader at nearly 13 per game - Davis was a do-everything player for the seven-win Blackhawks this past season topping the charts in scoring, rebounding, assists, steals, and blocked shots. In addition to his 16.7 points a contest, he dished out 4.6 assists, picked up better than six steals, blocked more than two shots a game, and averaged better than one three a game. And Davis became the first boys' basketball player in the area to record at least three triple-doubles in the same season finishing with four during the season in just 17 games. With more experiencing coming back, his head coach (and father), Tim Davis, expects an even more dominant season from his four-year varsity player.
Gavin Giroux, jr. Sherburne-Earlville
The smooth left-hander took a few games to get his varsity legs, and once he did, he made for a formidable one-two punch along with fellow all-star and teammate, Ben Khoury. "He had a great second half of the year," said S-E head coach Kevin Vibbard. "He was a low-post presence that led to double teams and open shots for his teammates." Giroux had a number of double-doubles in points and rebounds with his best individual game a 21-point, 20-rebound game against Clinton. "Double-doubles are impressive, but you don't see (20-20s) that often, and they're even more impressive," Vibbard said. "We're expecting a lot from him next season."
Brett Hanslmaier, jr. Unadilla Valley
There were two Unadilla Valley teams this year: One with a healthy Hanslmaier, and the other with an ailing/injured Hanslmaier. The former clearly demonstrated how good the Storm could play. "Brett brought back the most experience from last year's team, and he was definitely our leader," said UV coach Matt Osborne. "He was our best rebounder and best inside player." Hanslmaier first endured an injury, then battled the flu. By late season, he was at peak performance, and posted a 14-point, 14-rebound game in a playoff victory over Unatego. For the season, he averaged 10 points, eight rebounds, and two blocked shots a game. "He regained all of his confidence once he was healthy," Osborne said.
Jordan Harrington, jr., Greene
A three-point outing in his first varsity game disguised the type of player Harrington would become. The Trojans' top scorer would end up averaging 11.7 points per game hitting a team-best 41 threes. Much more than just an outside shooter, Harrington was a scorer who had a season-high 29 points against Afton, and had two other 20-point nights during the season. Overall, he was in double figures 11 times, and was an adept foul shooter hitting 80 percent of his attempts this season. "He was one of our best competitors on the team, and a pure shooter who has developed his game beyond the three-point line, "said Greene coach Rick Smith. "He really became a threat driving to the paint this season."
Ben Khoury, sr. Sherburne-Earlville
You hope that your seniors will take the mantle of leadership with the departure of graduating seniors. A complementary player as a junior on the Marauders' sectional semifinalist last year, Khoury became S-E's unquestioned offensive and defensive leader, and he was the only player in Chenango County - boy or girl - to score in double figures every game. Khoury was second in the area in scoring at 16.4 points per game, double his total from last season. "It was his turn to take the reins, and he did just that," said head coach Kevin Vibbard. "Not only was he our scoring leader, but he was best defender and definitely our most valuable player."
Joe Miranda, jr., Greene
