February 26, 2020 at 1:58 p.m.
Hodags Van Zile, Beavers named GNC co-girls' hoops players of the year
Hodags Van Zile, Beavers named GNC co-girls' hoops players of the year
Hodag seniors Kenedy Van Zile and Cynthia Beavers were named co-recipients of the award when the conference announced its winter all-conference teams on Monday. Both were unanimous first-team all-conference selections and the Hodags had four all-conference players overall.
"To get Kenedy and Cynthia unanimous sections on the first team, that was pretty much a slam dunk going into it, but I think the best part is we got them both for player of the year," said Rhinelander coach Ryan Clark, who was voted the conference's girls' basketball coach of the year for the second year in a row. "It's the first time we've had that on the girls side, and very deserving. When they narrowed it down to two I said, 'Honestly, I'd have to split my vote.'"
The numbers Van Zile and Beavers put up this year speak for themselves. Van Zile, who was the reigning conference player of the year, won the GNC scoring title for the second year in a row (21.2 points per game) - doing so this season by one point over Lakeland freshman Juliana Ouimette. She was also tops in the GNC in made 3-pointers (31), third in the conference in assists (4.2 apg) and tied for third in the conference in steals (4.6 spg).
"I think Kenedy, with what she does handling the basketball, she's just so dangerous running the show for us," Clark said. "It's hard to press us because she can handle it and get through it. I think she's really improved with more assists this year, finding her teammates better."
Beavers has an equally impressive resume. She was third in the conference in scoring at 17.6 points per game, second in rebounding (7.6 rpg), second in steals (4.8 spg), second in free throw percentage (.767) and fourth in assists (3.6 apg).
"Cynthia just had an outstanding season," Clark said. "I looked at her stats and she more than doubled all her statistics from last year. I know Kenedy coming back gave us a chance to win the conference and Cynthia's step up that she made this year solidified why we won it 12-0 again."
The third member of Rhinelander's big three, junior Rebecca Lawrence, received second-team honors while scrappy defender Megan Brown received honorable mention.
Lawrence was fourth in the conference in scoring at 16.7 points per game, third in the conference in rebounding (6.2 rpg), and tied for third in steals (4.6 spg), all while finishing third in the conference in total field goal percentage (.586).
"Rebecca Lawrence, I thought she was a borderline first-team/second-team player. I know it's hard to get all three kids on the first team, but I was looking at her stats from the year before and she pretty much doubled her stats," Clark said. "She had some huge games, 31 points against Mosinee. She had a really nice year. She's our best returning player coming back. Next year, I think she has the ability to be a unanimous first-team all-conference player her senior year. I'm proud of her and the development she's made."
Brown's offensive numbers were not nearly as gaudy, averaging 4.2 points per game, but the sophomore was in the top 10 in the conference in steals (3.0 spg) - all while typically drawing the assignment against the opponent's best player.
"I thought Megan Brown getting honorable mention was a nice little carrot," Clark said. "I wish our conference had an all-defensive team I think that would be really neat because there are multiple kids on various teams that really defend well but maybe don't put up the offensive stats. Megan's been a solid starter for us all year and we always put her on the best guard. Just her ability to defend other guards makes us better. I'm glad that conference coaches recognized it as well."
Boys' basketball
The Hodag boys' basketball team also had four all-conference honorees, though it did not have any first-team recipients.
Senior Drake Martin and junior Quinn Lamers both earned second-team honors while junior Ross Skeen and senior Peyton Erikson received honorable mention.
Lamers was Rhinelander's leading scorer in conference play, averaging 12.8 points per game and his 29 3-pointers made in conference play were second overall behind only Northland Pines' Ryan Peterson. Martin sat third in the league at 3.7 assists per game and was just outside the top 10 in points (11.7) and rebounds (5.4) per contest, while his .575 overall field goal percentage was second in the conference play.
"Drake and Quinn got second team, deservedly," coach Derek Lemmens said. "I really thought Drake had a shot at first team. Really, toward the end, he just kind of went quiet on the offensive end and that hurt him a little bit but he definitely, for a long time was first-team talk. Then Quinn has been very consistent for us and has just continued do improve as the season went on."
Skeen, who received honorable mention in the conference for the second straight year, averaged 10.8 points and 4.6 rebounds per game during the conference season. Erikson averaged 9.8 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.3 assist in league play. Erikson's 15 3-pointers were 11th most in the conference, but he shot 53.6% from 3-point range (15 of 28) during the conference season.
"Ross and Erikson bring a lot and they've had some big games," Lemmens said. "I just think our team shares the ball so well, it's not about the individual accolades. It's just this is becoming a nice team."
Other sports
The All-GNC boys' hockey team was announced Feb. 15 during the Great Northern Conference tournament final round in Eagle River. Junior forward Harlan Wojtusik received second-team honors for the Hodags while senior defenseman Danny Zuiker received honorable mention.
In individual sports, all-conference awards were determined by performances at the conference meet.
The Hodag boys' swim team had at least one all-conference representative in all 11 events as 10 different athletes finished in the top three during the conference meet held Feb. 7 in Rhinelander.
Joseph Heck, Thaddeus Heck, David King, Devon Gaber and Daniel Gillingham all had at least one first-team honor. Jack Antonuk, Devon Gaber and Gillingham were listed on the second team while Gillingham, Joseph Heck, David King, Jacob Schoppe, Marcus O'Malley, Gavin Ostermann and Charlie Heck received honorable mention.
Similarly in wrestling, the top three finishers in each weight class at the GNC meet Feb. 8 in Medford earned all-conference honors. Tim Fox (113 pounds), Walker Hartman (170) and Trevor Knapp (195) were on the first team by virtue of winning individual conference titles. Ben Sinclair (285) received second team honors while Connor Lund (182) and Cayden Neri (152) received honorable mention.
No Rhinelander gymnasts received all-conference honors, which were earned by placing in the top three in each individual event or the individual all-around at the GNC meet this past Saturday in Park Falls. Medford, which won the GNC Small division title, captured all but one of the 15 spots up for grabs on the all-conference team. The only outsider to crash the party was Chequemegon's Kristina Peterson, who earned second-team honors with a runner-up finish on vault.
There was no all-conference team for girls' hockey as the GNC disbanded for that sport after the merger of the Rhinelander/Antigo and Lakeland/Tomahawk co-ops left the conference inviable with only three teams for the 2019-2020 season.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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