Defiance put two players on the Western Buckeye League first team in boys basketball this year, and just missed a third.
Seniors Jordan Mack and Bryn Lehman were voted to the 10-man first team for the Bulldogs, joining three players from WBL champion Lima Shawnee, Jerin Butler, Brent Farley and Cody Smith. Mack led the Bulldogs in scoring at 12.8 ppg, while Lehman was second in scoring at 106 ppg and led in assists with 4.9 an outing.
Kenton's Garrick Sherman received seven of the 10 votes to earn WBL Player of the Year honors. The 6-10 junior, who was named District 8 Player of the Year (for Divisions I, II and III) as well, is already Kenton's all-time leader in career rebounds and five points away from becoming the all-time leading scorer. Sherman is 27 rebounds away from 1,000 in his career.
O-G's Justin Schomaeker was also first team along with Lima Bath's Zach Meeks, Van Wert's Chris Morrow and Wapakoneta's Kyle Maus.
Defiance senior Steve Riedel was one vote away from earning first team honors and was named special mention after helping the Bulldogs to an 8-1 league mark, one game behind WBL champ Shawnee.
DHS junior Alex Keel was selected honorable mention.
Shawnee's Nick Bertke was named Coach of the Year after leading the Indians to a perfect 9-0 record in WBL play and a 17-2 mark overall.
Western Buckeye League
First Team
Zach Meeks (Bath); Bryn Lehman (Defiance); Jordan Mack (Defiance); Garrick Sherman (Kenton); Justin Schomaeker (O-G); Jerin Butler (Shawnee); Brent Farley (Shawnee); Cody Smith (Shawnee); Kyle Maus (Wapak); Chris Morrow (Van Wert).
Special Mention
Derek Gagle (Celina); Michael Sommer (Celina); Steve Riedel (Defiance); Bo Mathias (Elida); Chase Barnes (Kenton); Jake Meyer (O-G).
Honorable Mention
Matt McKinney (Bath); Matt Clausen (Celina); Alex Keel (Defiance); Steven Swick (Elida); T.J. Legge (Kenton); Taylor Pothast (O-G); Cory Menker (St. Marys); Kyle Strawn (Shawnee); Jayden Taylor (Van Wert); Zach Brown (Wapak).
Player of the Year: Garrick Sherman (Kenton).
Coach of Year: Nick Bertke (Shawnee).