Published: April 03, 2008 10:52 am            

New faces dominate Herald all-area boys basketball team

CLINTON — There are plenty of new faces on the 2008 Herald All-Area Boys Basketball Team.

The only returning first teamer from a year ago is West Carroll’s Chris Anderson. Next year’s team may have a familiar look as three of the seven are juniors and one a sophomore.

Joining Anderson on the first squad are Prince of Peace’s Drew Sikkema, Morrison’s Jason Smith, Preston’s Brady Oldag, Bellevue Marquette’s Ryan Tebbe, Central DeWitt’s Kramer Steffens and Calamus-Wheatland’s Ryan Powers.

Here is a look at the first team selections, as well as the second- and third-team picks:

FIRST TEAM

Tebbe carried on the basketball tradition at Bellevue Marquette in leading the Mohawks to a 12-9 record. The 6 foot 4 senior was named second team Iowa Class 1A all-state and the Big East Conference MVP after averaging 20.9 points and 7.9 rebounds per contest.

Anderson led the Thunder to a 23-7 record in 2007-08 after guiding West Carroll to an Elite Eight bid a year ago. The Thunder fell in a super-sectional showdown with Peoria Manual, preventing a return trip to Peoria.

Anderson led West Carroll to a NUIC championship with a 17.9 points per game average. The 6 foot 4 senior also recorded 6.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 2.5 steals and 2.2 blocks per game in garnering unanimous First Team All-Northwest Upstate Illini Conference honors as well as Honorable Mention all-state honors.

Steffens, a third team pick a year ago, led Central DeWitt to a 14-8 record. The versatile 6 foot 3 swingman averaged 14.5 points, 4.9 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game for the Sabers. Steffens was a unanimous All-WaMac East Division pick as well as a third team Iowa Class 3A all-state selection.

Sikkema led the Irish to a share of the Big East Conference crown and an 19-3 overall record. The first team all-league pick led Prince of Peace with a 14.4 scoring average. The 5 foot 11 junior also contributed 4.2 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.7 steals per game.

Powers, just a sophomore, served notice to the rest of the Big East Conference that the Warriors are on the rise. The 6 foot 2 guard/forward combo led the area with a 24.0 scoring average. Powers also tallied 10.3 boards per contest while hitting 46 3-pointers and 52.3 percent of his field goal attempts. The Big East first teamer was a second team Iowa Class 1A all-state selection as well.

Smith led the Mustangs to a Three Rivers Conference title as a junior. The unanimous first-team pick was also named the TRAC player of the year after pouring in 17.2 points per game. The 6 foot 3 forward shot 63 percent from the field and averaged four boards per contest.

Oldag led the Trojans to within a game of the Iowa state tournament, falling in the substate championship to Burlington Notre Dame. The first team all-Big East center led Preston with 16.5 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. The 6 foot 6 junior guided the Trojans to a 21-3 record.

SECOND TEAM

Preston senior Tayden Helmle closed out a stellar high school career with a fine season for the Trojans. Helmle scored at a 14.2 points per game clip, good for second on the team and chipped in 5.1 boards and 4.3 assists per contest.

Clinton’s Matt Murphy was a force inside for the River Kings as they compiled a 9-13 record. The third team all-MAC performer tallied 9.3 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. The 6 foot 6 center was an honorable mention all-area pick a year ago.

Northeast junior Ryan Krogmann led the Rebels to an 8-4 Big East Conference record. Krogmann paced the Rebels with 12 points, 9.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game on his way to being tabbed a first team all-league pick.

Morrison’s Nate McBride helped the Mustangs to a 13-1 conference slate. McBride was named first team all-Three Rivers in his senior season.

Daniel Holmes was a unanimous first team All-WaMac East Division selection for Maquoketa as a junior. Holmes led the Cardinals with 14.4 points and 4.6 assists per game.

Milledgeville’s Jamison Wiersema led the Missiles to a 21-4 record and No. 6 ranking in the final Illinois Class 1A poll. The 6 foot senior averaged 11.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. Wiersema was named first team all-Northwest Upstate Illini East Division.

West Carroll’s Drew Gallentine teamed with Chris Anderson to give the Thunder a potent one-two scoring punch. Gallentine poured in 15.7 points per game for the Thunder on 51 3-pointers for the season. The West Carroll senior also averaged 2.4 steals per contest on his way to being named first team all-NUIC.

Third Team

Prince of Peace senior Ben Lehmkuhl was a steady force on the Big East Conference co-champion team. The 6 foot 2 forward averaged 11.0 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game.

Kyle Matheny was Clinton’s most versatile player, having played four out of five positions in each game. The River King senior scored at a 9.1 points per game clip, while pulling down 3.9 rebounds. Matheny was an Honorable-Mention All-MAC selection.

Erie junior Matt Pyse led the Cardinals to a 10-4 Three Rivers Conference record while averaging 13.7 points per game. The first team all-TRAC pick also pulled down 5.8 boards per contest.

Milledgeville’s Kirk Engelkins led the Missiles with a 13.2 points per game average. The 6 foot 1 junior also grabbed 5.5 rebounds and dished out 3.2 assists per game.

Colten Hilgendorf was Camanche’s go to guy this year on his way to garnering second team all-Big East honors. Hilgendorf led the Indians with 16.3 points, 8.9 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game averages. The 6 foot 4 center also took seven charges and swiped 22 steals on the season.

Aaron Fullan led Unity Christian to a second place finish in the North Illinois Christian Conference tournament and was named first team all-NICC for his efforts. Fullan averaged 18 points and 12 rebounds per game for the Knights.

Dennis Barr was Fulton’s 6 foot 2 workhorse in the middle. The Steamer senior was named second team all-TRAC after averaging 13.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per contest.

        

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