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DICK'S Sporting Goods Appreciates GMC Girls Basketball Standouts

DICK'S Sporting Goods is proud to recognize Greater Miami Conference Girls Basketball high achievers from the 2022-23 season.  GMC "Player of the Year" honors went to Princeton's Sole Williams, who also was recognized as the Ohio "Gatorade Player of the Year". In acknowledgement of her outstanding ability the GMC Head Coaches have selected Sole` as the conference "Player of the Year" for two consecutive years. The consummate "floor general",  Sole` does it all for her State Champion Princeton Vikings. She lead the league in scoring with a 20.2 points per game average, was tied for second in assists with 3.4 per game, 2nd in field goal percentage with 51.7 % and was first in steal with 3.4 per game.  Nearly a sure thing from the free throw line, Sole` cashed in on a remarkable 86.4 % from the charity stripe.  From long distance, she hit 57 three pointers out of 177 attempts for a 33% average.

Sole` Williams - Princeton Vikings GMC "Player of the Year" 

(Photo compliments of Princeton Athletic Department)

In a vote of the GMC Head Coaches, "Defensive Player of the Year" honors went to Lakota East's Celina Blount. This junior forward proved to be force on the defensive end of the court and under the basket, pulling down 3.6 rebounds per game as well as rejecting 1.6 shots per game to go along with .5 steals. Drawing tough defensive assignments, Celina's defensive abilities certainly were a factor in their 14-2 conference record.

Celina Blount - Lakota East "Defensive Player of the Year"   

(Photo compliments of East SID Dan Hilen)

The Greater Miami Conference features some of the very best basketball coaches in Ohio and this season certainly gave evidence of the high degree of competition within the conference. After the dust had settled on the 2022-23 regular season, the Mason Comets won their 3rd consecutive title (outright or shared) with an outstanding 15-1 record and nipping at their heels were the Lakota East Thunderhawks and Princeton Vikings both posting 14-2 records.

As a further show of conference strength, Mason, Lakota East and Princeton all won Southwest District Championships. This would be three titles out of the four being contested! Then as an exclamation mark, the Princeton Vikings rode their tournament momentum all the way to the state championship.  In recognition of their leadership and extra efforts in their programs, Mason's Rob Matula and Lakota East's Dan Wallace were both selected as GMC "Co-Coaches of the Year" by their coaching peers.

DICK'S Sporting Goods Honors Boys Basketball Stars

DICK'S Sporting Goods appreciates the achievements and talents found within Greater Miami Conference boys basketball. In a vote the GMC head basketball coaches, Fairfield's Deshawne Crim was selected as the conference "Player of the Year". Deshawne was second in the GMC in scoring with a 19.6 average on his way to becoming the Fairfield career scoring leader. While leading his Fairfield Indians to their third consecutive GMC title (15-1), Crim shot an amazing 50.3% from the field and earned his third first-team all-conference honor.

Deshawne Crim - Fairfield Indians GMC "Player of the Year"

A defensive stalwart in the Greater Miami Conference, Aamir Rogers was selected by conference coaches as the GMC "Defensive Player of the Year". While second in the league in defensive rebounds with 9.5 per game, Aamir was also fourth in blocks with 1.6 per game. A key defensive component in the Fairfield basketball juggernaut, Aamir Rogers played a key defensive role in the Indians 3-peat performance as GMC Champions. Over his varsity career, Aamir Rogers earned all-conference honors on two occasions.

Aamir Rogers - Fairfield Indians GMC "Defensive Player of the Year"

In a vote of his coaching peers DJ Wyrick was selected as the GMC "Coach of the Year" for the third consecutive season. After leading his Indian contingent to a 15-1 GMC record in the 2022-23 campaign, Coach Wyrick then captured his second straight district title. In the past the three years Coach Wyrick's teams have amassed records of 15-1 (2023), 14-2 (2022) and 13-1 (2021). The ultimate honor for a head coach, beyond the success of his team, is to be appreciated by his coaching peers. Without question, Coach Wyrick has set the competitive bar high in the GMC and has had huge impact on basketball in the Southwest District. Congratulations Coach! 

DJ Wyrick - Fairfield Indians GMC "Coach of the Year"

(Photo compliments of Mark Braam)

DICK'S Sporting Goods Celebrates Achievements in Boys Bowling

DICK'S Sporting Goods appreciates the success within the GMC Boys Bowling season. The GMC "Athlete of the Year", Aiden Hunt,  hails from league champion Mason High School. This senior kegler led the league with an average of 215.5 pins per game and in 35 total games, Aiden knocked an impressive 7543 total pins. His high game for the 2023 season was an unblemished 300 game. He also totaled an impressive 546 two-game series.

Aiden Hunt - Mason Comets GMC "Athlete of the Year"

In a dominant season where the Mason Comets swept the conference in undefeated fashion (9-0) edging out a talented Oak Hills crew (8-1), Mason Head Coach Joe Riestenberg was selected by his coaching peers as the GMC "Coach of the Year" for 2023. This was the third consecutive year where the Comets have either won outright or shared the GMC title and their sixth championship since 2009. Underscoring coaching excellence and consistency, Coach Riestenberg has been honored as the GMC "COY" on four occasions.

Joe Riestenberg - Mason Comets GMC "Coach of the Year"

(Photo compliments of Mason SID Dan Hilen)

DICK'S Sporting Goods Appreciates GMC Girls Bowling Standouts

DICK'S Sporting Goods congratulates a wide variety of sporting achievement.  In this circumstance DSG salutes standouts found in GMC Girls Bowling.

In her senior season, Isabelle Snyder from the Colerain Cardinals distinguished herself by logging the second best average in the GMC by knocking down 9091 pins in 48 games for a 189.4 average. She also logged a season high two-game series of 479. This three-time first team All-GMC selection was selected as the conference "Athlete of the Year" in a vote of conference head coaches.

Isabelle Snyder - Colerain Cardinals "Athlete of the Year"

(Photo compliments of Colerain Athletic Department)

In a vote of the Greater Miami Conference Head Girls Bowling Coaches, Woody Cowgill from the Middletown Middies was selected as the GMC "Coach of the Year".  Under his leadership, the Middies moved from 4th place in 2022 to 2nd place (7-2) this year and challenged for the conference title before bowing to Lakota West's undefeated girls team. To be honored by your coaching peers is the ultimate acknowledgement of program commitment to young people. 

Woody Cowgill - Middletown Middies GMC "Coach of the Year"

(Photo compliments of Middletown Athletic Department)

Mason Girls Basketball Wins GMC Championship

Mason SID Dan Hilen Press Release and Photo

GIRLS' BBALL 2022-23 GMC CHAMPIONS!

COMETS WIN 16TH IN A ROW!

 

Mason Girls Basketball won their 3rd outright (2013, 2021, 2023) GMC Championship on Saturday in a decisive 58-46 win at home versus Lakota East. The title for the Comet girls is their 6th overall (2013, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023) after sharing the top spot with Princeton last season. The win versus East avenged an earlier season loss to the Thunderhawks (52-48) on Dec. 7th and putting together a 16-game win streak following that setback. 

The two local powerhouses entered the contest tied for the GMC with one loss in a "winner takes all" matchup. The first three-quarters of play didn't disappoint, before a big crowd at the Mason Middle School Arena. Each team traded punches in the first half with the score even at 28-28 at the half. Mason pulled away in the third quarter and kept the pressure for the rest of regulation play. A bucket by Gabby Razzano (8 points) with 4:30 left in the third stanza gave Mason a 34-33 lead they would not relinquish for the remainder of the afternoon. The Hawks got into some 2nd half foul issues keeping a couple of their best players on the bench.

Lakota East pulled within a bucket at 43-41 on the opening possession of the fourth quarter when senior Payton Woody knocked down a 3-pointer from the top of the key. It was the closest the Thunderhawks would get as Mason immediately responded with a 9-0 run. Mason's defense held Lakota East to just 5 points over the final seven-plus minutes.

Mason's Madison Parrish finished with a game-high 23 points. Senior Carly Prows had 9 points and freshman guard Anna Habra connected twice from beyond the arc, finishing with 10 points and 11 rebounds for her first career double-double. Senior Amanda Barnes helped put the game away with 5 free throws. 

 

2023 GMC Girls Basketball Champions - Mason Comets