In previous years, this has been fairly simple and somewhat obvious in naming the best high school basketball players in Benton County. This season, not so much.
I asked eight people from Cole Camp to name their best three girls players and I received eight different lists with only Emma Thayer being an overwhelming choice. So this season was very difficult choosing players on the second team on both the girls and the boys side. I had to make tough choices.
With that being said, we want to thank all of the players for their dedication and hard work this season. Our apologies if we left out your favorite player.
Let's look at head-to-head team matchups before we begin with our selections.
On the girls' side, Warsaw ended up 9-18, beating Lincoln twice, 36-24 in the Warsaw tourney and then 41-22 at Lincoln. They defeated Cole Camp 50-35 in the second game of the season at Warsaw.
Lincoln finished 8-17, losing to Cole Camp at Cole Camp, 25-23 and as mentioned above lost twice to Warsaw.
Cole Camp ended up 6-20, beating Lincoln and losing to Warsaw twice as previously mentioned .
On the boys side, Cole Camp finished 21-7. They beat Lincoln in the conference tournament at State Fair, 43-32 and at Lincoln, 65-41 and beat Warsaw twice, 55-39 at Warsaw and at Stover in districts, 53-33.
Lincoln ended 7-18 and Warsaw 5-19. Warsaw won the first game 60-59 in their own tournament and lost 59-34 at Lincoln.
Anyway, here's the selections for this year:
Boys
First Team
Gentry Dieckman, senior, 6'6", Cole Camp - He was All-State last year. Had an awesome defensive game against Versailles in district play. Had 18 points and blocked numerous shots and caused havoc against their high powered offense.
He recorded 19.1 ppg, 60 assists, 226 rebounds and 69 blocks and had numerous dunks during the season in entertaining the fans.
He was the best player in Benton County, bar none. Besides dunking, his favorite move was to drive the paint and dish off to an open teammate for a layup.
Because of his slender frame, his speed, his quickness and being able to handle the ball in the open court, teams would play him very physically and sometimes even brutal. He took some hard hits but to his credit, he kept getting up.
Logan Gemes, junior, 6'1", Warsaw - It can be difficult to find many bright spots on a 5-19 team, but Gemes was one for the Wildcats.
After being named to the second team last season, we said he'd be "fun to watch" and "should lead Warsaw's program". He was and did just that.
Gemes led the Wildcats with 15.3 ppg and also tied for the team lead for rpg with 6.4. He was on the leaderboard for about every major stat.
His biggest game this season came in a loss at Versailles where he dropped 44 on the Tigers.
Probably the best pure basketball player that Warsaw has seen on the floor since Matt Luebbert.
Reid Harrison, senior, 5'10", Cole Camp - Improved his shooting over last season. Was perhaps the best defensive player in the area. He was Cole Camp's best ball handler and he caused teams problems in applying a full court press. He could fly by defenders in the open court.
He averaged 15.1 ppg and shot 74 percent from the free throw line.
Harrison was a team player and, along with Dieckman, gave the Bluebirds a deadly one-two threat.
Cole Camp will have to wait awhile to have two athletes of their all-around caliber to grace their court again. Injuries kept him from exceeding even greater expectations. Head football and basketball Coach Kevin Shearer called him the best athlete he's coached in 33 years.
Ben Eckhoff, sophomore, 6'3", Lincoln - Opposing coaches dread the time when he matures as a player in the next two years. He has a great future as an inside force and rebounder. Had a couple of twenty point games. Saw defenses collapse on him. As he hits the weight room and learns more about scoring inside, none of that will even matter.
Just another good Lincoln kid that you want to see succeed. He comes from a basketball family and is well liked among his teammates.
Grady Strathman. senior, 5'10", Cole Camp - Tremendous outside shooter when he was on and could bust up a zone in a hurry. He averaged 9.3 ppg and had 47 assists. He was a good defender and capable ball handler. Had good basketball IQ which is missing among many players playing today.
Well mannered, unselfish on the court and the type of kid you want on your team.
Boys
Second Team
Riley Sanders, sophomore, 6'0", Lincoln - Injuries kept him out of early season games. He never hit his stride. Can drive full court and shoot outside and he can light up a crowd with his athleticism.
Struggled with inexperience, bad passes and turnovers. Had to learn the point guard job on the run. Can play all five positions when needed and can be as good as he wants to be.
Lincoln needs a floor leader, a general to take charge and lead by example. Connor Lynde passed Sanders the torch. Stay tuned. The best is yet to come.
Matthew Bright, senior, 6'1", Cole Camp - Very underrated player. He guarded much bigger players underneath the basket. Made Cole Camp better when he was on the court. Took scoring load off of Dieckman by getting open underneath for a quick layup. He used the backboard well which is a lost art.
Just like he did at a tight end, he caught defenders off guard. Played bigger than he was.
Tyler Howard, senior, 6'0", Cole Camp - Howard improved as season went on. Gave Cole Camp another ball handler and a three point shooter.
Good defender and excellent team player. Looked for the open man. Fought for loose balls. Could get an occasional rebound. Under rated player as eyes were on the two big stars.
Xavier Smith, senior, 5'9", Lincoln - While other guards were injured, Xavier played in every game and started in most. He improved offensively, defensively and as a ball handler as the season wore on. He held his head up after missing a key late second shot in Warsaw game. That would have devastated a lot of players but he took it in stride and kept his poise. He hustled at every opportunity.
Looking at the stats, he was strong at the end as he made 8 points in their last game as their third leading scorer as Sanders had 12 and Eckhoff had 8 of their 36.
He had 10 as their second leading scorer as Eckhoff had 13 in their 43-40 loss to Otterville in their last regular season game.
He provided senior leadership as one of only two seniors. Zaden Cole was the other.
Garrett Ferguson, junior, 5'9", Warsaw - Ferguson doesn't do a whole lot that is flashy, but he does the little things that should help lead to wins.
He is an above average ball handler but his ability to see the floor and distribute the ball is his biggest attribute.
A true floor general, if Ferguson can add to the 8.3 ppg that he averaged this year, he could be a first teamer when we announce this list next year.
Girls
First Team
Tanna Howe, sophomore, 5'5", Warsaw - Last year we called her the "best point guard in Benton County" and this year she didn't do anything to change our minds.
She improved her scoring average from 10.2 a year ago to 14.9 in 2023-24. Defenses planning for her opened opportunities for other players and that was a big factor in the Ladycats recording their highest win total since 2009-10.
She still showed up on about every statistical leaderboard and if others keep coming along with her, the Ladycats might just be finally turning things around.
Alyssa Mellen, junior, 5'8", Lincoln - Lincoln's leading scorer. Made first team last season. Outside shooter. Loved to drive to the basket. Needs to work on layups and shots close to basket for next year.
Scored in the twenties several times. Made huge free throws in close games. Good defender and rebounder. She carried the team offensively at times.
Keira Mostaffa, junior, 5'6", Warsaw - Mostaffa has proved herself as a deadly weapon from beyond the arc but don't take her for granted down low either because she can beat you there too.
She also led the team in steals and came in second in assists
Though the numbers don't necessarily jump off the page, Mostaffa has statistically improved her game every year for the Ladycats. If she does that next year, she and Howe could be a really nice 1-2 punch for the Warsaw offense.
Emma Thayer, junior, 5'4", Cole Camp - Their leading scorer at 5.2 ppg. At times, went on a tear shooting threes. Had two games of five each. Has good basketball IQ.
In a rebuilding year, Thayer showed leadership and was one of their best ball handlers. Will have even a bigger role next season. Was unanimous choice by coaches and fans as top player on the Lady Bluebirds.
Rachel Henderson, senior, 5'9", Warsaw - She came up big for the Ladycats at times throughout her senior season and developed a scoop shot late that was hard to defend.
Defensively, she was a protective nemesis down low and forced opponent's to pull up on her.
The rest of the squad looked to her for leadership on and off the court; absolutely the mark of a first teamer.
Girls
Second Team
Rebekah, Helland, sophomore, 5'5", Lincoln - Most improved player on the Lady Cardinals, offensively. Outstanding defender. Guarded best player on opposing teams.
Very unselfish and good team player. Should have a good couple of years if she works hard in the summer. Quick to the basket. Never gives up. Took a pounding driving inside. Great kid.
Angela Konopasek, senior, 5'6", Warsaw - The Ladycats hoped for more offensive production out of the senior but it didn't happen. However, she made up for that with her defense and created several turnovers.
In the open floor, she was a good finisher at the basket and was as consistent at the line as they come.
Cassidy Carl, senior, 5'3", Cole Camp - Thought she was a center. Good basketball IQ. Too unselfish at times. Needed to shoot more. Good rebounder for her size. If 5'10", she would have been a tremendous force down low. Well thought of by players and fans.
Sara Miller, freshman, 5'3", Warsaw - As one of the first off the bench for the Ladycats, she often provided a spark by coming into games and giving Warsaw another scoring option, especially from the outside.
In sparing minutes, she still managed to finish as the third leading scorer for the Ladycats and she, along with Howe and Mostaffa, should cause some fits for opposing defenses next season.
MacKenzie Yearout, senior, 5'5", Lincoln - Coach had to bench her to get her to play up to more of her potential. Was reluctant to shoot the ball at times. Scored first eight points in one game. Improved over the course of the season.
She showed up under Coach Fairchild in the summer two years ago at times when no one else did. Having four coaching changes (two in one season) over four years probably didn't help. Was team leader in practices from the start.
