Hansbrough, Gant win MVP awards in SEMO Conference

POPLAR BLUFF -- The Poplar Bluff Letter Club held the 43rd Annual Basketball Banquet on Tuesday night at Poplar Bluff High School.

The banquet honored players and teams in the SEMO Conference, handing out several awards.

The John Gibbs award (boys MVP) was given out to Poplar Bluff's Tyler Hansbrough and Charleston's Kewain Gant.

Members of the All-SEMO Conference team are Hansbrough, Gant, Poplar Bluff's Tony Webb, Sikeston's Lontas McClinton, Cape Central's Scott Chestnutt, Notre Dame's Travis Siebert, Jackson's Tyler McNeely, Doniphan's Danny Kellas and Kennett's Tyree Goolsby.

Kellas won the scoring award, averaging 22.4 points against league opponents. Teammate Shane Talburt won the free throw award, hitting 83.5 percent against SEMO teams.

Charleston won the varsity title with a conference record of 8-0. Jackson won the junior varsity title with a record of 8-0.

Charleston's Danny Farmer was named coach of the year.

The Bob Gray award (girls MVP) went to Notre Dame's Ashley Millham and Jackson's Jenna Leet.

Millham was given the scoring award after averaging 24.5 points in conference games. Leet was also given the free throw award. She shot 81.1 percent against league opponents. The All-SEMO Conference Girls team is Leet, Millham, Cape Central's Alex Wieser, Poplar Bluff's Omega Key, Notre Dame' Summer McCauley and Doniphan's Karri Thomas.

Notre Dame won the girls varsity title with a record of 6-0, and Jackson won the girls junior varsity championship with a record of 6-0.

Notre Dame's Jerry Grim and Jackson's Ron Cook were named coaches of the year. Find the complete All-SEMO Conference team in the scoreboard on page 11.