Nobody asked me but...the second annual basketball NAMB Awards are upon us hoop fans.
Remember, NAMBY's only go to those high school players or coaches that I personally saw perform. Here we go...
* Offensive Player of the Year - Senior Justin Clark of the Charleston Bluejays. Clark led his club to the Class 3 title over Pembroke Hill last week. For the season, Clark averaged 19 points and seven rebounds per game as a 6-
foot-4 shooting guard.
In the postseason, Clark averaged 22 points per game, including 27 points against Malden in a sectional matchup and 25 against Bayless in the quarterfinals.
2. Michael Porter, Sikeston, So. Porter averaged 21 points and 10.5 rebounds per game.
3. Will Bogan, Bell City, Sr. The 6-10 monster in the paint for the Cubs averaged 22 points and 15 rebounds a game. Bell City fell 66-65 to Jefferson in the Class 1 finals.
* Defensive player of the year - Senior Trey Mosby of Portageville. Mosby averaged five steals per game for the Bulldogs who lost to Scott City in the semifinals of Class 3, District 1.
The signature game for Mosby was against Sikeston. Portageville trailed 27-10 after one quarter of action and by as many as 15 points in the fourth. Mosby almost single-handedly willed the Bulldogs back to victory with his offensive play and most importantly, his defense.
Mosby held Class 4 all-state selection Julian Beard to six points on 2-of-7 shooting in the game. Mosby had three steals and three blocks against Sikeston. The sequence of plays by Mosby late in the game with Sikeston tells it all.
Trailing by three points with under 20 seconds to play, Mosby hits a 3-
pointer to tie the game and then comes down and blocks a 3-point shot by Beard and secures the ball. Beard fouls Mosby and he hits the game-winning free throw for Portageville.
2. Shawn Sherrell, Charleston, Sr. Sherrell averaged four steals a night for the Bluejays.
3. Derrick Chamberlain, Dexter, Sr. - The scrappy guard for the Bearcats averaged four steals a game.
* The NAMB starting five...
Michael Porter - Sikeston Justin Clark - Charleston Will Bogan - Bell City Ryan Willen - Notre Dame Shawn Sherrell - Charleston
Second team... Alonzo Louis - Malden Caleb Johnson - Scott Central Julian Beard - Sikeston Trey Mosby - Portageville Robbie Ison - Malden
* Coach of the Year - Danny Farmer from Charleston. Farmer did an excellent job of guiding the Bluejays around some serious injuries and eventually grab the Class 3 state title. Jamarcus Williams was never at 100 percent on the year and Sherrell was lost for seven games midway through the season due to a hand injury.
The improvements made by forward Jerrell Quinn and reserve guard Jerquawn Sherrell underscores the fact that Farmer is not just blessed with talented players, but that he can also develop talent.
2. Matt Schonhoff - East Prairie. The Eagles finished the year at 18-9, which was the fourth best record all-time for the school. In 1986, the Eagles finished 23-6. In 1953, East Prairie went 20-4 and the Eagles were 14-4 in 1941.
3. Ronnie Cookson - Scott Central. The legend still has the magic, leading the Braves to their best record since, well, since Cookson's last season.
And finally, nobody asked me but..some other individual awards and recognitions.
Best shooter - Justin Clark, Charleston Best passer - Alonzo Louis, Malden Best rebounder - Tony Jones, East Prairie Best senior - Justin Clark, Charleston Best junior - Ryan Willen, Notre Dame Best sophomore - Michael Porter, Sikeston Best freshman - Kony Ealy, Portageville Game of the Year - Feb. 23 at the Class 4, District 1 final in Sikeston. Notre Dame defeated Sikeston 67-65 on a 3-pointer by Abe Dirnberger. Best crowd support - Malden Best hairdo - Michael Porter of Sikeston. Porter is listed at 6-5, but is 6-9 with afro ("Fletch" reference, enjoy).