Mitchell, Thatch named Standard Democrat Basketball Players of the Year

Fred Thatch, Sikeston, Senior

Standard Democrat Player of the Year: Fred Thatch, Sikeston, Sophomore. Thatch averaged a double-double for the Bulldogs with 20 points and 10 rebounds a game. He was named the Class 4 MBCA Player of the Year. (David Jenkins/Standard Democrat)

Standard Democrat Player of the Year: Fred Thatch, Sikeston, Sophomore. Thatch averaged a double-double for the Bulldogs with 20 points and 10 rebounds a game. He was named the Class 4 MBCA Player of the Year. (David Jenkins/Standard Democrat)

There was no sophomore slump for Sikeston's young gun.

Thatch, a 6-3 combo guard who plays inside and out, led the Bulldogs with 20 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and 2.5 steals. It's the second year in a row where he averaged a double-double. Those numbers, along with leading Sikeston to a 28-3 record and a fourth-place finish in Class 4, was enough to grant Thatch the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association (MBCA) Class 4 Player of the Year award.

He was also selected to the MaxPreps All-Sophomore team, which recognizes players nationally.

Thatch is already Sikeston's fifth-leading scorer and fifth-leading rebounder with 1,106 points and 589 rebounds throughout his two-year career.

__BOYS__ __First team__ Dominique Dyes, Sikeston, Senior Jeffery Porter, Scott County Central, Senior Dontarius Sharp, Charleston, Senior POY -- Fred Thatch, Sikeston, Sophomore Noah Vandiver, Bloomfield, Senior __Second team__ Gabe Jackson, Dexter, Sophomore Kevin Jones, Sikeston, Freshman Juwon Kimble, Sikeston, Senior Derez Tipler, East Prairie, Freshman Chris Farr, New Madrid County Central, Senior

Tyeshia Mitchell, Sikeston, Junior

Standard Democrat Player of the Year: Tyeshia Mitchell, Sikeston, Junior. Mitchell led the Bulldogs with 14 points, 12 rebounds, 2.6 steals and 1.7 assists. She was named Sikeston's first Bob Gray Award winner, which is the award given to the top player in the SEMO Conference. (David Jenkins/Standard Democrat)

Standard Democrat Player of the Year: Tyeshia Mitchell, Sikeston, Junior. Mitchell led the Bulldogs with 14 points, 12 rebounds, 2.6 steals and 1.7 assists. She was named Sikeston's first Bob Gray Award winner, which is the award given to the top player in the SEMO Conference. (David Jenkins/Standard Democrat)

For the first time in team history, Tyeshia Mitchell represented the SEMO Conference as its top player.

The junior was awarded the Bob Gray Award, which goes to the top player in the conference, after leading the Bulldogs with 14 points, 12 rebounds, 2.6 steals and 1.7 assists a game. It's the first time any Sikeston girls basketball player has won the award.

She averaged 19 points during conference play and led Sikeston to a school record 22-5 campaign, which is the most wins in school history.

Mitchell is also just the second Sikeston player to make the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association (MBCA) all-state team since Tina Collins in 1992.

__GIRLS__ __First team__ Leah Cauble, Oran, Freshman Johneisha Daniel, Scott County Central, Sophomore Krysten Garrison, Dexter, Sophomore POY -- Tyeshia Mitchell, Sikeston, Junior Dakota Reynolds, Dexter, Senior __Second team__ Tyra Bonner, Sikeston, Senior Jessie Long, Oran, Freshman Chaylea Mosby, Dexter, Freshman Erica Peet, Sikeston, Senior Cheyenne Randle, Charleston, Senior

The 2015-16 All-Standard Democrat basketball teams were chosen by the Standard Democrat sports department and from the following schools: Bloomfield, Charleston, Dexter, East Prairie, Kelly, New Madrid County Central, Oran, Portageville, Richland, Risco, Scott County Central and Sikeston.