Mitchell, Thatch named Standard Democrat Basketball Players of the Year

Sikeston's Tyeshia Mitchell (left) and Fred Thatch (right) were named the 2015-16 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)

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)

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.