Player of the Year: Jordan Bitzer, USA
Team of the Year: USA
Co-Coaches of the Year: Mark Gainforth, USA (above) and Mike Rea, Kingston (not pictured)Members of the Thumb Sportswriter Association (TSA) met during the week of the basketball Districts to choose an All-Thumb Basketball team comprised of the best players from the following area schools: Akron-Fairgrove, Bad Axe, Brown City, Caro, Carsonville-Port Sanilac, Caseville, Cass City, Croswell-Lexington, Deckerville Harbor Beach, Kingston, Lakers, Marlette Mayville, Millington, North Branch Wesleyan, North Huron, Owendale-Gagetown, Peck, Port Hope, Reese , Sandusky, Ubly, Unionville-Sebewaing and Vassar.
Six players were selected to the All-Thumb First Team, six players to the All-Thumb Second Team, and 10 players earned All-Thumb Honorable Mention status.
All-Thumb First Team
Jordan Bitzer-senior, USA: Bitzer, who will be attending CMU after graduation on a basketball scholarship, helped lead the Patriots to a 19-0 regular season record by averaging 22.5 ppg, 9.7 rebounds per game, 6.1 assists per game, and 5.3 steals per game. He shot 82 percent from the free throw line and 54 percent from the field this season. Bitzer set a school record with 45 points against BCAS this season. He was an All-State basketball selection last year.
Justin McPhail-junior, Brown City: McPhail, a three-year starter for the Green Devils, went over 1,000 points for his career during this season. He averaged 20.3 ppg in 19 games this season, including a season high 34 against Sandusky. In that same game, he grabbed a season high 13 boards. For the season, he averaged 6.3 rpg, 3.4 apg, and 2.5 spg. McPhail shot 73 percent from the charity stripe and 45 percent from the field.
Brandon Jones-junior, Kingston: Jones averaged 14 ppg and 6.8 rpg for a deep Cardinals team that went 20-0 overall. He scored a season-high 20 points against North Huron (he also had a season-high 13 boards and six blocks against the Warriors) and Memphis. Jones shot 60 percent from the field and 69 percent from the free throw line. “He has gotten much stronger… and his 10-15 foot jumper has improved immensely,” Kingston coach Mike Rea said.
Justin Glaza-senior, Cass City: Glaza, who played three years on varsity, averaged 15 ppg while shooting 47 percent from the field and 83 percent from the line. Glaza scored a season-high 28 points three-times (against Bad Axe, BCAS, and Valley Lutheran). He leads the school in three-pointers made and tied a school record for most steals in a game (8) against the Hatchets this season.
Garrett Lange-senior, Marlette: Lange, a three year starter for the Red Raiders, averaged 13.6 ppg and 4.5 rpg this season. He shot 57 percent from the field this season and scored in double figures in 15 of 20 games during the regular season. “He is our most consistent player on the team,” Marlette coach Darrin Weber said. “He works hard everyday in practice and is a very coachable player.”
Steve Koch, USA: Koch has been described as the “second best player on the area’s best team.” He overcame both an ankle injury and mono this season and still averaged 11.7 ppg and 4.5 rpg.
All-Thumb Second Team
Kevin Ginther-junior, Harbor Beach: Ginther led his team in scoring averaging 14 ppg this season, as well as 3.9 rpg, 3.7 apg and 3.2 spg, while shooting 40 percent from the field and 51 percent from the charity stripe. Ginther recorded season-highs in points (24) against Sandusky, rebounds (seven) against both EPBP and Mayville, and in both assists (eight) and blocks (one) against Brown City. “He is an excellent defender and a hard worker,” Harbor Beach coach Ron Wruble said.
Brad Iskow-sophomore, Bad Axe: The only underclassmen to make it on the first or second team, Iskow averaged a double-double this season (13.9 ppg and 10.1 rpg), “Despite being the focus of every team we played against,” according to Bad Axe coach Bob Breault. Iskow recorded a season-high 22 points twice (against USA and Valley Lutheran) and had 20 rebounds against BCAS.
Corey McPherson-senior, Sandusky: “Corey has been our leader all year on and off the floor,” Sandusky coach Kurt Long said. “He is one of the best defenders in our league.” McPherson, who scored a season-high 22 points against Marlette and a season-high seven steals against Bad Axe, averaged 13.4 ppg, as well as three rpg, three apg, and three spg during the regular season. He shot 42 percent from the field and 59 percent from the free throw line.
Keegan Rinn-senior, Marlette: Rinn, who scored a season-high 35 vs. Capac, averaged 15 ppg, four rpg, and 2.7 apg during the regular season. He converted 40 percent of his three-point attempts, while shooting 50 percent from the field and 64 percent from the charity stripe. “He is a great shooter,” Weber said. “He would always draw the other team’s top defender.”
Tristin Pennington-junior, Kingston: Pennington averaged 12.3 ppg and 6.6 rpg, while shooting 58 percent from the floor and 81 percent from the line. He had a season-high 23 points against CPS, a season-high 13 rebounds against Ubly, and season highs in steals (seven) and assists (seven) against Dryden. “He is an excellent all-around player,” Rea said.
Grant Nagelkirk-senior, CPS: Nagelkirk averaged 18.5 ppg and 8.5 rpg this season, while shooting 44 percent from beyond the arc and 46 percent from the field overall. He had a season-high 31 points against Owen-Gage and 14 boards against Caseville. “He’s an all-around player, not just a scorer,” CPS coach Bob Kolakovich said. “He does a lot of the little things and he plays good defense.”
All-Thumb Honorable Mention
Mitch Cain, North Branch Wesleyan
Tyler Hines, Marlette
Justin Johnson, USA
Dan Weber, Ubly
Garrett Grundman, Croswell-Lexington
Brandon Weiler, Sandusky
Blaise Zimmer, Reese
Nate Harneck, Kingston
Scott Delpiere, Harbor Beach
Aaron Thygesen, Millington
Six players were selected to the All-Thumb First Team, six players to the All-Thumb Second Team, and 10 players earned All-Thumb Honorable Mention status.
All-Thumb First Team
Jordan Bitzer-senior, USA: Bitzer, who will be attending CMU after graduation on a basketball scholarship, helped lead the Patriots to a 19-0 regular season record by averaging 22.5 ppg, 9.7 rebounds per game, 6.1 assists per game, and 5.3 steals per game. He shot 82 percent from the free throw line and 54 percent from the field this season. Bitzer set a school record with 45 points against BCAS this season. He was an All-State basketball selection last year.
Justin McPhail-junior, Brown City: McPhail, a three-year starter for the Green Devils, went over 1,000 points for his career during this season. He averaged 20.3 ppg in 19 games this season, including a season high 34 against Sandusky. In that same game, he grabbed a season high 13 boards. For the season, he averaged 6.3 rpg, 3.4 apg, and 2.5 spg. McPhail shot 73 percent from the charity stripe and 45 percent from the field.
Brandon Jones-junior, Kingston: Jones averaged 14 ppg and 6.8 rpg for a deep Cardinals team that went 20-0 overall. He scored a season-high 20 points against North Huron (he also had a season-high 13 boards and six blocks against the Warriors) and Memphis. Jones shot 60 percent from the field and 69 percent from the free throw line. “He has gotten much stronger… and his 10-15 foot jumper has improved immensely,” Kingston coach Mike Rea said.
Justin Glaza-senior, Cass City: Glaza, who played three years on varsity, averaged 15 ppg while shooting 47 percent from the field and 83 percent from the line. Glaza scored a season-high 28 points three-times (against Bad Axe, BCAS, and Valley Lutheran). He leads the school in three-pointers made and tied a school record for most steals in a game (8) against the Hatchets this season.
Garrett Lange-senior, Marlette: Lange, a three year starter for the Red Raiders, averaged 13.6 ppg and 4.5 rpg this season. He shot 57 percent from the field this season and scored in double figures in 15 of 20 games during the regular season. “He is our most consistent player on the team,” Marlette coach Darrin Weber said. “He works hard everyday in practice and is a very coachable player.”
Steve Koch, USA: Koch has been described as the “second best player on the area’s best team.” He overcame both an ankle injury and mono this season and still averaged 11.7 ppg and 4.5 rpg.
All-Thumb Second Team
Kevin Ginther-junior, Harbor Beach: Ginther led his team in scoring averaging 14 ppg this season, as well as 3.9 rpg, 3.7 apg and 3.2 spg, while shooting 40 percent from the field and 51 percent from the charity stripe. Ginther recorded season-highs in points (24) against Sandusky, rebounds (seven) against both EPBP and Mayville, and in both assists (eight) and blocks (one) against Brown City. “He is an excellent defender and a hard worker,” Harbor Beach coach Ron Wruble said.
Brad Iskow-sophomore, Bad Axe: The only underclassmen to make it on the first or second team, Iskow averaged a double-double this season (13.9 ppg and 10.1 rpg), “Despite being the focus of every team we played against,” according to Bad Axe coach Bob Breault. Iskow recorded a season-high 22 points twice (against USA and Valley Lutheran) and had 20 rebounds against BCAS.
Corey McPherson-senior, Sandusky: “Corey has been our leader all year on and off the floor,” Sandusky coach Kurt Long said. “He is one of the best defenders in our league.” McPherson, who scored a season-high 22 points against Marlette and a season-high seven steals against Bad Axe, averaged 13.4 ppg, as well as three rpg, three apg, and three spg during the regular season. He shot 42 percent from the field and 59 percent from the free throw line.
Keegan Rinn-senior, Marlette: Rinn, who scored a season-high 35 vs. Capac, averaged 15 ppg, four rpg, and 2.7 apg during the regular season. He converted 40 percent of his three-point attempts, while shooting 50 percent from the field and 64 percent from the charity stripe. “He is a great shooter,” Weber said. “He would always draw the other team’s top defender.”
Tristin Pennington-junior, Kingston: Pennington averaged 12.3 ppg and 6.6 rpg, while shooting 58 percent from the floor and 81 percent from the line. He had a season-high 23 points against CPS, a season-high 13 rebounds against Ubly, and season highs in steals (seven) and assists (seven) against Dryden. “He is an excellent all-around player,” Rea said.
Grant Nagelkirk-senior, CPS: Nagelkirk averaged 18.5 ppg and 8.5 rpg this season, while shooting 44 percent from beyond the arc and 46 percent from the field overall. He had a season-high 31 points against Owen-Gage and 14 boards against Caseville. “He’s an all-around player, not just a scorer,” CPS coach Bob Kolakovich said. “He does a lot of the little things and he plays good defense.”
All-Thumb Honorable Mention
Mitch Cain, North Branch Wesleyan
Tyler Hines, Marlette
Justin Johnson, USA
Dan Weber, Ubly
Garrett Grundman, Croswell-Lexington
Brandon Weiler, Sandusky
Blaise Zimmer, Reese
Nate Harneck, Kingston
Scott Delpiere, Harbor Beach
Aaron Thygesen, Millington
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