All-Thumb Boys Basketball 2006-2007

Co-Team of the Year- Croswell-Lexington
Co-Team of the Year: Kingston

Player of the Year: Kevin Ginther, Harbor Beach

Co-Coach of the Year: Mike Rea, Kingston Co-Coach of the Year: Don Roberts, Cros-Lex

All-Thumb hoops team announced
By Chris Ogryski
sports editor

FIRST TEAM
PLAYER OF THE YEAR-Kevin Ginther, Harbor Beach: Ginther, a 1st team All-GTE selection and the Harbor Beach Times Player of the Year, was the area’s most consistent scorer, averaging 19.7 ppg during the regular season. He scored 20 or more points in half of his games, including three games where he scored 30 or more (30 against Cros-Lex and Mayville; 31 vs. Marlette). Kevin distinguished himself against other area athletes by leading the Huron County Press/Newsweekly/Harbor Beach Times Power 10 every week of the season (the Power 10 ranks players against other players in the categories of scoring average, free throw percentage, three-pointers per game, and best game (points scored). Aside from being multi-talented on offense, Ginther was a “tenacious defender” according to Pirate’s coach Ron Wruble.

Brad Iskow, Bad Axe: Known as “the Man Child,” Iskow averaged 15.6 ppg in 19 games and 12.8 rebounds per game while recording seven double-doubles. Iskow’s best games of the season included 31 against USA, 29 vs. BCAS, and 26 points and 13 boards against Deckerville. Brad was a 1st team All-GTW pick this season and the County Press Player of the Year.

Matt Loding, Sandusky: Loding, a 1st team All-GTE selection, averaged 16.8 ppg this season including a season-high 30 vs. Deckerville. He was equally as capable on the boards, as he grabbed 130 rebounds this season (6.5 pg), including 11 in a non-conference game against Yale. Other key stats for Loding, include 4.9 assists per game and three steals per game on average. Matt carries a 3.5 GPA at Sandusky High.

Garret Grundman, Cros-Lex: Grundman, who was 2006-2007 Blue Water Area Conference MVP, scored 263 points and averaged 13.2 ppg for the Pioneers. His best scoring effort came against Marine City, where he scored a season-high 25 points. Garrett was also a force on the boards grabbing 145 rebounds and averaging 7.3 per game, while also averaging 1.4 assists per game and 1.4 blocks per game. Grundman was a Tri-Captain for Cros-Lex this season.

Tristin Pennington, Kingston: Pennington, who earned 1st All-NCTL South honors, showed off his diverse skills this season averaging 11,8 ppg (236 points), 3.6 assists per game, and 3.3 steals per game for the Cardinals who finished 20-0 in the regular season for the second straight time.

Dustin Griesing, Millington: The second junior on the All-Thumb team, Griesing averaged 16.3 ppg (325 points), which included a 29 point effort against Frankenmuth. He also averaged seven boards per game (high of 11 against Bridgeport), 3.6 assists per game, and three steals per game. Not only does Griesing excel on the court, but in the classroom as well; he currently has a 3.9 GPA.

SECOND TEAM

Karl Kaufman, Cros-Lex: Along with Grundman was a potent one-two punch on offense for the 20-0 Pioneers. Kaufman scored 266 points during the regular season for an average of 13.3 ppg, while averaging 3.75 steals per game, 2.7 assists per game, and 2.2 rebounds per game. Grundman, who scored a season-high 19 points against both Imlay City and Capac, was an All-Blue Water Area Conference pick.

Brandon Jones, Kingston: Jones, an Honorable Mention All-State pick in Class D and a 1st team All-NCTL South selection, helped lead the Cardinals to a 20-0 regular season with his 14.6 ppg (292 points) and his 5.8 rebounds per game (115 boards). Perhaps his most impressive stat was his .607 field goal percentage (122-for-201).

Chris Cove, Bad Axe: Cove, who earned first team All-GTW honors and was a member of the All-County Press Team, was one of the area’s best three-point shooters this season… especially for a 6’7” guard. He made 40 triples this season in 19 games for an average of 2.1 threes per game as part of his 14.7 ppg scoring average. His best games of the season include 31 points against BCAS and 22 points and 10 rebounds against Cass City. Cove also averaged 6.2 rebounds per game.

Ty Graham, Reese: Graham, a 1st team All-GTW pick, averaged 14.9 ppg during the regular season scoring just shy of 300 points (he finished with 299). But scoring wasn’t his only strength as he also averaged 5.2 assists per game (104 assists), as well as 5.8 boards per game and 2.8 steals per game for the GTW champion Rockets.

Chad Schmidt, Sandusky: The Redskins were considered one of the hottest teams at the end of the season, knocking off GTW champion Reese and GTE co-champion Brown City on back-to-back Fridays. Schmidt was a big part of that late season success, averaging 12.1 ppg including a season-high 29 against the Rockets. Chad, a second All-GTE selection, also averaged 7.4 rebounds per game, 2.1 assists per game, 2.1 steals per game, and 1.6 blocks per game.

Zac Hueter, North Branch: Hueter picked up 1st team All-Tri Valley East honors this season as he averaged 15.3 ppg (306 points) and 8.1 rebounds (162 boards) per game. He was also amongst the elite in field goal shooting this season, converting on over 60 percent of his attempts.

Justin McPhail, Brown City: McPhail, a second team All-GTE selection, averaged 15.9 ppg including a season-high 28 against North Branch. He also averaged 4.7 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 2.5 steals per game. Justin is the career scoring leader at Brown City.

HONORABLE MENTION
Seth McVittie
School: Deckerville
Class: Senior
Height: 6’2”
Position: Center/Forward
Key stats: Averaged 13.8 ppg and 11.8 rebounds per game, scored a season-high 24 points against Marlette, grabbed 21 boards against Cass City
Honors: 2nd team All-GTE
Quote: “Probably the hardest working player I have ever coached,” Deckerville coach Dave Bitzer said of McVittie.

Grant Pichla
School: Ubly
Class: Junior
Height: 5’8”
Position: Guard
Key stats: Averaged 14.3 ppg including a season-high 29 against Bad Axe, made 39 three-pointers this season (1.95 per game)
Honors: 1st team All-GTE, All-County Press Team

Darren Essenmacher
School: Harbor Beach
Class: Senior
Height: 6’3”
Position: Center
Key stats: Averaged 12.2 ppg and 7.15 rebounds per game in the regular season
Honors: 1st team All-GTE, All-Times Team

Brandon Dubs
School: Owen-Gage
Class: Junior
Height: N/A
Position: Forward
Key stats: Averaged 12.7 ppg, 6.9 rebounds per game, 2.9 assists per game, 4.3 steals per game, and 1.7 blocks per game; scored a season 23 points against Peck
Honors: 1st team All-NCTL North, Newsweekly Player of the Year
Quote: Coach Arnie Howard said, “By far the best player in the NCTL North. He might be the best junior in the entire league.”

Brady Rupprecht
School: Vassar
Stats: Averaged 13.8 ppg and 11 rebounds per game
Class: Senior
Height: 6’2”
Position: Center
Stats: Averaged 14.6 ppg and 11 rebounds per game (209 boards for the season)

Gabe Lazurka
School: Cros-Lex

Nathan Harneck
School: Kingston
Class: Senior
Height: 6’5”
Position: Center
Stats: 8.4 ppg and 5.5 rebounds per game (72 defensive rebounds)

Donovan Ogboh
School: Brown City
Class: Junior
Height: 6’1”
Position: Wing
Stats: Averaged 11.7 ppg and 7.1 rebounds per game, scored a season high 23 points against both Almont and Mayville
Honors: 1st team All-GTE

Brad Hartel
School: Cass City
Class: Senior
Height: 5’11”
Position: Guard
Stats: Averaged 13.1 ppg and over two three pointers per game
Honors: 1st team All-GTW

Kevin Mrozek
School: Marlette
Class: Senior
Height: 6’1”
Position: Guard
Stats: Averaged 11.1 ppg and 5.3 assists per game, scored a season-high 23 points against Deckerville
Honors: 1st team All-GTE

Tim Holland
School: USA
Class: Junior
Height: 6’2”
Position: Center
Stats: Averaged 13 ppg in 15 regular season games
Honors: 2nd team All-GTW, All-Newsweekly Team