3 players, 4 coaches receive top All-Southwest District girls honors

There were three area players of the year and four coaches of the year among the All-Southwest District girls high school basketball teams that were released on Thursday.

Area players of the year were Tippecanoe senior Maddie Frederick (Division II), senior Nikki Current of Bellefontaine Benjamin Logan (D-III) and Newton senior Tatum McBride (D-IV).

» RELATED: Girls regional basketball schedule

Area coaches of the year were Ed Zink of Beavercreek (D-I), Greenville’s Rachel Kerns (D-II), Jeff Maurer of Anna (D-III) and Franklin Monroe’s Abbey Moore (D-IV).

»RELATED: D-I girls All-SW District basketball

A move-in from Arizona as a senior, Frederick averaged 15.8 points in leading Tipp (25-2) into a D-II regional final against Bellbrook at Springfield on Friday. A 6-foot front-liner, she has signed with Iowa State University.

Joining Frederick on the D-II first team were Layne Ferrell of Franklin, Trotwood-Madison’s Shai McGruder and Hunter Stidham of Valley View, all seniors.

Current, a 5-8 senior, averaged 26.0 points and became the first player in Logan County history to surpass 2,000 career points (2,036). She also averaged 7.2 rebounds, 7.1 steals and 5.8 assists.

»RELATED: D-II girls All-SW District basketball

Other area D-III first-team members were Miami East junior Morgan Haney, Versailles senior Kami McEldowney, Waynesville junior Rachel Murray and Northeastern senior Haley Suchland.

McBride, a 5-5 senior guard and also valedictorian, averaged 21.2 points and was a four-year starter in which Newton posted winning records every season. Prior to then the Indians had just three winning teams in program history.

McBride was part of a first-team D-IV sweep by area players. Joining her were Sarah Bergman (Botkins), Ise Bolender (Cedarville), Corina Conley (Franklin Monroe), Lissa Siler (Tri-Village), Aubrey Stupp (Tri-County North) and Samantha Whiteman (Covington).

»RELATED: D-III girls All-SW District basketball

Area D-I first-team selections were Springboro senior Jordan Diehl and two juniors, Tecumseh’s Corinne Thomas and Mya Jackson of Wilmington.

Zink is the state’s all-time winningest coach with 800-plus wins and guided the Beavers (21-5) to a Greater Western Ohio Conference National East title. Kerns oversaw a turnaround by Greenville (16-9). The program had just three combined wins from the 2013-16 seasons.

»RELATED: D-IV girls All-SW District basketball

Making his debut at Anna, which was coming off an 11-13 season, Maurer led the Rockets to nine straight wins to close the regular season at 16-6. Anna (19-7) lost in a D-III district final. Under Moore, Franklin Monroe (21-4) currently has the best winning record percentage in the Cross County Conference.

Members were chosen from a panel of media from the Southwest District. Players will be considered for All-Ohio honors. The boys All-Southwest District basketball teams will be released on Friday.

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