2013 MSA SPORTS BOYS ALL-NETTERS

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, March 29, 2013 | 9:05 AM

The 2013 MSA Sports All-Netters team looks like the 2012 squad, as three of the ten members graced last year's squad. The selections were made by members of the MSA Sports Network broadcast team and features four WPIAL champions and one PIAA titlist. The makeup also includes eight seniors, a junior and a very talented freshman.

And now, the 2013 MSA Sports All-Netters Team:

FIRST TEAM ALL-NETTERS:

MSA SPORTS PLAYER OF THE YEAR:

DEVIN WILSON – MONTOUR
6-4 – SENIOR – GUARD

Wilson is the first of three returnees from last year’s MSA Sports All-Netters team, leading his team to a 25- 5 record, a WPIAL championship and a trip to the PIAA Final Four in the process. He averaged 17 points per game this season, while running the point for the Spartans.

In Wilson’s tenure at Montour, he played in five WPIAL championship games in two sports, won two WPIAL basketball titles and played for two PIAA championships. This past year’s title game was a small sample of what Wilson brought to his teams. He led his team back from an 11 point deficit, Wilson had just 7 points at halftime but took over the game in the second half, ending with 19 points and 7 rebounds, just one of many outstanding performances both on the gridiron or hardwood.

Despite several Division I offers to play wide receiver, Wilson has decided to play basketball in college and is now getting late looks from several programs including George Mason, Western Michigan, Saint Joseph’s and Virginia Tech as a point guard.

GENO THORPE – SHALER
6-4 – SENIOR – GUARD

Thorpe is the second returner from last year’s team, he shared co-Player of the Year honors with Micah Mason last season.

It was thought during the off-season that Thorpe would not return to Shaler. Thorpe transferred in July to West Oaks Academy , near Orlando, but was there just seven weeks, he returned to Shaler due to a family issue.

Thorpe was the leading returning scorer from the 2011-12 season in the WPIAL at 21.1 points per game. But Quad-A Section 3 was a much different league for Thorpe’s senior season with New Castle and Hampton moving in. The Titans struggled for most of the season, finishing 8-14 and winning just two section games. Thorpe led the WPIAL in scoring at 25.4 points per game, he is headed to Penn State University to continue his career.

SHAWN ANDERSON – NEW CASTLE
6-3 – SENIOR – FORWARD

Hard work, hustle and determination, those were some of the words used by New Castle coach Ralph Blundo to describe his senior captain. Anderson helped led the Red Hurricanes to one of their best seasons in the program’s history. He is the third of three returnees from last year’s MSA team.

In Anderson’s three years as a starter, New Castle won 76 games, two WPIAL championships and led the Canes deep into this year’s state playoffs, falling to eventual PIAA champion Lower Merion in the Final Four. With the back to back titles, New Castle became the first team in WPIAL history to win consecutive titles as an unbeaten team and to win those titles in two different classes.

Anderson scored 20.3 points per game this season and was the team’s leader in rebounds. He is second on the New Castle all-time scoring list, trailing only David Young. He scored in double figures in every game this season and that came despite having a size disadvantage in most games, going up against players 6-5 or taller.

Anderson will move onto the Naval Academy prep school next season before heading to Annapolis to play for Navy. 

RYAN LUTHER – HAMPTON
6-8 – JUNIOR – FORWARD

Luther is the third player from Quad-A Section 3 to make this year’s first team. He helped lead the Talbots to a 22-6 record and their fourth trip to the WPIAL championship game in the last five seasons.

But the best may yet be to come for the Talbots and Luther, he averaged 21 points and seven rebounds this season, he also went over the one-thousand point mark in a win over Pine-Richland. Luther is receiving Division 1 offers from Dayton and Duquesne, plus interest from UNC-Wilmington, Davidson, Iowa and Virginia Tech.

Luther improved his game both in the paint and was a force outside as well for Hampton, who could likely be the favorite in both Section 3 and Quad-A heading into the 2013-14 season.

MAVERICK ROWAN – LINCOLN PARK
6-5 – FRESHMAN – GUARD

Much of the focus going into the season for Lincoln Park was whether Elijah Minnie would be declared eligible by the PIAA. But at the end of the season, most observers were talking about the hot shooting guard that can also drive the lane.

Rowan, the son of former Beaver Falls star Ron Rowan, helped the Leopards win in Minnie’s absence and made a very good inside outside team thru a strong playoff run. Lincoln Park finished 22-7 and advanced to the WPIAL semifinals and the PIAA Final Four. Rowan averaged 23.6 points per game, good for third in the WPIAL during the regular season and excelled at 88 percent shooting from the charity stripe.

Ron Rowan went on to play Division 1 basketball at St. John’s and made a game-winning shot to beat Syracuse in the Big East Tournament. One could see Maverick moving onto the next level, he is already receiving interest from D-1 schools.

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SECOND TEAM ALL-NETTERS:

MICHAEL BOULOS – CHARTIERS VALLEY
5-10 – SENIOR – GUARD

The Colts finished 24-5 this past season , adding another section title to the trophy case, along with a trip to the Palumbo Center and a deep run in the state playoffs. One of the reasons for that run was the play from their sparkplug.

Boulos averaged 18.6 points per game this season and always has the big basket when it was needed for the Colts with his skill to drive the lane. Char Valley was the third highest scoring team in the WPIAL this season at over 73 points per game. He was also a standout for the Colts on the football field this season, including a 80 yard kickoff return against Ellwood City.

STERLING HENRY –   KITTANNING
6-4 – SENIOR – GUARD

Henry helped lead the Wildcats to their best season in years as Kittanning won their first ten games, finished a strong second to Mars in Section 1-AAA and picked up their first playoff win in 29 seasons, advancing to the quarterfinals.

Henry averaged 18.9 points per game , he finished his career with 1,084 points, becoming only the third Wildcat to accomplish the feat. And he did it in style, with a breakaway dunk in the regular season finale against West Shamokin. The senior recently took MVP honors in the Cager Classic at Highlands High School with 20 points and 12 rebounds.

JOSH WISE – WASHINGTON
6-2 – SENIOR – GUARD

Wise continued where he left off on the football field this season, scoring an average of 22.2 points per game. Wash High finished 17-7 and advanced into the WPIAL playoffs. He went over the 1 thousand point mark in a game against Fort Cherry in January.

While Wise stood out on the court, he has had a pretty career with the Little Prexies. Wise was the quarterback, the team navigated the Highway to Heinz and a spot in the WPIAL Class AA title game. He figured in on 13 touchdowns this season and also picked off three passes on the opposite side of the ball.

But the best may be yet to come for Wise, he is the reigning WPIAL high jump champion at 6 feet 7 inches and bested the field by several inches last season, he finished fifth in the PIAA state meet. He is expected to defend his championship.

DREW COOK – BEAVER FALLS
6-2 – SENIOR – GUARD

Cook averaged 16 points per game for the WPIAL and PIAA champion Tigers and teamed with Elijah Cottrill to give the Tigers a 1-2 scoring punch for coach Doug Biega to count on. Cook was a four year starter at Beaver Falls, filling whatever role Biega needed, be it on the point or as a shooting guard.

Beaver Falls ran the table in Section 2-AA, going 14-0, the Tigers finished 28-3 and ripped off 18 straight wins to end the season with a championship victory over Burrell in the WPIAL title game. But the Tigers weren’t done, picking up the PIAA gold ball with a come from behind win over Holy Cross last week in Hershey.

Cook was a big part of that comeback, leading the Tigers with 15 points, 6 rebounds and dished out 4 assists. He had a chance to ice the game with two late free throws in the final minute, but missed both attempts. But Zachery Miller bailed Cook out with an offensive rebound, Cook was fouled and calmly drained both free throws to seal the deal for the Tigers. 

TONY DINARDO – VINCENTIAN ACADEMY
6-1 – SENIOR – GUARD

DiNardo was the leading scorer for the Royals at 17.8 points per game and helped lead his team to a perfect record in Section 2-A and a WPIAL title victory over Clairton. The Royals finished 26-2 and a trip to the second round of the state playoffs.

DiNardo was a three year starter for the Royals high powered scoring attack, Vincentian was the top scoring team in the WPIAL this season at 83 points per game. Coach George Yokitis calls his team’s style “organized chaos” and DiNardo was the leader of that, with great hands on defense to set up the fast break and a sneaky low post game. While only 6-1, DiNardo blocked six shots in a game against Wilkinsburg in December.
 

Tags: Chartiers Valley, Hampton, Kittanning, Lincoln Park, Vincentian Academy, Washington