Monteroso, Lathon, Rokisky Top 45th Annual All-Valley Boys’ Basketball Teams

Captains

Dan Monteroso

Junior

Article Photos

Members of the 45th Annual All-Valley Boys’ Basketball teams are, front row, from left: Sam Jackson (Beallsville), Joe Bowers (Indian Creek), D.T. Meeker (Bishop Donahue), Cody Schau (Martins Ferry) and Tyler Fitzpatrick (Barnesville). Back row, from left: Errin Baynes (Wheeling Park), Boo Lathon (Wheeling Park), Justin Wade (John Marshall), Anthony Wallace (Linsly), Akil Blount (Linsly) and Brandon Bailey (Conotton Valley). Not pictured are Nick Battista (Weirton Madonna), Riley Carlton (St. Clairsville), Dan Monteroso (St. Clairsville), Clay Rokisky (Weirton Madonna), and Mark Winters (Magnolia).

St. Clairsville

Monteroso keeps getting better and better as his junior season was one St. Clairsville fans will remember for a long time. Monteroso was the key factor in the Red Devils' first state tournament berth in school history. Monteroso is making his third straight appearance on the All-Valley team and his first captain slot. It's just the latest award for the junior standout who also shared the Ohio Division II Player of the Year award, as well as being a first-team member. Monteroso led the Ohio Valley in scoring at 26.5 points per game and added 8.6 rebounds. At the free-throw line, he shot 172 of 217 (78 percent), making almost as many free throws than the rest of his team attempted. Monteroso was also named first team All-OVAC and All-Eastern District, being named the Player of the Year in both.

Boo Lathon

Senior

Wheeling Park

Boo Lathon, Wheeling Park

Athletic and able to jump out of the gym, Lathon used his senior season as a platform to showcase his talents. It was a season of firsts for him as he became first-team All-Valley, All-OVAC and all-state selections for the first time. He also became the captain of the W.Va. Class AAA team and the All-Valley team. His greatest accomplishment, though, was winning the Evans Award as the top boys' basketball player in the state, the second Wheeling Park player to earn the award. The 6-foot-2 forward, Lathon averaged 19.8 points and 10.8 rebounds, scoring in double figures 25 times and recording 15 double-doubles.

Clay Rokisky

Senior

Madonna

Rokisky is a coach's dream, making him a no brainer to captain the All-Valley Small School team for the second consecutive season. The Cleveland State recruit led Weirton Madonna back to the state tournament before falling in the semifinals to Charleston Catholic. Whether it's posting up inside, crashing the boards, pulling up for a jumper or driving to the basket, Rokisky can do it all on both ends of the floor. The Blue Dons senior averaged 15 points and 10 rebounds on his way to earning his second straight All-Valley, All-OVAC and all-state selections.

Big School

Errin Baynes

Wheeling Park

Whether its soccer, track, or basketball, Baynes is arguably one of the top athletes in the state and the Ohio Valley. The state champion high jumper may be headed to USC for track, but he showed this winter than he was pretty good at basketball, too. Baynes scored 14 points per game, shooting 49 percent, while bringing down 4.1 rebounds. His best game came against Parkersburg South with a 38-point outburst and he also netted 33 in a sectional victory against Morgantown. Baynes was named second team all-state and All-OVAC.

Joe Bowers, Indian Creek

In what was a well-documented trying season for Indian Creek, Bowers, the lone Redskins senior, was counted on to hold things together. Just that should have been enough to earn him all-everything honors but no one was feeling sorry for themselves, least of all Bowers. Instead, he became the glue for Coach Joe Dunlevy's team and sparked the Redskins to a 16-6 record with some outstanding basketball. Bowers averaged 16 points, five assists and two steals. He was named first team All-OVAC, All-Buckeye 8, and All-Eastern District. He will play in the OVAC and Ohio North-South Game in Columbus.

Riley Carlton, St. Clairsville

As good as Monteroso is, he couldn't do it all by himself and Carlton was the perfect player to complement his style. The junior point guard added muscle in the offseason and it paid off, being able to bang with defenders when needed. But Carlton's biggest asset is his long-range ability. Carlton drained 63 3-pointers for Coach Kim Clifford's squad, the most in the Ohio Valley. Carlton, who led the Red Devils in assists with 132 and steals with 43, averaged 14.7 points and was named first team All-OVAC.

Cody Schau, Martins Ferry

Schau becomes the first All-Valley first-teamer in a number of years from Martins Ferry, but there was no mistaking this standout guard. After spending his sophomore season as the sixth man, Schau earned his way into the starting lineup and doesn't plan on heading back to the bench anytime soon. The junior averaged a double-double with 20.2 points and 11.2 rebounds to pace Coach Jeff Sabatino's Purple Riders. Schau was first team All-Eastern District and All-OVAC.

Justin Wade, John Marshall

Wade was a bull along the offensive line for the football team and was just as powerful inside for Coach Bill Storm's Monarchs. The big center likely left opposing players with bumps and bruises after banging around in the paint with him. A 6-5 senior, Wade averaged 16.9 points and 6.2 rebounds, shooting 61.5 percent from the floor. He finished his career with 750 points. Wade was named first team All-OVAC and third team all-state.

Mark Winters, Magnolia

Winters could be the hardest-working player in the valley and Coach Dave Tallman has lauded him for not just being satisfied with being a first team all-stater, but by working even harder to improve himself. So far, no one has found an answer to stop Winters. He worked on his 3-point shot during the summer which gives him a new weapon to his already stacked arsenal. Winters averaged 23 points and 10 rebounds, earning a second straight spot on the All-Valley first team, as well as being named first team all-state, All-OVAC, and the Class 3A Player of the Year.

Small School

Brandon Bailey

Conotton Valley

Not many people know much about Conotton Valley which makes what Bailey was able to accomplish even more spectacular. The Small School leader in scoring at 22 points per game, the 6-6 junior also pulled down 13.6 rebounds with two blocks and 1.2 assists. Coach Mike Firebaugh is likely licking his chops to see what this standout can do next season. He was named first team All-OVAC and the Class 1A captain, as well as first team All-Eastern District.

Nick Battista

Weirton Madonna

If you look at the definition of a point guard in the dictionary, you might find a picture of Battista. The Blue Dons senior is everything you want in a player. He can shoot, drive, pass, play defense. On a team that features sharpshooters and big men, Battista played his role perfectly and was the guy that made Coach George Vargo's offense go. He averaged 10 points and six assists en route to be named second team All-OVAC and third team all-state.

Akil Blount, Linsly

Blount will leave school known for his football ability (he's headed to Florida A&M), but he helped lead the resurgence of the basketball program under Coach James Wallace. The Cadets senior scored 19 points per game and 10 rebounds in leading Linsly to its first OVAC championship since 2002. He scored a season-high 40 points in a victory against Bishop Donahue. Blount was named a the first-team captain of the OVAC Class 2A squad and is also a two-time All-Valley first-teamer.

Tyler Fitzpatrick, Barnesville

A 6-5 senior, Fitzpatrick was a four-year letterwinner for Coach Chris Pack's Shamrocks. A hard-worker around all over the floor, Fitzpatrick averaged 16.2 points and 11.3 rebounds as Barnesville recorded its fourth straight wining season since he stepped on the floor as a freshman. Fitzpatrick earned All-OVAC and All-Eastern District first-team nods.

Sam Jackson

Beallsville

It's hard to pick out just one person that led to such a successful season for Coach Scooter Tolzda's Blue Devils. A balanced squad all had their important pieces and Jackson certainly fit that mold. The 5-11 guard is a three-year letterwinner that was efficient whether it was driving to the basket or lining up for a 3-pointer. Jackson averaged 13.5 points and four rebounds while being named first team All-OVAC and second team Eastern District.

D.T. Meeker, Bishop Donahue

Versatility was the name of the game for Meeker, who was able to play wherever he was needed. What was an unexpected surprise this season was the scoring ability Meeker showed. The Bishops senior came alive in his final season for Coach Tom Wise, scoring 17.3 per points game, whether it was hitting from beyond the arc or attacking along the baseline. He also added five rebounds a game. Meeker was second team All-OVAC and third team all-state.

Anthony Wallace, Linsly

The youngest member of the All-Valley team as a sophomore, Wallace played nothing like a youngster. Wallace took on a leadership role during last summer and became someone that his coach will likely build around for the next two seasons. As teams focused on Blount, Wallace hurt them to the tune of 20 points per game, along with six rebounds, three steals, and three assists. Wallace was named first team All-OVAC.