In addition to Jared Green’s well-deserved selection as the Big 30 Player of the Year, Pennsylvania was also strongly represented this year in the remainder of the Big 30’s all-star teams. In total, nine players combined from the boys and girls sides were selected to the six teams, giving PA one of its most successful years in recent history. Here’s a look at a breakdown of the selections:
BOYS
Green’s teammate, Owen Chambers, was also selected to the boys first team. Chambers, only a junior, helped lead the Falcons to a 23-4 record and the second round of the state playoffs. Chambers made an astonishing 94 three-pointers, and led District 9 in scoring with 24.9 points per game. Chambers and Green formed one of the most dominating backcourts in D-9, and captured both the North Tier League and were District 9 Champions. Chambers also picked up hardware after the season as he was selected the NTL MVP as well as D-9 Player of the Year.
Pennsylvania also had two selections to the boys third team. The first selection on that team was Bradford’s Deondre Terwilliger. Terwilliger missed all of last season with a knee injury, but fought his way back to be a dominant force for an Owls team that had its best record in years Terwilliger helped lead Bradford to just one win away from the state playoffs on a run that included two wins over New York schools in the regular season. Terwilliger scored over 20 points on six different occasions, and capped off his season with a 37-point, eight rebound performance against St. Marys in January. Also on that third team was Cameron County’s Adam Shaffer. The Red Raiders were runners-up to Coudersport in the NTL, finishing with a 17-8 record that included a trip to the state playoffs. Shaffer led Cameron County with 17.3 points per game and also averaged over five rebounds a contest.
GIRLS
An impressive all-around season for D-9 girls basketball was recognized by the selection committee as well, as Pennsylvania had five selections on the three teams.
Leading the way as unanimous first-team selections were Coudy’s Haley Keck and Otto-Eldred’s Camryn Thomas. Keck is the back-to-back NTL MVP, and had another monster season with 19.6 ppg, 5.8 rebounds per game and 3.8 assists per contest. Keck spearheaded a Coudersport team that won a second consecutive Class AA title, as well as claiming the regular season NTL crown.
Thomas, meanwhile, was the NTL’s best rebounder and was an intimidating presence in the post. She helped Otto-Eldred to one of their best seasons in school history, posting a 21-5 mark that included 14 league wins. She averaged 16.5 ppg, and grabbed multiple double-doubles on the season.
The top two teams in the NTL were again represented on the second team with Allison Cousins (Otto) and Shaelyn Black (Coudy). Black, a 5-foot-11 junior, also made her mark in the paint this season. She averaged 14.4 ppg, and picked up 12 double-doubles on the season. Black and Chambers were the only two non-seniors to be selected from PA.
Cousins led the point for Otto, and was one of the strongest defenders in the NTL. She was also one of Otto’s best perimeter shooters, and along with Thomas helped the Terrors to a 14-0 record to begin the season.
One of D-9’s top scorers over the past four seasons, Abbey Woodard, was named to the third team. Woodard again lit up the scoreboard in 2018, averaging 22 ppg, and 12.3 rebounds. Although Smethport finished 6-16 this season, Woodard boosted her all-time standing with the school, finishing her career with a school-record 1,325 points and 206 steals.
COACHES
Olean High School’s Jeff Anastasia was named Big 30 Boys Coach of the Year, but two PA coaches were runners-up. Brian Furman (Coudersport) and Brian Hobbs (Bradford) received consideration in the voting process before the award ultimately went to Anastasia. Furman, who was the Co-Big 30 Coach of the Year in 2016, lead the Falcons to a second straight Class AA title this season as well as another state playoff victory. Coudy has won the NTL for the past three seasons under Furman, going 71-9 over that span.
Hobbs, meanwhile, led the Owls to their best record in nearly four years with a 14-9 mark which included a six-game win streak to close the regular season. Bradford picked up wins over impressive wins over Elk County Catholic and Allegany-Limestone this season en route to an appearance in the Class AAAA Championship.
