Several local players were among those honored on the recently announced Western Athletic Conference boys basketball all-star team.
Mayfield senior Dylan Toscano was named the WAC North Division Most Valuable Player after averaging 15.7 points per game this season.
“I can’t say enough about how much he has meant to our program,” Mayfield varsity basketball coach Brian VanNostrand said. “He has helped me and the team out immensely in my first two years of coaching. Not only with his natural athletic abilities, but also with his ability to score and get to the basket to create offense for us.”
The Panthers finished the season 10-9 overall and 7-5 in WAC North play.
“There are games where if you look at the box scores, players like Ryan Hennessy will have a big game or have more points, but Dylan was always a threat and someone you had to watch,” VanNostrand said. “He might have had an off shooting night, but when we needed a big basket, he would come through in the clutch. He brings so much more with his ability to pass and create offense for other players.”
Toscano also is a two-time WAC North MVP in boys soccer.
Canajoharie, which went 11-1 in WAC North play, had two players named first-team all-stars,
Kevin Shannon and Dillan Veeder were both honored for the Cougars.
Shannon finished with 25 3-pointers this season for Canajoharie, while Veeder hit 18 3-pointers.
The Cougars advanced to the Section II Class C semifinals before losing to Hoosic Valley to end their season with a 17-4 overall record.
Also named to the first team were Saratoga Catholic’s Keegan Murphy, Fort Plain’s Chris Hanifin and St. Johnsville’s Alex Hart.
Hanifin led Fort Plain in scoring with 9.2 points per game as the Hilltoppers finished the season 10-8 overall and 8-4 in WAC North play.
Hart averaged 15.0 points per game to lead St. Johnsville to a 10-10 overall record and a 5-7 mark in WAC North competition.
Northville, which went 10-10 overall and 4-8 in WAC North play, had two players named second-team all-stars. Barcley Hayward and Tim Monette were honored for the Falcons.
Also named to the second team were Mayfield’s Ryan Hennessy, Saratoga Catholic’s Michael Naughton and Fort Plain’s Marcus Failing.
In the South Division, Mekeel Christian Academy senior Caleb Stewart and Berne-Knox-Westerlo senior Garrett Pitcher shared Most Valuable Player honors.
Mekeel Christian seniors Spencer Bath and Courtney Penson were named first-team all-stars. The Lions won the WAC South title with a perfect 10-0 league mark.
Also named to the first team were Schoharie junior Conner Brown, Berne-Knox-Westerlo senior Tristan Wilson and Schoharie’s Evan Ottman.
Mekeel Christian also had two players – senior Dan Alteri and junior Oheino Miller – named second-team all-stars.
Also named to the second team were Schoharie junior James Sackett, Berne-Knox-Westerlo senior Tanner Laurie and Middleburgh junior Ryan Bechtold.
Western Athletic Conference All-Stars
North Division
MVP: Dylan Toscano (Mayfield)
First Team
Dillan Veeder (Canajoharie), Kevin Shannon (Canajoharie), Keegan Murphy (Saratoga Catholic), Chris Hanifin (Fort Plain), Alex Hart (St. Johnsville)
Second Team
Ryan Hennessy (Mayfield), Marcus Failing (Fort Plain), Michael Naughton (Saratoga Catholic), Tim Monette (Northville), Barcley Hayward (Northville)
South Division
Co-MVP: Garrett Pitcher (Berne-Knox-Westerlo), Caleb Stewart (Mekeel Christian)
First Team
Conner Brown (Schoharie), Spencer Bath (mekeel Christian), Courtney Penson (Mekeel Christian), Tristan Wilson (Berne-Knox-Westerlo), Evan Ottman (Schoharie)
Second Team
Dan Alteri (Mekeel Christian), James Sackett (Schoharie), Tanner Laurie (Berne-Knox-Westerlo), Oheino Miller (Mekeel Christian), Ryan Bechtold (Middleburgh).
