Defense Need a stop? Here's my stance By Shayne Combs

Piketon's Caleb Southworth and Unioto's Shiann Ray anchor SVCsportszone's All-SVC Defensive Team

BOYS ALL-SVC DEFENSIVE TEAM F = Caleb Southworth, Piketon (DEF. POY) F = Rick Chamberlin, Zane Trace C = Alex Kimsey, Unioto G = Gabe Haynes, Zane Trace G = Bryant Gibson, Westfall

GIRLS ALL-SVC DEFENSIVE TEAM F = Chloe Cottrell, Unioto F = Tristan Rumfield, Paint Valley C = Erin Dailey, Zane Trace G = Shiann Ray, Unioto (DEF. POY) G = Bridgette Neighbors, Huntington

Credit for the above photo goes to Kim Cottrell

GIRLS BREAKDOWN

BOYS BREAKDOWN

Unioto’s Shiann Ray anchors my All-Defensive Team on the girls’ side. Ray is an outstanding athlete with great quickness, and her basketball instinct and intelligence is unmatched throughout the league. Joining Ray at guard if I needed a stop would be Huntington’s Bridgette Neighbors. Neighbors is a great competitor who averages over two steals per game, and her toughness as helped Huntington post a league’s second-best 39.1 points per game allowed to their opponents. At center, I would take Zane Trace’s 6-0 sophomore Erin Dailey. Dailey has blocked a shot and a half per game while recording one steal per game as well, and her overall athleticism gives a very balanced Zane Trace team a lot of versatility. I know Olivia and Mackenzie Arledge both had great stats at the center position, and many people probably think there are better defenders on Dailey’s own team; however, in evaluating the center position only, I feel Dailey brings the most versatility on the defensive end. Joining Dailey on the frontline is Paint Valley's Tristan Rumfield and Unioto’s Chloe Cottrell. Rumfield plays with great energy and brings a lot of toughness to the paint. At only 5-9, Rumfield led the league in rebounding and recorded over two steals per game. Cottrell has an outstanding understanding of the game. Unioto’s Ms. Intangible has done all the little things for her basketball team throughout the year, and the defensive end has been no exception. Her strength and athleticism allows her to guard multiple positions while averaging over two steals per game. Unioto's Janae Driggs and Piketon's Holly Brabson had some nice stats as well, but I just feel Cottrell and Rumfield are better all-around defenders at this point in their careers.

I have seen very few players in recent years who can impact a game on the defensive end the way Piketon’s Caleb Southworth can do on a nightly basis. His versatility allows him to guard any of the five spots on the floor – a characteristic that makes him a true defensive stopper. At 6-6, Southworth is –in my opinion – the best overall athlete in the SVC, and his two steals and three blocks per game makes him my SVC Defensive Player of the Year on the boys’ side. Joining Southworth on the frontline of my All-Defensive Team would be forward Rick Chamberlin of Zane Trace and Unioto center Alex Kimsey. Kimsey and his league leading shot blocking and rebounding made the center position a no-brainer. His 3.4 blocks per game, not to mention how many shots he changes as well, helped Unioto’s defense become one of the true bright spots during a tough season for the Tanks. As for Chamberlin, the junior center made some big plays on the defensive end for the Pioneers. With Zane Trace’s lack of size, Chamberlin was forced to do a lot on the interior in terms of defending and rebounding. This forward spot was probably the spot I struggled with the most in terms of my decision because of Westfall’s Tyler Cobb. Cobb is an incredible athlete who can really get off the floor, but I feel Westfall offered him some better frontline help on the defensive end compared to what Chamberlin was forced to shoulder for the red, white, and blue. On the perimeter, Bryant Gibson will hound the ball with Gabe Haynes defending the off guard position. Adena’s Ben Bower and Buddy Barnes definitely need to be considered due to their quickness, toughness, and solid defensive stats; however, Gibson is the kid I want on my team if I need a play made on the defensive end. I love his energy, his competitiveness, and his will to win. As for Haynes, I love his ability to deny the wing, and lately, the job he has done in the tournament on Blake Justice of Peebles and TVC Player of the Year in Alexander’s Greg Frost makes him the guy I want with Gibson in the backcourt if I need a stop to win.

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