Dallas Morgan was named Most Valuable Player for the boys basketball team Thursday night during the team’s annual awards dessert.
The Free-Throw Award also went to Morgan, who shot 72 percent. Best Defensive Player went to Grant Kauffman. Jeremy White received the Hustle Award, and Trevor Bulman-Jutte received the Felix Wilkerson Sportsmanship Award.
Everyone received at least one vote when the team selected its winners.
“As far as the season, wins and losses weren’t what we hoped for,” said Coach Kostanty Knurowski. The team went 3-20, defeating Stayton, Taft and La Pine. “In spite of the record, this was one of the most enjoyable groups I’ve coached.”
“You’d never know it was an eight- or 10-game losing streak,” Knurowski said. The team was always upbeat and a joy to be around, and that’s a tribute to the parents.
The Huskies didn’t have much height, a fact acknoweldged by opposing coaches, Knurowski said. The team tried different things to overcome that. Sometimes it didn’t work, but the Huskies always went at it 100 percent.
Nine seniors graduate this year, Knurowski said. “It’s kind of sad. They’ve been here as long as I’ve been here.”
“I do feel like we have a strong foundation coming back,” Knurowski said. “I’m really pleased with the guys I have coming back.”
The junior varsity took its lumps this year, said Coach Randy Hutchins. The Huskies ended up 6-12, but defeated the most talented teams in the league. Sweet Home has some maturing to do, and as that happens, Hutchins said he expects good things in the next couple of years.
Josh Holman was named Most Improved. Kyle Rose received the Hustle Award. Outstanding JV Player went to Bryce Daniels and Hunter Jutte. Best Defensive player was Chase Hutchins.
The Junior Varsity 2 won three, lost six and then had a run at the end of the season, said Coach Casey Humphrey. Five of the team’s nine losses were within five points, and in the second round of league play, the team defeated everyone in the league except Elmira. In that game, the team was up two points right at the end, but Elmira managed to steal the victory in the final seconds.
Most Improved JV2 player was Christian Voldbaek. James Brown won the Hustle Award and was Defensive Player of the Year. Offensive Player of the Year and Most Valuable Player was Kevin Seiber.
First-year letters went to freshman Hunter Jutte; sophomores Bryce Daniels and Grant Kauffman; junior Christian Porter; and seniors Tony Ramirez, Trevor Bulman-Jutte, Dakota Snow, Taylor Conn and Jorge Anaya.
Receiving second-year letters were seniors Kyle Winslow, Brice Vandenberg, Jeremy White and Dallas Morgan.