The Husky boys basketball team named Cody Shipp and Ryan Elliot their outstanding players of the year at their annual awards dessert on Feb. 28.
Elliott also was defensive player of the year. Charlie Fitzsimons received the hustle award. Gabe Kauffman won the free-throw award, shooting 84 percent from the foul line and missing only six shots all season. Tim Faulconer received the Felix Wilkerson Sportsmanship Award.
Shipp received second-team all-league honors. Elliott was named to the third team, and Kauffman and Fitzsimons received honorable mention.
Freshman player of the year was Kyle Carter. Most improved freshman was Kevin McGuyre.
Colton Emmert was junior varsity player of the year. Taylor Huschka was most improved junior varsity player.
First-year letters went to sophomores Gabe Kauffman and Colton Emmert and juniors Adam Matuszak, Ricky Worley, Brandon Weist, Jon Ball and Nathan Whitfield.
Second-year letters went to seniors Tim Faulconer, Brandon Smith, Fitzsimons and Anthony Hoffman.
Cody Shipp received a third-year letter.
The Huskies finished their season 2-8 in league and 8-14 overall.
Losing six seniors, “there’s a chance for some younger kids to step into some big roles,” Coach Tim Little said. The freshmen had a good year, finishing 15-3 overall and undefeated in league.
“Next year’s sophomores will push for JV and varsity spots and make it competitive, which is good,” Little said. The team will be young, but the Huskies will return starters Kauffman and Weist.
Emmert had significant varsity playing time as a sophomore along with junior varsity experienc, Little said. Matuszak also did a good job at junior varsity point guard.
“Again, there’s a group of this year’s freshmen that are excited about the opportunity to work their way in for a starting JV or even a varsity position,” Little said.
Next year, the Huskies will join the Valco Conference, where Central is the dominant force.
Central is on a 21-game winning streak, and Little said he thought the Panthers would end up taking the state championship. The Huskies handed Central one of its only two losses this year, Central’s first games of the season.
Central was short of players, who were still playing football.
“We’ll be right in the mix,” Little said.
“We’re still young and a little bit inexperienced, but we’re excited for the next five or six years. We see a lot of potential in a lot of kids coming up.”