The West’s best
Pope earns league MVP honors
OBSERVER Staff Report
Following the Chautauqua Lake Thunderbirds’ run to the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Far West Regional, the team’s two leaders earned post-season awards.
Junior Devin Pope, Chautauqua Lake’s do-it-all star, averaged 32.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, 5.1 steals and 3.3 assists per game en route to being named the Chautauqua Cattaraugus Athletic Association West I’s Most Valuable Player.
Aiding Pope and the Thunderbirds was senior Aaron Swan, whose 16.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game en route to being named CCAA West I first team all league.
Dunkirk’s Darnell Butts (junior) earned first team honors with 13 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game.
Also earning first team honors was Fredonia’s Lucas Voss (16.6 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game) and Maple Grove sophomore Carson Vrist (17.4 points and 6.1 rebounds).
Olean’s Jeff Anastasia earned Coach of the Year honors on the back of an 11-1 league record while the Huskies also received the team sportsmanship award.
The 2016-2017 Bryon Nelson Award was won by Maple Grove’s Michael Padilla.
Dunkirk senior Shamon Stewart was named second-team all league following a season that saw him average 11.7 points, 9.7 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game.
Fredonia’s Nate Shuart (sophomore) earned second-team honors with 15.3 points and 7.8 rebounds per game.
Also named to the second-team was Olean sophomore Michael Schmidt (10.4 points, 8 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 3 steals per game), Olean senior Tristen Snyder (14.9 points, 8 rebounds and 2 steals) and Maple Grove senior Padilla (14.1 points, 8.9 rebounds and 4 assists).
Twelve players earned honorable mention nomination. They are, by school:
Dunkirk
Evon Hernandez – senior
Noah Sobilo – junior
Devaun Farnham – junior
Tyrek Buchanan-Ruiz – senior
Maple Grove
Dalton DuBois – senior
Peter Auer – freshman
Falconer
Brandon Luke – senior
Brandon Crick – junior
Olean
Matt Droney – sophomore
Luke Rogers – senior
Southwestern
Niko Pannes – senior
Alex Card – sophomore
Chautauqua Lake
Tyler Meredith – senior