The Midland Empire Conference has announced its All-Conference basketball teams for the recently completed 2019-2020 seasons, with four Chillicothe High School players, all seniors, named to the team.
With no surprise at all, Maryville High School junior guard Serena Sundell was a unanimous selection to the girls team. However, perhaps in more of a surprise, she was the only player named in that fashion, for either girls or boys. Joining Sundell on the girls first team are the Chillicothe tandem of Jordan Hibner and Hunter Keithley, joined by Cameron’s duo of Laini Joseph and Kaitlyn Smith. The All-MEC first team is rounded out with the selections of Natalie Rippy and Mia Simone of St. Pius X, Kianna Herrera and Jaida Cox of Benton, Anastyn Pettlon of Maryville, and Rylee Benight of Savannah.
Honorable mention status for the girls side went to Chillicothe’s Essie Hicks and Jessica Reeter, Ashley Hall and Kate Parrish of St. Pius X, Rylee Vierthaler and Molly Renshaw of Maryville, Tatum Studer and Juliann Smith of Bishop LeBlond, Darcy Bowlin of Lafayette, Peyton Anderson of Benton, Olivia Moore of Cameron, and Lexi Jones of Savannah.
Chillicothe, St. Pius X, and Maryville finished in a three-way tie for the MEC title all at 6-1, followed by Benton at 4-3, Cameron at 3-4, Savannah at 2-5, Lafayette at 1-6, and LeBlond at 0-7.
Named to the MEC boys first-team was Chillicothe’s high-scoring duo of West Brandsgaard and C.J. Pfaff, joined by Kolten Griffin and Brayden Luikart of Lafayette, Tate Oglesby of Maryville, Chol Ater and Allan Coy of Benton, Michael Morgan of St. Pius X, Wes Darnell of Savannah, and Chris Guldan of Bishop LeBlond.
Boys honorable mention status goes to Bradley Riley of Chillicothe and Nick Helmich and Ian Riley of Cameron, joined by Ben Walker, Caden Stoecklein, and Marc Gustafson of Maryville, Quay Jeter and Chase Spoonemore of Savannah, T.J. Alexander of Lafayette, Malique Bennett of Benton, and Chase Wilcox of St. Pius X.
Lafayette won the MEC boys crown outright with a 7-0 mark, one game ahead of Chillicothe’s 6-1. Maryville, Benton, and Savannah tied for third place at 4-3, with St. Pius X at 2-5, Cameron 1-6, and LeBlond at 0-7.
