Braves junior named Player of the Year

0

Going into the 2017-18 season, Brownstown Central’s boys basketball team needed a go-to guy.

A player that wanted the ball in his hands at all times, was willing to take the big shot, and displayed a team-first attitude.

As one of just two players returning from last year’s varsity roster, Michael Boshears knew his time had come to take control at the point.

[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]

Boshears took full advantage of his opportunity, helping steer the Braves to an 18-7 record.

The junior dropped 396 points, for an average of 15.8 points per game, while shooting 49 percent from the floor and 73 percent from the free throw line.

The 16-year-old collected 3.1 rebounds per game while averaging 5.0 assists and 2.5 steals.

His efforts earned All-Mid-Southern Conference honors, an All-Graber Post Tournament team nod and Indiana Basketball Coaches Association top-100 underclass workout invitation.

For all of his efforts this season, The Tribune has named Boshears the 2018 Jackson County player of the year.

Brownstown Central coach Dave Benter held high expectations for Boshears as soon as the 2016-17 season ended.

“We knew that he was going to have a lot of responsibility because of the amount of scoring that we lost,” Benter said. “He played a really important role the year before. We knew that he not only had the ability of generating offense for himself, but can make other players better.”

Going from sixth man to starting point guard, teams started taking more notice of Boshears in the summer games.

“We saw (double teams) in the summer,” Benter said. “Some of our summer league teams were starting to double him and jump him at half-court. I thought, as a team, we got so much better as the year went on on offense because Mike understood how to beat those situations.

Our guys were able get openings. Offense, in basketball, is all about making two guys guard one guy. Special players can demand double teams. Mike was one of those guys that was able to do that. I really thought, from the second game on, other teams really tried to take him away.”

Boshears liked the pressure of becoming the main ball-handler, and stepping into a leadership role.

“(The coaches) wanted me to take care of the ball on every possession and become a better shooter and leader,” Boshears said. “They wanted me to lead on offense and defense, on and off the court. They really wanted me to help push other guys to that next level.”

Benter said that the team adapted its offense to Boshears’ play.

“He’s really comfortable with the ball in his hands,” he said. “The last couple years, with him and Carson (Lambring, 2017 graduate) we have kind of adapted our offense to have more ball screens and dribble hand-offs. He has really took it and went. You could really see it in the sectional. Against North Harrison, we ran a lot of ball screens for him to get mismatches. He did a great job in both games.”

Brownstown started the season 6-1 before dropping two of three games at the Graber Post Buildings Tournament.

After the holiday tourney, Boshears took his game up a notch.

In the first game back from break, Boshears dropped 34 points against Jennings County.

“I don’t know what it was,” Boshears admitted. “I fell into some trouble going into Christmas break. Once I came out of that, I had a different mindset in the practices and games. It just helped me.

“It felt great being the go-to guy. It was a lot of pressure, but I like it. It feels good to succeed under pressure.”

The Braves finished the regular season 11-3 — which included a seven-game winning streak — going into the sectional.

“I really though he grew after Christmas break,” Benter said. “I didn’t think he played as well as he could at the holiday tournament. He then came out and carried us against Jennings County. I thought he kept getting better and better as the season went on.”

After trouncing Salem 51-38 to open the postseason, the Braves lost 60-57 in overtime against North Harrison.

Going into his senior season, Benter wants to see Boshears become a more vocal leader on the floor.

“He is such a quiet kid,” Benter said. “I think, from a leadership standpoint, everyone feels really comfortable and calm with the ball in his hands. He just isn’t a really vocal kid on the court. That’s kind of the next step we want to see him taking.”

Boshears, who has played ball since the first grade, said he plans on playing college basketball in a couple years should the opportunity arise.

[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”2018 All-County team” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]

Joining Boshears on the The Tribune’s 2018 All-Jackson County team:

Alan Perry, Seymour, senior

Key stats: 300 points (12.5 PPG), 42% 2PT FG (180 att) and 36% 3PT (155 att), 69% FT (155 att), 94 rebounds, (3.91 RPG), 143 assists (5.96 APG), 24 steals, (1 SPG), 50 turnovers (2.08 avg).

Honors: All-Hoosier Hills Conference, SHS mental attitude/MVP/Barney Scott Memorial awards, SHS career assists record (401).

Ty McCory, Seymour, senior

Key stats: 325 points (13.5 PPG), 56% 2PT FG  (54 att) and 44% 3PT (166 att), 74% FT (155 att), 34 rebounds (1.42 RPG), 16 steals (.67 SPG), 17 assists (.71 APG).

Honors: SHS offensive POY and Barney Scott Award winner, school record 3PTM for season (73).

Tiller Cummings, Seymour, senior

Key stats: 225 points (9.38 PPG), 58% 2PT FG (136 att), 82% FT (71 att), 153 rebounds (6.37 RPG),  19 assists (.79 APG), 22 blocks (.92 BPG), 7 steals (.29 SPG).

Honors: 4-year varsity award winner.

Cameron Luedeman, Brownstown Central, senior

Key stats: 302 points (12.5 PPG), 48 rebounds (2.0 RPG), 43 assists (1.7 APG), 16 steals (.6 SPG), 38% FG and 36% 3PT, 73% FT.

Honors: All-MSC honorable mention.

Seth Borden, Brownstown Central, junior

Key stats: 149 points (6 PPG), 152 rebounds (6.1 RPG), 45 assists (1.8 APG), 37 steals (1.5 SPG), 54% FG and 53% FT.

Honors: BC leading rebounder and best defensive player awards.

Logan Brewer, Crothersville, junior

Key stats: 384 points (17.45 PPG), 58% 2PT (266 att), 119 rebounds (5.41 RPG), 50 assists (2.27 APG), 56 steals (2.55 APG).

Honors: All-Southern Athletic Conference, CHS single game scoring record (45 points), CHS coaches award.

Josh Thomas, Crothersville, sophomore

Key stats: 311 points (13.0 PPG), 51% 2PT (74 att), 29% 3PT (84 att), 143 rebounds (6.0 RPG), 58 steals (2.42 SPG), 75 assists (3.13 APG).

Honors: All-SAC, CHS mental attitude award.

Zane Elliott, Crothersville, senior

Key stats: 65 points (3.6 PPG), 53% 2PT (38 att), 127 assists (7.1 APG), 95 rebounds (5.28 APG), 40 steals (2.2 SPG), 35 turnovers (1.94 avg).

Honors: CHS single game assist record (20) and 2nd all-time in assists (327), assist-turnover ratio 3.5-1, CHS assists award.

Jacob Rowe, Trinity Lutheran, senior

Key stats: 400 points (15.4 PPG), 68 rebounds (2.6 RPG), 15 assists (.6 APG), 20 steals (.8 SPG), 43% 2PT (77 att) and 43% 3PT (233 att), 78 % FT (40 att).

Honors: No. 1 in 3PTM (101) in Indiana last season, Trinity school record 3PTM career (143), tied school record for 3PTM in game (8), Trinity MVP and Cougar Award, Southern All-Star Game.

AJ Goecker, Trinity Lutheran, junior

Key stats: 402 points (15.5 PPG), 152 (5.8 RPG), 29 (1.1 SPG), 49 (1.9 APG), 55% 2PT FG (299 att) and 35% 3PT (77 att), 76% FT (88 att).

Honors: Southern All-Star Game.

Honorable mention

Dylan Wilson, Crothersville, senior

Zach Moore, Seymour, senior

Ethan Wischmeier, Brownstown Central, junior

Trent Shoemaker, Trinity Lutheran, junior

J.D. Fish, Medora, junior

Owen Sullivan, Medora, junior

[sc:pullout-text-end][sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”Boshears” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]

2018 Jackson County Player of the Year

Michael Boshears, Brownstown Central, junior

Key stats: 396 points (15.8 PPG), 77 rebounds (3.1 RPG), 125 assists (5.0 APG), 61 steals (2.5 SPG), 49% FG and 33% 3PT FG, 73% FT.

Honors: All-Mid-Southern Conference, All-Graber Post Tournament team, IBCA top-100 underclass workout.

[sc:pullout-text-end]

No posts to display