Getting one’s name on the all-Southwest District basketball first team is typically a pretty rare achievement given the small number of players recognized and the talent across the district, which spans from Cincinnati all the way north through our area.
However, a pair of Indian Lake hoops standouts received that honor Tuesday with the release of this year’s all-SW district squads. The teams are selected by a panel of media members that cover teams in the district.
Indian Lake guard Caiden Nicol landed on the Division III boys first team following a sensational junior season, while on the girls side, Laker senior forward Stephanie Altstaetter grabbed a first team spot after averaging a double-double.
Nicol did it all for the Lakers, who won a share of the Central Buckeye Conference Mad River division this winter.
A guard that can hit from outside and get to the basket with ease, he averaged 19.8 points, 10 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 2.1 steals per game.
He had a season-high 40 points in the regular-season finale against North Union and scored 36 points twice.
Nicol only had two games in which he scored in single digits.
He and teammate Camdon Tuttle, a junior guard who was an honorable mention selection all-district pick in Division III, made up a lethal combination for the Lakers.
“I don’t think you can put into words what those two have meant to our program,” said Indian Lake head coach Zach Overturf. “Their work ethic is through the roof. They have played tremendous roles for us since Day 1 when they were freshmen.”
Overturf said it’s not simply a matter of talent that sets his two juniors apart from their peers.
“They are both very goal driven,” said Overturf. “They both want to play in college, so that is something that motivates them. They are also fierce competitors. They want to win, and they know that the better they become, the better the team is going to be.”
Just as Nicol and Tuttle were the face of the Laker boys team, Altstaetter filled that role for the Lady Lakers.
She was a consistent force all season around the basket.
Altstaetter averaged 14.8 points, 11 rebounds and 2.5 blocked shots per game. She shot 44 percent from the field and 72 percent at the free-throw line.
She scored in double figures in 18 of the Lakers’ 24 games and recorded double-digit rebound totals 16 times.
Her highest scoring output of the season was 26 points, which she accomplished twice, against Upper Scioto Valley and vs. Northwestern.
Altstaetter’s high rebound total was 20 in a contest vs. Ben Logan. She had two games with 19 rebounds.
Numerous other local players honored
In addition to the three Lakers highlighted above, there were nine other area basketball players named to the all-district squads.
For the local girls teams, West Liberty-Salem junior forward Chaley Wade was selected to the Division III second team.
In Division II, Bellefontaine junior Lexi Robinson and Benjamin Logan sophomore Mia Stahler were honorable mention picks.
For Divison IV, Riverside senior Jade Copas was named to the honorable mention list.
On the boys side, Bellefontaine junior C.J. Wilson was an honorable mention selection in Division II.
Receiving honorable mention spots in Division III were West Liberty-Salem’s Matthew Jones and Taron Logwood, while Riverside’s Myles Platfoot and Triad’s Kane Bailey were honorable mention selections in Division IV.
BHS product named D2 boys coach of year
Former Bellefontaine basketball player Brock Moon was selected the Division II Southwest District coach of the year for leading Tippecanoe to a stellar campaign.
In his first year as head coach, Moon guided the Red Devils to a record of 21-4 overall and 16-2 in the Miami Valley League.
The Red Devils saw their season come to an end last Friday in a 47-38 sectional tournament loss to Dayton Dunbar.
Indian Lake’s Caiden Nicol, left, and Stephanie Alstaetter, right, were both named Division III first-team all-Southwest District selections on Tuesday. (Examiner photos | Tony Barrett)