The All-Thumb boys basketball first team includes, from left, Shawn Pardee of Millington, Curtis Garza of North Branch, Kyle Abrego of Peck, Josh Schelke of Harbor Beach, Austin LeVan of Millington, and Tommy Morneau of Bad Axe. (photo by: www.KG-Photo.com)
By: Mike Gallagher
Sports Writer
The 2014-15 boys basketball season was full of great accomplishments for area teams and players. From Millington’s first Regional title in school history, to Bad Axe’s first conference title since 1960, it has certainly been a season to remember. For six Thumb area players, the season has gotten a bit more memorable, as they were named to the All-Thumb Boys Basketball first team.
The team, which is voted on by media members from the Tuscola, Huron, and Sanilac County, features three players from the Tuscola County Advertiser coverage area.
Austin LeVan of Millington (photo by www.KG-Photo.com)
Shawn Pardee, a 5-foot-11 point guard from Millington was named to the first team, as well as earning the Thumb Player of the Year honors. Pardee was the area’s top scorer, averaging 25.9 points per game. Pardee directed a Cardinal offense that averaged 68.9 points per game. Pardee has already passed the 1,000 career points mark, and also averaged 4.8 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game. Pardee was named first team all state for class C.
Pardee is joined on the first team by his teammate Austin LeVan. LeVan, a senior guard for the Cardinals is on the All Thumb team for the second year in a row, and was recently named to the all-conference team for the fourth straight year. LeVan was also on the all state class C first team. LeVan averaged 20.9 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game. LeVan went over the 1,500 career points mark, and the 500 career rebounds mark earilier this season. Against Birch Run, LeVan scored a season high 36 points, and in a game against Bridgeport LeVan recorded triple-double with 23 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists.
The third area player named to the All-Thumb team was Curtis Garza. Garza a 6-foot senior guard from North Branch did it all for the Broncos, averaging 18.6 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 6.0 assists per game. Garza, a third year varsity player, scored in double digits in every contest this season, and was named to the All-TVC East first team. Garza’s season high came against Millington when he scored 25 points, and he led the Broncos to wins in both of their TVC crossover games against Chesaning, and St. Louis.
Curtis Garza of North Branch (photo by www.KG-Photo.com)
Tommy Morneau, a junior point guard was named to the team, and was the runner up for the All-Thumb Player of the Year award. Morneau averaged 21.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game. Morneau was one of the area’s most consistent shooters, shooting 53% from the floor, and 46% from the three point line. Morneau led the Hatchets to their second conference title in school history, and also guided Bad Axe to a district title.
Peck forward Kyle Abrego was also named to the first team. Abrego, a 6-foot-4 forward averaged 18.1 points, and 7.5 rebounds per game. Abrego is a fourth year varsity player, and has been named to the All-NCTL first team three times. He scored his 1,000 career point this year, and had a season high 29 points against Armada.
Josh Schelke of Harbor Beach was one of the best when it came to rebounding from the guard position. Schelke averaged 8.4 rebounds per game, while also scoring 19.9 points per game. Schelke led the Pirates to a perfect 10-0 conferece record in the GTC East. Schelke was also named to the All-GTC first team.
Shawn Pardee of Millington (photo by www.KG-Photo.com)
Mark Krug of Bad Axe was the unanimous choice for Coach of the Year honors after leading the Hatchets to a 16-5 record, and their first conference title in 55 years.
DeAundre Callahan of Vassar was named the Defensive Player of the Year. Callahan finished the season with 20 charges taken, 49 steals, and 48 deflections.
Derek Geiger was named Sixth Man of the Year. Geiger, a senior from Bad Axe averaged six points per game off of the bench, and shot 35% from three, and 75 % from the free throw line.
ALL-THUMB BOYS BASKETBALL
FIRST TEAM
Shawn Pardee (Millington)
Tommy Morneau (Bad Axe)
Josh Schelke (Harbor Beach)
Austin LeVan (Millington)
Kyle Abrego (Peck)
Curtis Garza (North Branch)
SECOND TEAM
Danny Hale Junior (Sandusky)
14.9 points per game 4.6 rebounds per game
Aaron Saenz Junior (USA)
17.8 ppg 5.0 rpg
Tyler Humpert Junior (Vassar)
14.7 ppg 11.0 rebounds per game
Andrew Storm Junior (Marlette)
15.3 ppg 3.9 assists per game
Jared Schrader Senior (Reese)
18.0 ppg 4.0 apg
Aaron VanHorn (Kingston)
12.7 ppg 4.0 rpg 4.1 apg 3.9 steals per game
HONORABLE MENTION
Dalton Okie (Harbor Beach)
Travis Tucker (Kingston)
Bailey Krueger (Caro)
Kurt Kubacki (Ubly)
Andrew Sutton (Bad Axe)
Jeffrey Randolph (Brown City)
Blake Ruppal (Vassar)
Connor Thomas (Marlette)
Jacob Wright (Owen-Gage)
Brennan Wissner (Lakers)
Cody Abrego (Peck)
Martin Messing (Bad Axe)
Austin Seltz (Harbor Beach)
Colin McDonald (Cros-Lex)
Mason Erla (Cass City)
Tanner Tysick (Caro)
TEAM OF THE YEAR
Millington (31 total votes)
Bad Axe (25)
Harbor Beach (5)
Peck (2)
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Shawn Pardee (Millington) (31)
Tommy Morneau (Bad Axe) (25)
Josh Schelke (Harbor Beach) (4)
Austin LeVan (Millington) (2)
Kyle Abrego (Peck) (1)
COACH OF THE YEAR
Mark Krug (Bad Axe) (Unanimous, 35)
Dave Lester (Kingston) (12)
Ron Wruble (Harbor Beach) (9)
Tristin Pennington (Sandusky) (7)
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
DeAundre Callahan (Vassar)
Jacob Lasecki (Sandusky)
Jared Brown (Bad Axe)
SIXTH MAN OF THE YEAR
Derek Geiger (Bad Axe)