Huber selected MVP of all-county team

There were more good players than usual to pick from for this year's All-Perry County boys basketball team, as the statistics bear out.

Eight players had double-figure scoring averages. That's three more than last year and the most since 1999, when there were also eight (two years ago there were just two).

This season also saw two of the four highest individual season field-goal percentages ever compiled in the county - and one of those players didn't even make all-county.

Four players drew enough fouls to shoot more than 100 free throws. Several years no one did that.

So it was tough for the voters to pick five players for all-county (as usual, the voters were the three county head coaches; Kevin Oxley and Kelly Ballard, the two who coached against all three county teams; and me, who saw each county team play at least eight times).

One coach made his five selections and then added two "high honorable mentions." He also said he could not pick a Most Valuable Player because there was such balance on the county rosters.

Only two players, Perry Central guard Nick Huber and Tell City forward Joseph Kohnert, were unanimous selections.

Tell City guard Ryan Zuelly was just one vote short of unanimous.

Tell City center Eric Henrickson, Perry Central forward-guard Wes Linette and Cannelton guard Tyler Aud complete the team (Linette and Aud tied for the fifth spot).

Huber is the MVP, as he earned the most votes for that honor.

He led the county in scoring with 20.5 points per game and in free-throw shooting at 83.0 percent.

He also led Perry Central in rebounding at 6.7 per game (third best in the county), a rare honor for a guard.

He hit 44.3 percent from the field overall, including 37.4 percent from three-point range.

The only repeater from last year's all-county team, Huber could score in a variety of ways.

Some of his driving underhand scoop shots made me think he must have been trying to emulate Julius Erving, but Dr. J retired from pro basketball two years before Huber was born.

Huber scored 971 career points and apparently finished sixth on Perry Central's career scoring list. The most amazing thing about that is he played two seasons with Aaron Carter, who is first on the school's scoring list.

Huber obviously could play college basketball at some level and he plans to attend one of the schools that will appear in this week's NCAA Division I tourney, Cornell.

But he has been recruited there as a track hurdler. While visiting the campus, he did watch a Big Red basketball practice and told his dad he thought he could play for the team. With indoor and outdoor track seasons, he probably won't have time to try basketball though.

Kohnert and Zuelly could probably also play college basketball if they wanted.

Zuelly, who may also have a shot at baseball, is undecided on his college plans.

He led Tell City in scoring at 14.8 points per game, free-throw shooting at 75.5 percent, and assists at 3.6 per game.

Kohnert was also a big part of the Marksmen's compiling their highest win total in 29 years.

He averaged 12.2 points and led the Marksmen in rebounding at 7.4 per game, second best in the county.

He hit 57.0 percent from the field, 14th best in school history, and made 73.8 percent of his free throws. And like Huber, Zuelly and Aud, he shot over 100 free throws.

Henrickson averaged 11.1 points and 4.5 rebounds per game.

He hit 65.6 percent from the field, third in county history behind 1995-96 Tell City forward Keith Feldpausch's 68.9 percent and 1995-96 Tell City center Mike Mahoney's 65.8 percent, among players with at least 100 attempts.

Among players with at least 100 made, Henrickson's field-goal percentage is second best in county history, just two-tenths of a percent behind Mahoney's mark.

Aud led Cannelton with 17.5 points and 2.0 assists per game. He was second on the Bulldogs in rebounding at 4.0 per game.

He had the Bulldogs' first 40-point game in 10 years and led the county in free throws attempted with 122.

He led the Bulldogs in free-throw shooting at 66.4 percent, but that and his 36.8 percent field-goal shooting need to improve.

Linette was Perry Central's second leading scorer at 11.5 points per game and led the Commodores in three-point shooting at 38.5 percent, second best in the county.

He hit 46.8 percent from the field and averaged 4.5 rebounds per game.