Ferguson named top player in Tri-County Conference

Dustin Ferguson may be the youngest player on the All-Tri-County Conference first team, but that did not stop him from being named the league's Player of the Year.

Ferguson, a 5-foot-10 guard, led Clarkton to a 23-4 record, including the regular-season conference championship and titles in the Bulldog Classic and the Clarkton Holiday Invitational.

He scored 39 points -- including an unbelievable 35 in the first half -- in a 91-49 win over Senath-Hornersville Nov. 28, then scored 25 in a 69-65 win over North Pemiscot in the semifinals of the Tri-County Conference Tournament Feb. 15.

Joining Ferguson on the first team are a trio of seniors -- Campbell's Chris Hahn, Steven McElwrath of Holcomb and Southland's Justin Kersey -- plus Gideon junior Jordan Boone.

Hahn was arguably the league's best big man this season, often recording double figures in both scoring and rebounding to lead the Camels to a 20-win season, while McElwrath was arguably Holcomb's go-to player.

Meanwhile, Kersey and Boone were both electrifying scorers, posting big games on several occasions. Boone scored 37 points in a season-opening victory at Senath-Hornersville, while Kersey went off for 40 -- just six points shy of his school's record -- in a win over Delta C7 in the first round of the Tri-County Conference Tournament.

Cooter's Frank Killian earned Coach of the Year honors after leading the Wildcats to a 19-win season and a second-place finish in the league's regular-season standings.

Tri-County All-Conference team

Varsity

First team

Dustin Ferguson, soph., Clarkton (Player of the Year); Jordan Boone, jr, Gideon; Chris Hahn, sr., Campbell; Justin Kersey, sr., Southland; Steven McElwrath, sr., Holcomb.

Second team

Devon Barger, sr., Cooter; Tyler Criglar, sr., Clarkton; Ricky Davis, sr., Risco; Nathan Poe, jr., Cooter; Grant St. Cin, jr., North Pemiscot.

Honorable mention

Sam Bader, sr., Campbell; Aaron McCaig, soph., Cooter; Devaris Parker, jr., Clarkton; Sloan Richardson, jr., Delta C7; Mat Trudell, sr., Clarkton.

Coach of the Year: Frank Killian, Cooter

Junior Varsity

First team

Chad Adams, soph., Holcomb; Brandon Bennett, fr., Risco; Charles Copeland, soph., Cooter; Jake Nelson, soph., Campbell; Brandon Quillin, soph., North Pemiscot.

Second team

Cameron Conder, soph., Holcomb; Jacob Deprow, soph., Gideon; Edward Forsythe, soph., Cooter; Justin Fowler, fr., Campbell; Jordan Jones, fr., Clarkton.

Honorable mention

Michael Davis, soph., Risco; Derek Grubbs, fr., Campbell; Curtis Miller, fr., Gideon; Daniel Tapia, soph., Holcomb; Britton Wilson, fr., North Pemiscot.