2024 Ashland Times-Gazette All-Area Boys Basketball Team & Selections

Here are the 2023-24 All-Area Times-Gazette Boys Basketball team and selections:

More: Crestview, Thompson explode offensively on Bucyrus in Division III sectional final win

Player of the Year

Justice Thompson, Crestview

The 6-4 junior was a Division III All-Ohio First Team selection for the talented Cougars to a 22-2 overall record, a share of the Firelands Conference, and a sectional title. Having led the team by averaging 22.3 points, five rebounds, three assists, and 1.7 steals per game.

He has 954 points in his three seasons as a Cougar and is on track to become Crestview's all-time scorer. Thompson was the Player of the Year in the FC, and First Team picks in both the Northwest District and District 6.

Crestview coach John Kurtz said of Thompson, "Justice worked very hard in the off-season to improve his came, he became an improved shooter and passer. He is one of the hardest workers I have ever coached."

Coaches of the Year

John Kurtz, Crestview

Under Kurtz, Crestview put together a 22-2 record, breaking the Cougar program record for most wins in a season, as well as capturing the Firelands Conference championship with a 13-1 mark.

Crestview won its first 19 games of the season, the longest streak in program history.

All five starters were named to the All-Northwest District boys basketball team by the Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association. Junior Justice Thompson (first team), senior Jarek Ringler (second team), senior Dylan Bruner (third team), senior Sam Wells, and junior Tyson Ringler were both honorable mention picks..

Ben Ferguson, Hillsdale

In his first year as Hillsdale coach, Ferguson led the Falcons to an 18-7 overall record, a third-place showing in the Wayne County Athletic League, and a sectional title, its first since 2016. It's the most wins in a season for the Falcons since 2010 (19) and the fourth most wins in the school's history.

Hillsdale also broke the record for the fewest points allowed in a game that was set in 1970 on Feb. 27 in its 86-14 win over Salineville Southern. As a program, Hillsdale had an 18-7 varsity mark, with the junior varsity going 17-5, the eighth grade at 17-2, and the 7th grade at 18-1, arguably the best year for the program ever.

All-Ashland Times-Gazette Boys Team

▶ Paxon Ediger, Ashland — The 6-0 sophomore averaged 13.3 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3.5 assists for the Arrows, who got better as the season progressed and was the team's most consistent scorer.

▶ John Kray, Black River — The 5-10 senior scored 350 points, averaged 18. 4 points, 5.6 rebounds, and added 68 steals and 49 assists for first-year coach Dennis English.

▶ Jarek Ringler, Crestview — The 6-4 senior averaged 13 points, six rebounds, four assists, and 1.6 steals per game for the Cougars. He was a First Team pick in District 6 and the Firelands Conference and Second Team in the Northwest District, helping lead Crestview to a 22-2 overall record and sectional crown.

▶ Braylen Jarvis, Hillsdale — The 6-0 senior averaged 20.5 points, six rebounds, 2,4 assists, and shot more than 55% from the floor on two-point field goals for the Falcons. He hit the 1,000-point mark in Hillsdale's final regular season game against Chippewa and broke the single-season scoring record of 465 points in his last game. Jarvis was a Division IV All-Ohio Special Mention selection and earned First Team laurels in the Wayne County Athletic League, Northwest Inland District, and Northeast District 4.

▶ Bradey Krichbaum, Hillsdale — The junior averaged 15 points and 12 rebounds for the Falcons and nearly broke the single-season rebound record of 186 by pulling down 185 boards. Krichbaum also shot more than 60% from the floor. He was a Division IV All-Ohio Honorable Mention selection, Second Team Northwest Inland District, and Honorable Mention Northeast District 4.

▶ Judah Layton, Loudonville — The junior forward averaged 17.8 points, and 8.8 rebounds and was a 75% free throw shooter for the Redbirds. Layton was a First Team selection in both the Mid-Buckeye Conference and District 4 and scored 22 points in Loudonville's 88-45 sectional loss to Triway.

▶ Scotty Hickey, Mapleton — The 6-foot junior averaged 17.23 points per game, 3.8 rebounds 3.2 assists, 2.3 steals, and broke the school's single season 3-point field goal record with 56 made. his 44-point game against Rittman this season was the third-highest in program history. Hickey was selected Division III All-Ohio Honorable Mention, First Team District 4 and Firelands Conference, and Second Team Northeast Inland District.

▶ Kyle Sloter, Mapleton — The 6-1 senior averaged 17 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and two steals per game and became Mapleton's second all-time leading scorer with 1,023 career points, and broke the school's all-time mark for steals. Sloter was chosen for Division III All-Ohio Honorable Mention, First Team Firelands Conference, and District 4 and Second Team Northeast Inland District.

This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: Ashland Times-Gazette All-Area boys basketball team