Cheboygan’s Goodrich, Smith, Thater earn spots on All-SAC boys basketball team
ST. IGNACE – It was a highly competitive Straits Area Conference boys basketball season in 2023-24.
With the campaign now complete, many SAC players are being recognized for their performances on the court.
For the Cheboygan Chiefs, they saw three players earn spots on the All-SAC team, led by senior Kaleb Goodrich and freshman Gavin Smith, who each made the second team. Senior Brennen Thater earned an honorable mention nod.
During his final season with Cheboygan, Goodrich averaged 9.9 points and four rebounds per game in conference play, while Smith emerged as one of the best young players in the conference with an 8.5 points per game average. As one of the best defenders in the conference, Thater also made the SAC’s all-defensive team.
Leading the SAC’s first team was St. Ignace senior Jonny Ingalls, who was named the conference’s player of the year. During SAC play, Ingalls averaged 32.4 points, 8.5 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game for the Saints, who recently went on a magical run to the MHSAA Division 4 state semifinals at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.
While Ingalls and senior teammate Ethan McLean both made the SAC’s first team, the conference champion Sault Blue Devils had the most first teamers with three. Among those were seniors Easton Fitzner, Kaydin Lujan and junior Nate Koepp. Rounding out the first team was Rudyard senior Cam Peterson, who was recognized as the SAC’s defensive player of the year.
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SAC second team honors also went to St. Ignace’s Kordell KillsCrow and Nick Halberg and Rudyard’s Jake Cifelli and Eli Sprague.
Jaxon Clark (Rudyard), John Gravelle (Sault Ste. Marie), Kegan Martin (Newberry) and Trevor Visnaw (St. Ignace) each received honorable mention recognition. Matthew Rahilly (Newberry) received a special mention.
Joining Thater and Peterson on the SAC’s all-defensive squad were Martin (Newberry), Clark (Rudyard), Gravelle (Sault Ste. Marie) and Visnaw (St. Ignace).
Sault Ste. Marie won the SAC title with a 7-1 record, while St. Ignace (6-2) took second.
2023-24 All-Straits Area Conference Boys Basketball Team
First Team
Jonny Ingalls, St. Ignace, Senior, PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Easton Fitzner, Sault Ste. Marie, Senior
Nate Koepp, Sault Ste. Marie, Junior
Kaydin Lujan, Sault Ste. Marie, Senior
Ethan McLean, St. Ignace, Senior
Cam Peterson, Rudyard, Senior
Second Team
Jack Cifelli, Rudyard, Senior
Kaleb Goodrich, Cheboygan, Senior
Nick Halberg, St. Ignace, Senior
Kordell KillsCrow, St. Ignace, Senior
Gavin Smith, Cheboygan, Freshman
Eli Sprague, Rudyard, Senior
Honorable Mention
Jaxon Clark, Rudyard, Senior
John Gravelle, Sault Ste. Marie, Senior
Kegan Martin, Newberry, Sophomore
Brennen Thater, Cheboygan, Senior
Trevor Visnaw, St. Ignace, Senior
Special Mention
Matthew Rahilly, Newberry, Junior
Defensive Player of the Year
Cam Peterson, Rudyard
All-Defensive Team
Brennen Thater, Cheboygan
Kegan Martin, Newberry
Jaxon Clark, Rudyard
John Gravelle, Sault Ste. Marie
Trevor Visnaw, St. Ignace
Contact sports editor Jared Greenleaf at jgreenleaf@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @sportsCDT
This article originally appeared on Cheboygan Daily Tribune: Cheboygan's Goodrich, Smith, Thater make All-Straits Area basketball team
