Having good guards is important to any high school basketball team and the three guards at the head of The Daily Review Boys' Basketball All-Region list are as good as they get.
Wellsboro swept through the NTL this season and were District IV, Class AA runners-up. Lead guard Jordan Jackson was a big reason for that with his leadership, defense, ball-handling skills and scoring, and that's why he's the Player of the Year.
Sullivan County was runners up in the District IV, Class A tournament and reached the second round of states with a defensive minded attitude. Four year starter and lead guard Kelby Mullen was key to his team's play this season.
Hit by the injury bug multiple times, Notre Dame turned to sophomore Darius Garvin and he responded. His offensive consistency kept the Crusaders make a run at the IAC and Section IV titles this season, making him the Offensive Player of the Year.
In the other major awards Wellsboro sophomore Kieron Smethers is the Rookie of the Year and Towanda coach Ryan Napp is the Coach of the Year.
Smethers became a force in the paint for the Hornets this season, the biggest difference between this year's team and last year's team.
Napp led a young Towanda team to the NTL East title this season.
Jackson, Mullen and Garvin are also on the All-Region First Team.
Along with them are Athens' Garrett Clark, Sayre's Nate Williams, Canton's Emmett Watson, Towanda's Dave Rodenhizer and Waverly's Patric Bronson.
Clark, Williams and Watson were top flight scorers for their teams while Rodenhizer turned into a strong two-way player for the Knights. Bronson's inside-outside offense and rebounding ability were crucial to Waverly's success this season.
The Second Team is headlined by Mansfield's leading scorer Taylor Hillson and lead guards Noah Huff of Towanda and Eddie Larcom of Canton.
Also on the Second Team are big men Conner Wylie of Sullivan County, Luke Wright of Athens and Hunter Huyette of Williamson along with wing scorers Evan Polly of Troy and Nick Stanton of North Rome Christian School.
The Third Team is Wellsboro's Joey Doganiero, Sullivan County's Derek Wilkins, Mansfield's Bo Burleigh, Troy's Jed Wright, Towanda's Joel Miller, Williamson's Troy Adriance, Athens' Brandon Fauver and Liberty's Jacob Spring.
The All-Defensive team is headed by Mullen along with Wellsboro guard Matt Reese.
The rest of the team is made up of big men: NRCS's Ben Haefka, Notre Dame's Devon Jackson, North Penn's Kaynen Arredondo and Northeast Bradford's Jordan Goodwin.
Smethers headlines the All-Rookie team.
Also on the team are Sayre's Marshall Higley and Seth Murrelle, Tioga's John Dougherty, Waverly's Zach Cooney and Cowanesque Valley's Bryant Painter.
Wellsboro's Mike Pietropola earns the shooter award, Waverly's Cody Marchese earns the point guard award and Wyalusing's Jeremy Allyn earns the rebounding award.
Boys' Basketball All-Region
First team
POY: Jordan Jackson, Wellsboro
DPOY: Kelby Mullen, Sullivan County
OPOY: Darius Garvin, ND
Garrett Clark, Athens
Nate Williams, Sayre
Emmett Watson, Canton
Dave Rodenhizer, Towanda
Patric Bronson, Waverly
Second team
Taylor Hillson, Mansfield
Noah Huff, Towanda
Eddie Larcom, Canton
Conner Wylie, Sullivan County
Luke Wright, Athens
Hunter Huyett, Williamson
Evan Polly, Troy
Nick Stanton, NRCS
Third Team
Joey Doganiero, Wellsboro
Derek Wilkins, Sullivan County
Bo Burleigh, Mansfield
Jed Wright, Troy
Joel Miller, Towanda
Troy Adriance, Williamson
Brandon Fauver, Athens
Jacob Spring, Liberty
All-Defensive
Kelby Mullen, Sullivan County
Matt Reese, Wellsboro
Ben Haefka, NRCS
Devon Jackson, Notre Dame
Kaynen Arredondo, NP
Jordan Goodwin, NEB
All-Rookie
Kieron Smethers, Wellsboro - ROY
Marshall Higley, Sayre
John Dougherty, Tioga
Zach Cooney, Waverly
Bryant Painter, CV
Seth Murrelle, Sayre
Shooter: Mike Pietropola, Wellsboro
Point Guard: Cody Marchese, Waverly
Rebounder: Jeremy Allyn, Wyalusing
