EFFINGHAM —
The 2012-13 all-National Trail Conference boys basketball teams were announced on Monday, with Dieterich's Dalton Hinterscher earning the MVP award for the conference.
Hinterscher led the Movin' Maroons to the NTC Tournament title this season and amassed 796 points in the process, a single season Dieterich record. The dynamic guard averaged 25.7 points per game for the Maroons, and shot 53 percent from the floor as Dieterich finished 22-9 in coach Jeff Staser's first season.
Hinterscher finished his high school career with 1,601 points, and is a two-time selection on the NTC first-team ballot.
"Dalton had a tremendous year," Staser said. "He improved his game from being a great shooter to a player who could take defenders off the dribble, elevate and score."
Joining Hinterscher as first-team selections were Garret Ziegler of Altamont, Luke Moore of Cowden-Herrick, Jacob Schuette of St. Anthony and Jake Baker of Neoga.
Ziegler, a junior guard for the Indians, scored just north of 17 points a game for John Niebrugge's squad. The slasher shot 40 percent from the field, and also dished out 1.7 assists per night in helping Altamont advance to the NTC Tournament title against Dieterich.
Cowden-Herrick guard/forward Luke Moore did it all for the Hornets this season, posting averages of 17.1 points and 10.6 rebounds. The versatile scorer topped the 1,000-point milestone this season as the Hornets finished the year at 16-12. Moore was a second-team selection last season. Jacob Schuette of St. Anthony also topped 1,000 career points this season, as he led the Bulldogs' offense this winter. St. Anthony finished the season at 11-18.
Rounding out the first team is Neoga's Jake Baker. Baker, a junior guard for coach Clay Haurberg's Indians, poured in 16.9 points per game. The shifty scorer was a tough matchup for opposing defenses, helping Neoga improve as the season progressed to finish with a 12-17 final mark.
On the second team, St. Elmo was represented by the dynamic duo of Levi Maxey and Connor Beasley. Maxey scored 17.2 points per game from his guard spot, connecting on 55 of 154 3-pointers.
Beasley finished this season averaging 14.2 points per contest for the Eagles, and also posted an impressive average of 9.1 rebounds per game. Beasley was a first team selection last season, and leaves St. Elmo as the career leader in rebounds with 845. Beasley is sixth in school history in scoring with 1,381 career points.
Stew-Stras bruiser Justin Fulk was a second-team pick, averaging 16.6 points per game in the low post. The Comets finished with a 13-13 record overall in Fulk's final season.
Fischer Tharp received a second-team nod for Rick Simmons' South Central Cougars, dropping 15.7 points a night. Tharp also grabbed an average of 6.4 rebounds and dished out 2.3 assists, both team-highs.
Matt Sefton of Brownstown completed the second team, putting forth 20.3 points and four rebounds per game for Vince Rohr's Bombers. Sefton made 50 percent of his attempts from the floor, and also connected of 35 percent of his shots from beyond the arc.
Brady Barnes of Beecher City and Alex Allen of Windsor were named to the two-person, honorable mention team.
All-NTC Boys Basketball
First Team
Dalton Hinterscher-Dieterich (MVP)
Garrett Ziegler-Altamont
Luke Moore-Cowden-Herrick
Jacob Schuette-St. Anthony
Jake Baker-Neoga
Second Team
Levi Maxey- St. Elmo
Justin Fulk- Stew-Stras
Fischer Tharp- South Central
Connor Beasley- St. Elmo
Matt Sefton- Brownstown
Honorable Mention
Brady Barnes-Beecher City
Alex Allen-Windsor
