All-Blade boys team
3/17/2011
Drew Lehman
THE BLADE
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Chauncey Orr
Chauncey Orr
- Class: Senior
- Height: 6-4
- Position: Guard
- Key stats: Orr was the top scorer in the Northern Lakes League at 20.6 points per game, leading the Bobcats to a 14-0 league record and their first outright NLL title. A two-time All-NLL first-team selection, he averaged 19.9 points as a junior and finished his four-year varsity career with a school-record 1,385 points. This season he also topped BG in rebounding at 6.9 per game and assists at 3.6. He shot 54 percent from the field (150-of-277), including 42 percent (22-of-52 on 3-pointers), and 82 percent (110-of-135) from the foul line. Currently undecided on a college, Orr may wind up remaining home to play for his father (Louis Orr) at Bowling Green State University.
- Coach says: "What makes Chauncey so good, unlike other people in the area, is that he can score inside and out. He can play the point or two guard, he can play the three or four or five [forwards positions], and he can guard any of those guys. He can put pressure on the point, front the post, or play behind. He does it all at a high level. That's what makes him special. He can do so many things. Chauncey is also a prankster. He keeps things loose. He's a fun guy who enjoys the locker room atmosphere. When he scored his 1,000th point, he thanked the coaching staff and the teammates around him. He made it a team award." — Von Graffin
Nigel Hayes
Nigel Hayes
- Class: Sophomore
- Height: 6-7
- Position: Forward
- Key stats: In his second season as a starter, the versatile Hayes helped lead Whitmer to its first City League championship in its final year in the league. It was the school's first boys basketball title since 1998 in the former Great Lakes League. Hayes led the Panthers in four main stat categories — 14.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.5 blocked shots per game. He shot 60 percent (101-of-168) on 2-point field goals, 27 percent (11-of-41) on 3-pointers, and 62 percent (87-of-140) from the foul line. His most memorable play of the season was his block of a 3-point attempt by Marc Loving of St. John's and recovery for a fast-break layup which became a crucial three-point play late in the City championship game.
- Coach says: "The most noticeable improvement Nigel made was defensively. And, on offense, virtually every team we played double-teamed him. He became very adept at reading those double teams and passing it to the appropriate person who is unguarded. In the next couple years, no question, he's going to face that every night. He was our No. 1 option offensively, and he did a phenomenal job of determining when it was his turn to attack the basket, and when it was time to kick out to an open shooter. He played the game very unselfishly. When your No. 1 option is still unselfish, I think that bodes well for your team." — Bruce Smith.
Damond Powell
Damond Powell
- Class: Senior
- Height: 5-10
- Position: Guard
- Key stats: Powell led the City League in scoring at 22.5 points per game. He also averaged 5.3 assists, 4.1 steals and 4.0 rebounds, while shooting 40 percent from the field and 70 percent from the foul line. A four-year starter, his veteran leadership helped guide the Rams to a regional for the first time in school history. His steady play in the backcourt earned him City League and Division II all-district player of the year. Powell's heroics included hitting a game-winning 3-pointer in a 72-70 victory over Scott in a district final. He averaged 23.7 points as a junior after accounting for 15.0 points per game as a sophomore. Powell, who was an All-Blade football selection as a wide receiver, found plenty of success on the basketball court by utilizing his exceptional quickness and speed.
- Coach says: "When you're the player of the year in the City League and in the district, it shows what kind of player you've been. He's 65 to 70 percent of our offense. He just makes us go on offense. He's not afraid to take the big shots and you really can't ask for a better athlete. He just does the things to win. I think this year he's been more trusting of his teammates and I think that's what's making the difference now. You're always going to miss a really good kid you've had a chance to coach for four years." — Earl Morris
Cheatham Norrils
Cheatham Norrils
- Class: Senior
- Height: 6-0
- Position: Guard
- Key stats: Norrils has started for four years and served as the backbone and heart of a team that finished this season 20-3. He averaged 12.7 points, 5.2 assists, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.1 steals per game. He totaled 918 points for his career and dished out a school-record 404 assists. The All-City League standout earned Division I all-district second team. He averaged 13.3 points per game for St. John's as a junior. Norrils, who was named the All-Blade football player of the year, showed plenty of leadership on a team that reached the district final. He played unselfishly on offense and proved to be the Titans' top defensive player, often assigned to guard their opponent's top offensive player. He will play football at the University of Toledo.
- Coach says: "He's a great athlete with great skills. He has a pretty high competitive nature. He's made over 400 assists in his career, including 115 assists this year. By the end of the year, he was playing some of his best basketball. He's started four years on varsity at point guard. I've had four-year starters before but never at point guard. He started all four years because, as a freshman, he was advanced with strength and ballhandling skills. He was able to handle the physical part of being a point guard." — Ed Heintschel
Drew Lehman
Drew Lehman
- Class: Senior
- Height: 5-11
- Position: Guard
- Key stats: Lehman, a three-year captain and varsity letter winner, has helped the Irish post a 38-7 record over the last two seasons. Lehman led the Irish (18-4) with 22 points in an upset of fourth-ranked St. John's en route to a district championship. Two nights before, Lehman tallied nine points in an upset of a City League champion Whitmer. He had 27 points to lead in a sectional final. He finished the season ranked 10th in the City in scoring. Lehman averaged 14.0 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. The guard shot 52 percent from the floor (56.0 percent on 2-point field goals and 39.0 from 3-point range). He shot 78 percent from the free-throw line. His career point total is 827. Lehman earned All-CL first team and all-district second team. He has an offer from Ferris State. In baseball, Lehman is a standout third baseman, earning All-City first team. He also has a 4.2 GPA.
- Coach says: I've coached for 30 years and he ranks among the top five players I've ever coached. He's competitive and he's a winner. Drew's numbers aren't staggering but his winning percentage is. What he sacrifices in his individual stats, he makes up in team play. A lot of kids would rather score 20 points per game, but Drew is about what is in the best interest of his team. He's not big, but he is the best player on the floor by making everyone around him better." — Jim Welling.
BOYS PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
1996: A.J. Granger, Liberty-Benton
1997: Robierre Cullars, St. Francis
1998: Floyd Campbell, Whitmer
1999: Lamarr Chears, Central Catholic
2000: Eyuless Palmer, Libbey
2001: Dennis Springs, Scott
2002: John Floyd, St. John's
2003: Brian Roberts, St. John's
2004: B.J. Raymond, St. John's
2005: B.J. Raymond, St. John's
2006: William Buford, Libbey
2007: William Buford, Libbey;
2008: William Buford, Libbey
2009: Tim Hausfeld, Southview
2010: Anthony Henderson, Start
2011: Chauncey Orr, Bowling Green