THE CITY REBORN FROM THE ASHES OF AMERICA'S MOST DISASTROUS FOREST FIRE
Blue Devils & Bulldogs Awarded Packerland Post Season Honors
Issue Date: March 29, 2018
Packerland All-Conference
The Packerland all-conference teams have been released, and Oconto basketball is well-represented, with five Blue Devils making the cut.
Blue Devil seniors Connor Ebben and Carson Moe made the first team for the boys, while senior Isaac Woller earned a second-team spot.
Senior Evan Allen was an honorable mention, as was junior Zach Sherman.
"Everybody knows experience and having good senior leaders is hard to find, especially at a smaller school," Oconto Coach Jon Bostedt said after the team's season ended in sectionals against Shiocton. "Every one of those guys is going to be missed, not only as a person, but obviously as a basketball player."
Junior center Mara Allen made the girls' first team, with senior Sydney Koch taking a second-team spot.
It was the Bulldogs' first season in the Packerland since the move from the M&O Conference.
"We were extremely pleased and honored to receive three players on the All-Packerland team this season, especially with this being our first year in the conference and with it being such a strong conference with so many great players," Motkowski said.
Peshtigo did not have any first-team finishers, but seniors Max Neumann and Emma Frederickson each made the second team, as did junior Mitchell VanVooren.
"Max is everything we look for in a Peshtigo student-athlete," Peshtigo Boys Coach Nate Motkowski said. "Hard-working, a great role model on and off the court and a true competitor. He was our team MVP and really did everything for us this season."
Motkowski called VanVooren's season "incredible," adding, "Mitchell led the team in scoring, rebounding and blocks, which shows you how well-rounded he is. Mitchell put a ton of work and determination in over the offseason and it really paid off."
"Emma worked hard at both ends of the floor," Peshtigo Girls Coach Bruce Parkovich said of the senior. "She had to guard taller players all year and improved her outside scoring."
Junior Cameron Noffke was an honorable mention for the boys, while Shae Tonn was an honorable mention on the girls side.
Parkovich called Tonn a "coach's dream" as "a point guard that ran the show and could score."
Noffke was something of a swiss-army knife for the Bulldog boys this season.
"Cam did whatever was needed for the team to win this season," Motkowski said. "Some games he carried us by scoring, the next game he might lock down a guy bigger and stronger than him or help the team by rebounding and facilitating the basketball to his teammate."