Introducing the 2023-24 All-News-Herald Boys Basketball Third Team
KENDALL BENTLEY | River Rouge: A late-season push from River Rouge can almost be dirrectly correlated to the play of Kendall Bentley. The senior guard, who Panthers head coach Joe Carr described as a “late bloomer,” was key down the stretch in helping Rouge reach the state quarterfinals in Division 1. Bentley, who Carr says is “still learning the point guard position,” averaged close to 10 points to go along with three assists per contest.
XAVIER BARNES | Brownstown Woodhaven: Albeit unconventional compared to recent years, Woodhaven muscled their way to a fourth straight Downriver League championship and a second regional title game appearance in three years. Xavier Barnes has been a fixture during that run of success for the Warriors. The senior big man this past season earned all-league honors after nearly averaging a double-double of eight points and 10 rebounds per game.
MATTHEW PIZZO | Grosse Ile: One would have a difficult time finding players in the area who did more for their team than Matthew Pizzo at Grosse Ile. A second-team all-Huron League honoree, Pizzo in addition to his 11 points per game also averaged seven rebounds and five assists per contest, and also managed a couple steals defensively.
ANDREW ASHWOOD | Romulus Summit Academy North: This year’s Summit Academy team had a number of prolific shooters at their disposal with Andrew Ashwood being among them. The junior guard/forward hybrid was named honorable mention in the Charter School Conference after averaging just over 10 points to go along with six rebounds and two steals per game for the Dragons.
CALEB DIBRANO | Riverview: A largely young Riverview squad often turned towards both production and leadership from Caleb DiBrano throughout the season. And the senior guard did not disappoint, earning second-team all-Huron League honors after averaging 11.5 points and 5.6 rebounds as a guard. Pirates head coach Tim Stamper described DiBrano as the “catalyst of our team’s success both on and off the court.”
DAVAIR MCCRIMON | Melvindale: One of the more versatile big men in the Downriver region comes in the form of Davair McCrimon out of Melvindale. An all-News-Herald honoree in football as well, McCrimon nearly averaged a double-double of nine points and 11 rebounds each night for the Cardinals. Head coach Fernando Hernandez said among the the junior’s best qualities is the “ability to defend on the perimeter and in the paint.”
ETHAN MILLER | Grosse Ile: Another efficient scorer from the island, Ethan Miller helped make up what was a heavy three-headed moster of scoring threats for Grosse Ile. An honorable mention in the Huron League, the senior Miller averaged around 15 points per game, second only to teammate and first-team All-News-Herald honoree Dominic Cappellino, while also grabbing seven boards per game.
JACK LABIAK | Allen Park: What ended up as just an 11-win season saw Allen Park finish the year on a high note, winning a season-best five straight games before falling to Riverview in the state playoffs. Perhaps more success is imminent for the Jags with Jack Labiak in the mix. The 6-foot-3 junior and all-Downriver League honoree averaged close to a double-double per game, posting nine points and nine rebounds for first-year head coach Adam Gulick.
ANDREW FRANK | Allen Park Inter-City Baptist: Across town in Allen Park, it was a banner year for an Inter-City Baptist program that made it to the Division 4 state semifinals for the first time in nearly 40 years. What was mostly a young Chargers team did heavily lean on the experience and play of senior Andrew Frank, who earned second-team honors in the Michigan Independent Athletic Conference after averaging 10 points and seven rebounds per game.
JACOB KERESI | Trenton: A bounceback season for the Trenton program resulted in 11 victories, their most in over a decade. And it was what Jacob Keresi provided both on and off the floor that proved to be a big difference. Despite being sidelined for three games due to injury, the senior Keresi was one of three Trojans to average double-digit points a game, posting around 10 points a night to go along with three boards on average.
EVAN BERGDOLL | Allen Park Cabrini: Although it was a tough season overall on the hardwood, the future could be bright for Cabrini with Evan Bergdoll in the fold. One of two all-area underclassmen for the Monarchs along with second-team recipient and sophomore Landon Emerick, the freshman Bergdoll earned all-league honors in the Catholic League after averaging over 11 points as well as three assists and three steals.
ANDREW SHROKA | Brownstown Woodhaven: A number of players had to step up down the stretch in order for Woodhaven to collect their latest Downriver League title, their fourth straight to be exact. Andrew Schroka more or less served as the team’s primary marksman from behind the arc. The senior for the Warriors averaged around 10 points a game while shooting over 40 percent from three-point land.
MAR’SEAN MASSENBURG | Taylor High: Albeit a disappointing finish down the stretch for Taylor losing 14 of their final 15 games, opposing teams in the Downriver League still had to always account for Mar’Sean Massenburg on the floor every night. An Albion College football commit, the senior and multi-sport standout athlete for the Griffins was the team-leader in scoring and assists, earning all-league honors at season’s end.
ALEX GILLUM | Flat Rock: One of the more complete teams on both ends of the floor was Flat Rock and that has been the case for several years now. Alex Gillum best exemplifies that for the Rams. A second-team all-Huron League honoree this past winter, Gillum like many players before him on the list was in double-double territory nearly every night, averaging seven points and 10 boards. Head coach Rick Smith said the senior’s “inside presence on defense was a key factor.”
FREDDY ROBINSON | Southgate Anderson: A resurgent season for the Anderson program can point back to several players, among them being Freddy Robinson in the backcourt. The senior guard averaged 10 points, five rebounds, two assists, and one steal per game as he helped lead the Titans to 14 victories and their first district title game appearance in 12 years.
Honorable Mentions
Allen Park Cabrini: Ethan Watson
Brownstown Woodhaven: Bradyn Harrington
Flat Rock: Odin Nemeth, Cyrus Goins, Rocco Breslin
Gibraltar Carlson: Brody Lavis
Grosse Ile: Mason Crowley
Melvindale: Tony Holiday Jr, Larry Turner
River Rouge: James Weaver
Riverview: Noah Swearingen
Riverview Gabriel Richard: Drew Everingham, Derek Lesko
Southgate Anderson: Andrew Porter, Logan Tatman
Taylor Prep: Amathe Williams
Trenton: Drew Hawkins
