Local players named to All-TOIE basketball teams

Press Staff Report

The late great Al McGuire often said, “The best thing about freshmen is they become sophomores” … or in today’s one-and-done era, NBA draft picks.

But in prep basketball, the best thing about sophomore all-conference first-teamers is that the lucky team for which they play for will likely have a reliable go-to guy for the next two seasons.

The Top of Iowa East Division released its Boys Basketball All Conference Teams on Thursday. Nashua-Plainfield’s Austin Bienemann is the only sophomore listed on a first team of otherwise seniors.

Bienemann led the Huskies in scoring (15.6 ppg) while shooting better than 49 percent from the field. He also led N-P in rebounds, steals (57) and blocked shots (30).

Rockford senior Jared Marth was named to the first team after leading the Warriors in scoring (11.6 ppg) and rebounding.

Senior Luke Cerwinske was the other Nashua-Plainfield player honored while named to the honorable-mention squad.

Rockford seniors Jake Staudt and Max Rooney were named to the second-team and honorable-mention squads, respectively.

Other TOIE first-teamers include Newman Catholic seniors Josh Fitzgerald and Merritt McCardle; Osage senior Brett Bobinet; Saint Ansgar senior Collin Kramer; and West Fork senior Zach Martinek, who was named the conference’s “Player of the Year”.

Other TOIE second-teamers include Newman Catholic seniors Brady Gatton and Jacob Schutt; Central Springs senior Dylan Kisner; Osage junior Jonah Bluhm; Saint Ansgar senior Ethan Kirshgatter; and West Fork senior Mitchell Halloran.

Other TOIE honorable-mention players include Central Springs senior Treyjen Wilson; Newman Catholic senior Isaac Fettkether; North Butler junior Eric Brehmer; Northwood-Kensett sophomore TJ Whitelow; Osage junior Elijah Bluhm; Saint Ansgar junior Erik Gerdts; and West Fork sophomore Kayden Ames.