L-B's Gerken named BVC Player of the Year

A bevy of tall and talented post players headline the 2021-22 all-Blanchard Valley Conference girls basketball selections, with four of the six first-team spots occupied by players from 5-foot-11 to 6-1 who were double-double threats every time they stepped on the floor.Headlining the group is Liberty-Benton standout, Lauren Gerken. The 5-11 sophomore, who was first-team all-league and special mention all-Ohio as a freshman, was tabbed the BVC Player of the Year after leading the league in scoring — 19.3 points a game — for the second straight year.Gerken also averaged 7.3 rebounds a game but was more than just an inside force for the Eagles, averaging 2.2 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.7 blocked shots. Able to step out to the perimeter as well, Gerken not only made 34 pointers, but led the BVC in 3-point percentage (34-of-76, 44.7 percent).Liberty-Benton swept the other top individual award as well, with Nate Irwin being named BVC Coach of the Year. Irwin guided the Eagles to a 9-0 run through the BVC and a sixth straight league title, and a 21-1 overall record that earned the school a No. 3-ranking in the Division III state polls.Also earning first-team all-BVC recognition for L-B's league championship team is a junior Riley Irwin. The 5-7 guard averaged 13.1 points, 2.2 steals and 1.8 assists a game. The league's top threat from outside, Irwin led the BVC with 64 3-pointers.Senior posts Lacie Fenstermaker of Pandora-Gilboa and North Baltimore's Grace Hagemyer were both first-team all-BVC after averaging double-doubles. Fenstermaker averaged 19 points, 12.8 rebounds and surpassed the 1,000 career mark in both categories. She also knocked down 40 3-pointers.Hagemyer averaged 14.1 points and 12.1 rebounds for North Baltimore. The 6-1 senior led the league in blocked shots (3.2 bpg) and 2-point accuracy (132-of-220, 60 percent).Van Buren's post player, Sophia Reineke, and Riverdale's Carrigan Vent complete the all-BVC first team. Reineke, a 6-foot senior, averaged 9.7 points, 7.0 rebounds and was among the top 10 BVC players in field goal percentage (48.2 percent). Vent, a 5-7 senior guard, averaged 12.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists and a league-leading 4.4 steals per game.Van Buren, BVC runner-up at 8-1 and 19-3 overall during the regular season, had two second-team all-league picks in 5-7 senior Ali Bishop (12 ppg, 57 3s) and 5-8 sophomore Anna Durliat (7.2 ppg, 2.5 apg, 3.5 spg, 28 3s). Rounding out the all-league second team are Cory-Rawson's Paige McVetta (10.3 ppg, 3.6 apg, 3.3 spg), Arlington's Kylie Jolliff (11.9 ppg, 5.1 rpg), Liberty-Benton's Brooke Deeter (7.2 ppg, 27 3s) and McComb Eliza Dehart (8.7 ppg, 5.1 tpg).Third-team all-league honors went to North Baltimore's Hailey Lennard, Van Buren's Sasha Busey, Arlington's Brooklyn Smith, Liberty-Benton's Chelsea May, Cory-Rawson's Makayla Gillfillan and Riverdale's Callie Sudlow.2021-22 Girls All-BVCFirst TeamLauren Gerken (L-B) 6-0, Soph.; Lacie Fenstermaker (P-G) 5-11, Sr.; Grace Hagemyer (NB) 6-1, Sr.; Riley Irwin (L-B) 5-7, Jr.; Sophia Reineke (VB) 6-0, Sr.; Carrigan Vent (Riv) 5-7, Sr.BVC PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Lauren Gerken, Liberty-Benton.BVC COACH OF THE YEAR: Nate Irwin, Liberty-Benton.Second TeamPaige McVetta (C-R) 5-6, Jr.; Anna Durliat (VB) 5-8, Soph.; Ali Bishop (VB) 5-7, Sr.; Kylie Jolliff (Arl) 5-7, Sr.; Brooke Deeter (L-B) 5-8, Sr.; Eliza Dehart (McC) 5-10, Sr.Third TeamHailey Lennard (NB) 5-8, Sr.; Sasha Busey (VB) 6-0, Jr.; Brooklyn Smith (Arl) 5-9, Soph.; Chelsea May (L-B) 6-0, Sr.; Makayla Gillfillan (C-R) 6-0, Jr.; Callie Sudlow (Riv) 5-7, Sr.Honorable MentionARCADIA — Emily Rank, London Karrick. ARLINGTON — Adriana Agapiou, Leah Durliat. CORY-RAWSON — Karissa Welte, Lanie Kempf. LIBERTY-BENTON — Kylie Recker, Allie Hiegel. MCCOMB — Lydia Dehart, Madison Schroeder. NORTH BALTIMORE — Halie Inbody, Gabby Estrada. PANDORA-GILBOA — Tori Duling, Taelor Miller, RIVERDALE — Lainie Howell, Mariah Bonham. VAN BUREN — Bailey Lance, Zoe Fruth. VANLUE — Mara Simon, Olivia Secord.