Photo by Jay W. Bennett Webster County's Dorian Groggs, pictured here making a pass in the Class A state semifinals while being guarded by Trinity's Joel Robertson, was honored as the Little Kanawha Conference's Player of the Year.

PARKERSBURG — Little Kanawha Conference champion Webster County landed both the player and coach of the year as top honors went to Dorian Groggs and Highlander head man Mike Gray.

The Highlanders not only completed an undefeated regular season and won the school’s first LKC title, but Groggs’ accolade also marked the first time a Highlander won the award.

“He’s a great player, great point guard,” coach Gray said of Groggs, who had a game-high 21 points as the Highlanders finished 28-0 and Class A state champs after beating Parkersburg Catholic. “He’s one of the best in the state at getting to the rim.

“His ability is one of the major reasons we got to this point. He’s a great defender, a phenomenal ball-handler. He’s quick and rebounds the ball well for someone his size.”

Groggs averaged better than 21 points a game to go along with 3.7 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 2.9 steals while shooting 47 percent from the field and 75 percent at the free-throw line.

Cade Ullman, who concluded his prep career as Parkersburg Catholic’s all-time leading scorer, finished runner-up for a second consecutive year after being behind Ravenswood’s Isaiah Morgan last March. The Crusader shot 45 percent from the field, connected on 83 percent of his charity stripe tosses while averaging nearly 24 points, 2.3 assists and 1.8 steals.

Ullman was one of five repeat first team honorees. Joining that list were Williamstown’s Cullen Cutright, Griffin Phillips of Tyler Consolidated, Calhoun County’s Trevor Carder and Webster County’s Tyler Gray, who averaged 15 points, 4.9 assists, 5.2 boards and 4.8 steals. Cutright helped get Williamstown back to the state tournament and ended his campaign by averaging 19 points and 7.3 rebounds. Phillips filled the stat sheet. The Silver Knight put up 22.3 points an outing to go along with averages of 5.8 dimes, 5.7 caroms and four steals. The Red Devil Carder finished just shy of 1,000 career points and concluded his senior year for the Mt. Zion-based school with averages of 20.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.4 steals.

Also earning nods on the first unit were Doddridge County’s Tanner Lett (19.7 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 3.1 apg, 1.7 spg), Braxton County’s Jadyn Stewart (24.1 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 3.4 apg, 2.0 spg), Webster County’s Cole Taylor (13.6 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 2.0 spg, 1.0 bpg), Roane County’s Jordan Coon (16.2 pp, 9.0 rpg, 1.3 apg, 2.0 spg) along with St. Marys’ William Steele and Williamstown’s Eli Inman. Steele helped the Blue Devils advance to the Class A state quarterfinals and put up 14.1 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. Inman averaged better than 11 points and five boards. The ‘Jacket joined his teammate Cutright in scoring 18 points in WHS’ regional co-final win at Tolsia.

Wirt County and Parkersburg Catholic were the squads to get a pair of second team selections. The Tigers had Hunter Hickman and Kyler Carper while PCHS landed Jeb Boice and Patrick Copen.

The remainder of the second team featured Clayton Bee of Ritchie County, Ravenswood’s Devin Raines, Clay County’s Garrett Quinn, Tyler West of Tyler Consolidated, Gilmer County’s Brady Fitzwater, Braxton County’s Jacob Oates, Calhoun County’s Nick Moore and Webster County’s Drew Holcomb.