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MarshfieldAreaSports.com
The Wisconsin Valley Conference coaches had no problems picking this year’s all-conference boys basketball team as all five first-team selections were unanimous picks.
Marshfield senior Cale Zuiker and Wisconsin Rapids senior Joe Ritchay, the Player of the Year, were among the first-team selections to the 2010-11 All-Wisconsin Valley Conference Boys Basketball Team.
Zuiker and Ritchay join Merrill senior Paul Jesperson, D.C. Everest junior Luke Heller and Wausau West senior Travis Schertz on the first team.
Zuiker, who will play Division I college basketball at Youngstown State, finished fifth in the conference in scoring at 15.9 points a game, was third in 3-pointers with 23 and led the WVC in free-throw percentage at 84.6 percent (44 of 52).
Ritchay was third in scoring (18.7 points per game), fifth in field-goal percentage (51.4 percent), third in 3-point shooting (41.7 percent) and second in assists (4.0 apg) to lead Rapids to an undefeated Wisconsin Valley Conference championship.
Jesperson, a University of Virginia recruit, topped the conference in scoring at 22.5 points per game, was second in rebounding (7.8 rpg), second with 24 3-pointers and second, fourth in assists (3.6 apg) and second in free-throw shooting at 83 percent for Merrill, which will play in the WIAA State Boys Basketball Tournament this week.
Marshfield junior Elliot Ashbeck was a second-team selection and senior Ian Padron was one of four honorable mention choices.
Ashbeck finished ninth in the league in scoring at 11.5 points per game, sixth in assists (3.1 apg), third in free-throw shooting (81 percent), and was 12th in rebounding (3.6 rpg) and 3-point shooting (31.3 percent).
Padron averaged 7.2 points and 4 rebounds a game for the Tigers, who finished fourth in the conference with a 6-6 record.
2010-11 All-Wisconsin Valley Conference Boys Basketball Team
First team (all unanimous choices): Luke Heller, jr., D.C. Everest; Cale Zuiker, sr., Marshfield; Travis Schertz, sr., Wausau West; Paul Jesperson, sr., Merrill; Joe Ritchay, sr., Wisconsin Rapids.
Second team: Bob Slovensky, sr., Wisconsin Rapids; Dylan Lubeck, sr., Wisconsin Rapids; Elliot Ashbeck, jr., Marshfield; Jordan Penn, sr., Wausau Wset; Cody Griffith, sr., Stevens Point.
Honorable mention: Mark McCormick, jr., Wausau East; Brennan Nelson, sr., Stevens Point; Andy Reiche, jr., D.C. Everest; Ian Padron, sr., Marshfield.
Coach of the year: Dan Witter, Wisconsin Rapids.
Player of the year: Joe Ritchay, Wisconsin Rapids.