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Show Saturday, March 25,22006 Baily HERALD a 2006 ALL-VALLE ALLEYBOYS BASKETBALL _ 20066All-Valley ‘Honorableoe All-time All-Valley Players of the Year ‘Al-Valiey photos by MARIO RUIZ and MATT SMITH. Dai Hera All-time All-Valley Defensive Players of the Year ea pia etSonBaeLone Peak 2002-Brian ‘Swindienurst, Timpview All-Valley Continued from C1 those types of good decisions. ‘The Daily Herald is pleased to honorthe Provoseniorfor his skill, athleticism and basketball savvy by naming him the Utah Valley Boys Basketball Player ofthe Year. “It's amazing to be named Playerof the Year for Utah County,” Koop said. “I think this ers scoring eight.” Koop proved he understood what was needed byhis playat both endsof the court “On defense, he and Tanner (Gregory)set the defense,” Drury said. “He wasalsoour stopper defensively. I didn't like to dothat, because it wore him out, but if we ever flat out had to'stop somebody, we'd lock Kenyn (Koop)up onhim. “Offensively,htis job was to pushthe ball up the floor and But Drury explained that in that tough moment, Koop again stepped into the leadershiprole. “He's really mature and | was really proudof him, the way he dealt with that,” Drury said. “Anytime you get to a championship game, you've got to feel a sense of satisfaction. At the sametime,it’s like someone has taken a knife and cut you. There was a lot of dignity ‘and pride in that locker room, and I was very proud ofhis dignity geteveryonethe ball, and he did and leadership.” for basketball in the state. To re- that very well. At both ends of The Bulldog point guard now ceivethis award,it’s an honor.” the floor, he was important. Off hopesto takeall of the skills he’s Drurysaid the Bulldog star the floor, he was the team lead- developed to the next level. hasproved himself worthy of er. Hetookthat to heart anddid “| hope to get in a year of colthehone by his play on the a good job withit.” lege before serving an LDS misarea is by far the best county With the coaches and the oT ve had some great point guards play for meat Provo,” TANNER LAMB OREM he said. “You don’t want to select one overthe other, but Kenyn (Koop)is right in that basket with those great point guards. He's as good a defender asI've had, was mybest free throw shooterin pressuresituations and he was a pleasure to coach.” The Provo head coach ex- plained thatoneofthe reasons he enjoyed having Koop so muchwas his understanding of the team concept that has made the boysin greenso successful. other geht? relying on him, Koop knew that he needed to stay focused on what would be best for the team. “I had to take controlon the court,” Koop said. “Whenever anyonewas introuble,I had to let them knowI wasthere to help them out. felt like I had to havethe ball in my hands, get the ball inside:and do somescoring, too.” Between Koop's play and the performances ofothertalented athleteslike Gregory, ChrisCol- linsworth and Mark Walker, Provorolled to 20 wins and only “He’s totally unselfish,” Drury fourlosses on the season. But said.“I think he could've scored 22 or 24 points per game,but I don’t know if we would've been in the state championship game. He understood that having three guysputting in 15 points per game, which is pretty much what wehad, was better than one guy scoring 22 and two oth- it was the last defeat, the 56-45 loss to Highlandin the 4A state championship game,that was the most difficult, “| didn't sleep for a week,” sion,” Koop said. “I hope things turn out and can play some college basketball. I’m not sure where, but I'm talking to some colleges, That would be another dream cometrue, to play col- CORY CHASE LONE PEAK legeball. But no matter where he ends up,he plans on taking two main things from his time playing prep hoops:His passion for the game and the instruction that transcends the sport. “You learn lot oflife lessons,” Koop said. “People think that basketball is just about basketball, but it’s more than that. You learn morelife lessons from Coach Drury and our coaching staff than you learn about basketball. Everything they teach applies to life, especially getting the job done. Thereis no room forfailure.” Koopsaid.“It's definitely one of the hardest things, to makeit thatfar, to reach that point and thenlosing. No one wantsthat.” D Jared Lloyd can be reachedat 344-2552 or jlloyd@heraldextra.com DailusHerald JACE BRINKERHOFF SPANISH FORK 2006 All-Valley Boys Basketball Team CO-DEFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE YEAR ‘AUSTIN HAWS (AMERICAN FORK), SR.GUARD Haws helped American Fork advance tothe quar: tetfinals of the stale SA tournament. He led the Cavemen in scoring at11.6 pantsper game and ‘in assists with 4 7 per game. He shot 36 percent from the 3-point line, but pernaps what Haws is ‘mast known fori his tenacious defense, He aver‘aged 3.5 steals per game, tops in Utah County TANNER GREGORY (PROVO),SA. The do: all forward made defenseieee‘and a ten took on the assignmentof guarding the ‘opposing team’s best ig man.» Gregory averaged 1.4 steals and 1.1 blocked shots eer gameon defense and helped the team click on avfense. He shot 59 percent from the field and 77 percent trom the free throw line. He averaged 6.5. Febounds and passed out 3.2 assists per game. ALL-VALLEY TEAM GGREG THURGOOD (PLEASANT GROVE), SA. GUARD Trugon ee Rap4 championsin song tom befld Most pesonas Trpod stncig pecrtge rom te 3-pntIe He made a Utah County best48 percent. His season highight Fork atthe buzzer with a game-wigning 3-pointstot ta re ee SA. FORWARD ity pou was inside. The 6-foo-8 forward played bape han his height. He led the Bruins in scoring with 15.5 boss per game. He also led Mounan View 7.5 Febounds and hot rom the field. He reped outa Vin ih seo region and earn a spot in the state tournament AUSTIN HAWS AMERICAN FORK ‘GRAIG CUSICK (OREM), SR. GUARD Cusick epee Tiesto 15-9 overreco before they were eliminated by Highland the conn Gigs erage 150m pt (game in the state tournament. He connected on 47 percentof his 3-pointattempls (7-01-15). TANNER LAMB (OREM), SR. FORWARD Forthe season, Lamb was second on the team in scoring with 17.2 points per game. He averaged 10.3 points and 6.3 rebounds, and 3.3 assists fr he Tigers in the ate touramengas. Orem's 54-53 wn over Mountain Crest, Lamb scored 16 points on 7-of-12 shooting and grabbed nine rebounds. Fectaaropeanelld lar sas Aleated nts and 6 6 rebounds per game. He shot 59 percent from thefield and 76 percentfrom the fre throw line CORY CHASE (LONE PEAN), SR. FORWARD Chase led Lone Peak in scoring with 14.9 points et game an eatte Kgsne Beyhunt ‘until the final region game. (SsbosoangeB oar ox ase GUARD Benkarot habe Spanish Fok tumteost Gramatic turnaround inthe 2006 se Dee te oe 1ft ala finished cond in Ragin 7, came win a gameof win ning the eon te, and qualiied Yor te sae tournament. Bart 1 points per game, He averaged 3.8 assists 2nd20 el or GoHe ede eam Bowerswth 26 and shot 40 percent rom he 3:point NICK JACKSON (TIMPVIEW), SA. FORWARD Wen leon oe balnie be sid wth consistpr game edneTres wi16 poms et 5pacerorng te ton he mae be ‘eons fag vin ‘and helped Timpview finishsecond in GRIFFIN MILLER (TIMPVIEW), SR. GUARI ler battled an ankle injury frpart of the season, but stil managed to average 14.7 points per (game, second team and shared the team lead in rebounds with 6.8. Miller aso led the team in assists (3.1)and steals (22), and shot 35 percentfrom the 3-point line. OSH PEERY, (PAYSON), JR FORWARD ry led Payson in scoring with 13:9 points per Game He os pled sow tebnrbs ands? assists per game and helped the Lions qualify forthe playotts and eam a first-round matchup against Bountiful Against Bountiul, Peery scored eight points, grabbed 10 rebounds and passed out four assists COACH OF THE YEAR Meanshe vain at Pleasant Grove He compled a7-3 Region Vik ngs their regiontite Pleasant as 12-10 overall and lost to ‘sieinthe fistound of tesae sh ura thessesso incu2 etsSveofalLoe ak, a win at he buzzer at American Fork and na toe sgt Pv, wohes ‘second in ‘in four seasons at Pleasant Grove, McAlister is 43-46 as head coach RANDY MCALLISTER PLEASANT GROVE |