CTR031209

Cleburne senior forward Ethan Anderson has earned quite a reputation from district coaches over the past two seasons.

In the Yellow Jackets’ final season as a member of District 8-4A last year, Anderson was selected as the district’s offensive player of the year.

This year, Anderson was named the District 16-4A most valuable player after leading the Jackets to a 26-7 record and a berth in the Class 4A, Region II quarterfinals before falling to No. 9 Lancaster.

“He worked really, really hard all season,” Cleburne head coach Lyle Lackey said. “He wasn’t concerned about himself, he looked at it from the standpoint of wanting team success. We preached to them that individual recognition will come if we take care of business as a team. We did that, finishing second in a tough district and making a long playoff run.

“I know Ethan earned the respect of the other district coaches, just from talking with them before and after games. With Ethan, it was not about himself. He was respectful of the other players on the team. I can’t think of a more deserving or better player than Ethan to get that honor. I’m proud of the recognition he’s gotten.”

Senior Mikel Boston was a first-team selection, while senior Jacob Windell and junior Robert White earned spots on the second team.

“It’s neat for those guys to be recognized,” Lackey said. “I’m really excited about Boston making the first team. I don’t even think he made honorable mention last year. The coaches recognized him from the standpoint of teams weren’t able to double team Ethan because of Boston, Robert and Jacob, it was not just about Ethan Anderson. Boston made some big shots, and Jacob averaged about seven assists per game in district. Then you had Robert, who was guarding 6-8 guys every night it seemed like.”

Cleburne’s Jeff Carver, Tyler Chappell, D’Montre Davison, Semaj Holderness and Michael Wilson were named honorable mention selections.

Waco University’s Randy Price and Ennis freshman Jordan Mason were the district’s co-offensive players of the year, while University senior Vincent Finley nabbed the defensive player of the year honor.

Midlothian junior Eddie Johnson was named the newcomer of the year, while Midway sophomore Jay Hook was the sophomore of the year.

Midway’s Rusty Walker was the coach of the year.

Midway had three senior players on the first team in Cameron Quinton, Jacob Neubert and Darius Fulbright. Corsicana placed two players on the first team, as senior Laquinis Holbert and junior Antonie Cheney made the cut.

Waxahachie also had two players on the first team in senior Spencer Barrett and sophomore LaDarius Brown.

University junior Jarrod Hall, Midlothian sophomore Derrick Agbaroji and Waco High senior Dante Hollis rounded out the first team.

Joining White and Windell on the second team were Midway junior Levi Norwood, University junior Kevin Thomas, Corsicana seniors Taylor Jacobson, Matt Ward and Emmanuel Chaney, Ennis junior J.T. Florence and Ennis senior Xavier Tarrant, Midlothian senior Jeremy Charles and Waco High senior Delonte Allen.

The other honorable mention choices were Midway senior Scott Fisher, Midway junior Anthony Betters, University junior Demond Wilson, University senior Norris Alexander, University junior Davionte Dobbins, Corsicana senior Josh Ramirez, Corsicana sophomore Corey Wilson, Waxahachie senior Derek Koch, Waxahachie sophomore Bryant Harris, Ennis senior Derrick Green, Ennis senior Jay Radway, Ennis freshman Kyle Anderson, Midlothian junior Trent Morgan, Midlothian senior Sam Espinoza, and Waco High juniors Wilson Bridgewater and Reshard McCants.

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