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Boys Basketball Team Banquet Held (03/17/16)

The 2015-16 Clarion Area Bobcat Basketball Team held their banquet on Tuesday (March, 15th) at the Strattanville Fire Hall. The Banquet was hosted by the Basketball Boosters.

The event began with Booster member Brian Burford welcoming those in attendance and giving some information on the Boosters’ fund raisers. He also gave special thanks to Bri Nellis of Bri Nellis Photography for allowing the boosters to make copies of her photos from the season, that were spread out on the tables, for players and parents to keep.

Assistant and JV Coach B. J. Wrhen then gave the invocation and blessing. Then those gathered feasted on the meal prepared and served by members of the Stattanville VFD.

Immediately following the meal Coach Wrhen thanked the other coaches and parents and then recognized the Junior Varsity players.

Then Head Coach Jess Quinn took to the mike and thanked Coach Wrhen, mentioning that his coming back to coach was the “perfect fit” for Coach Quinn’s first season at the helm. Coach Quinn then thanked his other assistants, Adam Donaldson, Drew Vandermeer, Cameron Kirkland, saying that they all “were excited to give back to and to bring pride to the program.” He then said, “I can’t thank you guys enough. We wouldn’t have been successful without you.”

Coach Quinn then gave special thanks to the team’s elder statesman, Assistant Coach Tom Lewis, saying he is “like a father (to Coach Quinn),” and that he “look(s) to him like my dad (for guidance and imput).” He also said, “No way I would have been successful, this year, without you.”

Then Coaches Quinn and Wrhen recognized the Varsity players and presented them with their letters and pins. Coach Quinn told his players that, “Being a part of something bigger than yourself, if you have somebody to rely on as much as you rely on them, makes you a better person.” He said to his seniors, “It was my pleasure, my pleasure to be your coach.”

He the recognized the four players who were nominated for the All-KSAC Team, Jonathan Smith, Cameron Craig, Brendan “Bo” Miller and Ty Burford. Jonathan was selected to the First Team and Cameron was selected to the Third Team. Both were presented with their All-Conference Certificates.

After thanking the parents, Coach Quinn mentioned, to his players that his (passionate style of coaching) was “always only meant to be constructive, to make you be the best. Thank you for being a part of this team, this year.”

Then booster Laura Burford thanked various support staff, including Athletic Director Nancy Mills, photographer Bri Nellis, scorekeeper Jane Campbell, trainer Rich Herrin and Don Skunda who was in charge of the score book. She also mentioned that Don provided the warm-up jerseys for the team.

Laura then had the seniors present the coaches with gifts. The seniors did a super job on their part.

Senior John Allen gave special tribute to Coach Quinn, mentioning something their mentor said earlier in the evening, “You said we made you a better man; you made us better young men – in basketball and life.”

Coach Lewis ended the evening with a special presentation, passing out t-shirts, to next year’s returning players, that said “unfinished business,” and a challenge for them to work hard to build on this season’s success and accomplish even bigger things, next year.

Members of this year’s team are:

Seniors – John Allen, Craig Kerr, Mark Liu, Brendan Miller, Luke Nellis, Jonathan Smith, and Tyler Smith.

Juniors: Reed Anthony, Ryan Anthony, Ty Burford, Ceventh Lynch-Skunda and Victor Stahlman.

Sophomores: Zack Bauer, Cameron Craig, Tom Hearst, Austin Hummell, Spencer Miller, Henry Baldwin, Marshall Powers, Jacob Selker and Oscar Suzuki.

Freshmen: Archer Mills and Drew Wrhen.

(CONGRATULATIONS ON A GREAT SEASON, BOBCATS!!!!)