Bell City leads way with two all-staters

The Bell City boys may not have repeated as Class 1 state champions, but the Cubs' two leaders repeated as all-state selections.

Senior Eric Henry and junior Dominitrix Johnson again found their way onto the Class 1-3 Sportswriters and Sportscasters All-State Basketball Teams released today, leading a handful of local selections.

Henry repeated as a first-team selection, while Johnson attracted second-team honors for the second straight year for Bell City (24-6), which finished sixth in the final team poll.

Also on the Class 1 first team was Oran senior Nathan Seyer, who helped Oran to a 20-6 season and the 10th spot in the final poll, and Delta senior Rebecca Below, who led the Bobcats to the final four and third place in the poll.

Kelly senior Dana Essner gained first-team honors in Class 3, while Meadow Heights high-scoring senior Joey Bell was selected to the Class 2 second team.

Henry averaged 24.6 points and 12.3 rebounds in earning all-state honors for the third time. The 6-2 forward was all-state second-team as a sophomore. Johnson, the Southeast Missourian player of the year as a sophomore, averaged 23 points and eight assists his junior season.

The Cubs' quest for a second straight Class 1 title fell short with a sectional loss to Clarkton, which finished a spot ahead in the final poll.

Seyer, a 6-2 forward, completed an outstanding career at Oran by averaging 18 points and seven rebounds.

Delta's Below honoredBelow, a four-year starter, was one of five returning starters for Delta and a driving force to the school's second final four appearance. Below, a 6-foot center, averaged 24.1 points and 7.6 rebounds for Delta (27-3), which won the Scott-Mississippi Conference title and finished third at state.

The 5-7 Essner averaged 12 points for Kelly, which reached the Class 3 quarterfinals. The Hawks (23-6) placed eighth in the final state poll.

Bell, a 6-foot-1 guard, led the region in scoring with 29.5 points to help Meadow Heights (19-7) to the Mississippi Valley Conference crown. He shot 49 percent from 3-point range and averaged 10.5 rebounds.

Charleston's boys, the SEMO Conference champion which finished third in Class 3, had 6-foot-8 senior Kewain Gant was selected first team and 6-foot-6 sophomore Ashton Farmer chosen second team. Charleston junior Missy Whitney was also selected to the girls' second team.

Other players honored from Southeast Missouri: Amanda Lance, Twin Rivers (Class 3, first team); Deanna Anderson., Arcadia Valley (Class 3, second team); David Reynolds, East Carter (Class 2, first team); David Mathis, Clarkton (Class 1, first team); April Redus, Couch (Class 1, second team).

The Class 4-5 teams will be announced Thursday.