Blair is BannerGraphic Player of the Year

Monday, March 24, 2008

CLOVERDALE -- In an era of basketball where it seems the individual trumps the team concept, it's refreshing to see a player who leads his team in most major statistical categories, yet remains humble about each of his accomplishments.

Likely to make an acrobatic play every time he touched the ball, Cloverdale senior Craig Blair led Putnam County in scoring and assists.

That fact, coupled with his superb play throughout the season, is why Cloverdale's Craig Blair has been named 2007-08 BannerGraphic Player of the Year.

Joining Blair on the Putnam County first team will be teammate Brandon Moon, Greencastle's Brennan Burks, South Putnam's Noah Boswell and North Putnam's Griffen Dahlstrom.

The second team is Greencastle's Ashton Marshall and Austin Miller, South Putnam's Nathan Welty and Conor Frame and fellow Clover Ryan Dean.

"It's an honor to have Craig be county player of the year. It's a prestigious honor because of the great basketball tradition in Putnam County," Cloverdale head coach Pat Rady commented.

Blair led the county in scoring with an average of 23 points per game. He scored a whopping 497 points this season. He converted 48 percent of his shots from the floor and 70 percent at the line. He also dished out 91 assists to average 4.1 per game.

In addition to scoring and assists, Blair led the Clovers in rebounds, steals and was second on the team in blocked shots.

He collected 123 rebounds, including 46 offensive boards, for a 5.6 per contest average, while snatching 63 steals for the year. His seven blocks were second only to teammate Ryan Dean.

Beyond the statistics, Blair proved his self-effacing nature late in the season. Blair surpassed the 1,000-career point mark on senior night and homecoming; a perfect opportunity for a player to seize the spotlight. But there was no celebration, no ceremonial basketball, nothing. Mainly because nobody knew, not even Blair himself, true fashion for a player under Rady's tutelage. When his coach informed him of his accomplishments, Blair characteristically responded that he thought he was close.

"I'm happy for Craig; he's been a team player and had a fine year for us being named All-Conference and now this award," Rady said. "He's been very humble about all the honors he's receiving and I'm just happy for him and his parents. We look forward to seeing him grow and wish him the best in his future."

FIRST TEAM

Brennan Burks (GHS) -- The GHS senior beset the opposition for an average of 16 points, scoring 319 points in 20 games this season, while shooting 42 percent from the floor. The 6-foot-6-inch Burks also grabbed 186 rebounds for a 9.3 per contest average.

Noah Boswell (SP) -- This junior provided 13.7 points game for the Eagles this season, scoring a total of 273 points. The big man also hauled in 147 rebounds for a 7.4 average. Boswell commanded the middle, resulting in a shooting percentage of 56 percent. He also collected 11 steals.

Griffen Dahlstrom (NP) -- Only a junior, Dahlstrom powered the Cougar offense with an average of 9.6 points per game. He recorded 113 rebounds on the season, including 43 offensive. His quick hands were responsible for 24 steals and 21 blocks. He also passed out 15 assists.

Brandon Moon (CHS) -- The only sophomore to make the first team, Moon was second in scoring for the Clovers with 14 points a game, scoring 315 points. He also recorded 40 assists and 42 steals to help power the offense.

SECOND TEAM

Ashton Marshall (GHS) -- The GHS junior provided 5.6 points for the Tiger Cubs offense this season. Of his 75 rebounds, the GHS guard collected 26 offensive rebounds and averaged 3.8 per contest. He also recorded 37 assists and 26 steals.

Nathan Welty (SP) -- Only a junior, Welty was an outside presence for the Eagles, scoring 8.4 points per game, including 20 three-point buckets. Welty grabbed 13 steals and swatted three blocks. He also supplied 78 rebounds for the Eagles.

Ryan Dean (CHS) -- The CHS senior scored 85 points this season for a 4.5 average. He was second on the team with 5.5 rebounds a contest, including 26 offensive. Clogging the middle for the Clovers, he collected 22 assists, 33 steals and 16 blocks.

Conor Frame (SP) -- A junior, Frame averaged 7.3 points per game, scoring 145 points for the year. He recorded 12 steals and three blocks, while hauling in 73 rebounds this season for a 3.7 average. He averaged 76 percent shooting from the free throw line.

Austin Miller (GHS) -- The GHS senior was second in scoring for the teamwith 151 points, for an average of 7.9 a game. He was third for GHS in rebounding with a 3.4 average and collected 12 assists. He led GHS by shooting 48 percent from the floor.

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