Three Dons named to first team, Rockets’ Bezlyk makes second team

By Paul Lecker

Sports Reporter

After its second-straight title, Marshfield Columbus Catholic was rewarded with three first-team selections to the 2016-2017 All-Cloverbelt Conference East Division Boys Basketball Team.

Senior guard Tyler Fuerlinger was named Player of the Year after averaging 22.7 points and seven rebounds per game for the Dons, who won the conference title with a 15-1 record and ended up advancing to the WIAA state tournament in Division 5.

Fuerlinger, senior guard Hunter Schultz, and junior guard Nick Malovrh were all first-team picks for Columbus. Fuerlinger was a repeat first-team pick, and Schultz was a first-team pick in 2015 and a second-team selection last year.

Schultz scored 23.3 points per game and hit a team-best 89 3-pointers for the Dons. Malovrh was third on the team in scoring at 13.2 points per game and had 68 3-pointers.

Joining the Columbus trio on the first team were Loyal senior Cameron Brussow, Neillsville senior Adam Schmidt, and Owen-Withee senior Kole Karaba.

Brussow ended his career as a three-time first-team all-conference selection.

Spencer junior Jack Bezlyk earned second-team honors after scoring 16.5 points per game for the Rockets.

“Jack had a very good year this year, and I’m really looking forward to seeing him next year as a senior,” Spencer coach Randy Reckner said. “Jack is able to score both inside and outside, which makes him tough to guard.”

Columbus Catholic senior guard Ryan Dieringer was an honorable mention pick.

(Hub City Times Sports Reporter Paul Lecker is also the publisher of MarshfieldAreaSports.com.)

2016-2017 All-Cloverbelt Conference East Division Boys Basketball Team

First team: Hunter Schultz, sr., Marshfield Columbus Catholic; Tyler Fuerlinger, sr., Marshfield Columbus Catholic; Nick Malovrh, jr., Marshfield Columbus Catholic; Cameron Brussow, sr., Loyal; Adam Schmidt, sr., Neillsville; Kole Karaba, sr., Owen-Withee.

Second team: Mathew Karl, sr., Colby; Riley Geiger, sr., Loyal; Isaac Bryan, sr., Neillsville; Marlin Pogodzinski, sr., Owen-Withee; Darryn Bottlemy, sr., Owen-Withee; Jack Bezlyk, jr., Spencer.

Honorable mention: Ryan Dieringer, sr., Marshfield Columbus Catholic; Roman Konsella, sr., Gilman; Devin Toburen, jr., Greenwood; Trevor Serocki, sr., Greenwood; Jordan Radue, jr., Loyal; Preston Shelton, sr., Owen-Withee.

Player of the Year: Tyler Fuerlinger, Marshfield Columbus Catholic.