It was a clean sweep for the Brush Arcs at The News-Herald’s girls basketball awards night on March 24. Sophomore Tatiana Mason was named the winner of the Kaayla Chones Award as The News-Herald’s girls basketball player of the year. The Arcs made it a 2-for-2 night when Demarris Winters was nam ed the coach of the year. The announcements were made as part of a special edition of the Varsity Chalk Talk Show, hosted by Bill Tilton. A capacity crowd was hand for The News-Herald’s basketball awards show. Mason averaged 18 points, 10.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.7 steals per game, with 40 3-pointers made. She was a major force in leading Brush to a 24-2 record and the program’s first regional championship. The Arcs lost to eventual state runner-up Avon Lake in the Division III state semifinal. “To be recognized as one of the best players in the area means a lot to me,” she said. “There’s lot of good players out there and I’m only a sophomore. Mason was tapped as the Chones Award winner over four other finalists, all of whom had worthy numbers and dynamic season their own regard. But Mason’s ability to take over a game and lead her team to a place it’s never gone before put her ahead of the rest. “I take a lot of pride (in my all-around game),” she said. “My team depends on me, so I have to come through for them. If I let my team down, it hurts me.” The other finalists, in alphabetical order, were: • Zoey Deligianis, Madison, Sr.: She averaged 25.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 3.5 steals with 73 3-pointers made in leading Madison to a 20-5 record and an appearance in a Division III district championship game. She was the CVC Lake Division’s Most Valuable Player. • Elizabeth Dunmire, VASJ, Jr.: She averaged 19.7 points, 11.4 rebounds, 4.5 steals, 3.7 assists and 2.9 blocks per game with 47 3-pointers made for the Vikings, who finished the season 14-10 record and a sectional championship. • Honor Hall, Richmond Heights, Jr.: She averaged 21 points, 6.0 rebounds, 5.0 steals and 3.0 assists per game with 42 3-pointers made in leading the Spartans to a 16-7 record and an appearance in a Division VI district championship game. • Olivia Williams, Mayfield, Sr.: She finished the season averaging 18.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 3.0 steals and 3.0 assists per game with 21 3-pointers made and was the MVP of the Western Reserve Conference. In winning the coach-of-the-year award, Winters reaped yet another accolade for guiding Brush to the state final four for the first time in program history. After starting the season 2-2, Brush – playing the area’s most difficult and challenging schedule – won 22 games in a row before falling to Avon Lake in the state semifinal. The other finalists were: • Roy Infalvi Jr. of Perry, who led the Pirates to an 18-8 record, a CVC Chagrin Division championship and a berth in the Division IV regional championship game. • Heather Reho of Madison, who led the Blue Streaks to 20-5 record, a CVC Lake Division championship and a berth in the Division III district championship game. “The five nominations for the girls was tough to pick,” Winters said of Mason winning the Chones Award. “The other two coaches, Roy and the Madison coach, I love them. Going against Roy is a task. Madison has a young and upcoming coach. That’s a team that’s going to be good for a long time.” “I’m so appreciative to The News-Herald, not just about the award, but how you cover us nd the whole area.” Both Winters and Mason said the upward of Brush’s program will continue. “It’s a good year. We made history,” Mason said. “This is the farthest we’ve ever gone. Next year we’re gonna win it all.” ...read more read less