Boys' 3C All-Conference

Athletes of Phillips County accounted for four spots in the 2019 District 3C All-Conference team in a list released earlier this month.

The Dodson Coyotes were represented by juniors Shaun Ball and Corbin LoneBear, who both made the First Team list. The North Country Mavericks were represented by sophomore Loden Idler and senior John McColly.

COYOTES

Shaun Ball, a 6'0' junior made the list for the second consecutive season. Ball has been a more than capable scorer for the Coyotes since his freshman season, but this year Ball has improved as a passer, according to Dodson Head Coach Frank Benson.

"He can get hot from shooting," Coach Benson said. "The one thing he improved on was using his teammates to find a way to score. He improved on scoring without the ball. He is still that kid that if you need a basket, he will find it in clutch situations."

Ball has been known to play well against different matchups for the Coyotes in previous seasons and the 2018-19 season was no different.

"I don't know how to defend him," Coach Benson said. "If you put a guard on Shaun, he will post you up, if you put a post on him he will drive and score. He can shoot the three on anybody."

Corbin LoneBear, a 6'4" junior shined as a scorer for Dodson in his third year with the team. He set a new school record of 45 points in Dodson's win over Nashua on Thursday, December 20. the previous record of 44 was set by Skip Cole in 1981.

Despite his taller frame, LoneBear showed that he could score on all levels of the court, including above the rim and from three-point range.

"He can play any position on the court," Coach Benson said. "He scores with the ball and away from the ball. He could beat you off the dribble with his size that is tough to defend."

Coach Benson took pride in LoneBear's improved work on the boards.

"This year he improved on going after the offensive rebound," Coach Benson said. "He could time the shot and get the offensive rebounds."

LoneBear also led Dodson in their first Divisional victory in 53 years on Thursday, February 21, as the team defeated Richey-Lambert 57-56 in overtime. LoneBear had a 22 point, 14 rebound double-double.

LoneBear made the list in 2017-18 as an Honorable Mention.

MAVERICKS

Sophomore Loden Idler has earned All-Conference for the second year in a row, this year taking on the role as the primary ball handler.

"Loden is a kid that practiced a lot when he was little and he picked up a lot of basketball IQ and experience, so he is intuitive," Mavericks Head Coach Ralph Ellsworth said. "He has some fairly good skills and did enough that the district coaches voted him in."

Senior John McColly was the team captain for the Mavericks this season.

"He was our lone senior and he is a good athlete, having played football also," Coach Ellsworth said. "He was injured quite a bit last year, so his experience level didn't grow like it should have but he was a hard working kid who got into it."

Coach Ellsworth went on to praise McColly's defensive growth this season.