HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL: Spartans' Ramsey, Red Tornadoes' Lefevers top All-Northwestern 3A-4A - Hobbs Daily Report

Hickory boys’ Daniel Willis win Coach

of Year in first season at alma mater

By CHRIS HOBBS

HobbsDailyReport.com

A 6-foot-7 post player from South Caldwell High and 6-foot guard from Hickory won Northwestern 3A-4A Player of the Year honors in basketball on Wednesday.

WILLIS

In voting by conference head coaches and released by league officials, the top boys’ player selected was junior Trey Ramsey of South Caldwell and senior Finley Lefevers of Hickory.

Lefevers has signed to play at Queens University.

South Caldwell finished 5-4 and in fifth place in a COVID-shortened season in boys, while Hickory went 7-2 and finished second in the league.

Hickory’s girls closed at 11-2, falling 62-45 to Carson in the West 3A Regional championship.

Boys’ coach of the year went to Daniel Willis, who returned to his alma mater from The Citadel and guided Hickory to a league title (8-1). The Red Tornadoes finished 10-2 after a second round state 3A playoff loss (64-18) to Mount Tabor.

The girls’ coach of the year award went to Jon Presnell of Alexander Central. In his second season, he guided the Cougars to a third-place finish (8-3). They were 11-4 overall, losing 55-48 at Ashbrook in the opening round of the state 3A playoffs.

Alexander Central is 23-17 under Presnell.