| BataviasBest.org
Monday, March 16, 2015
Here are my selections for Player of the Year:
Jeff Redband – Batavia Boys Basketball – 27 points per game, 8 rebounds per game – Class A2 Sectional Finalist – Monroe County League Champion
Photo courtesy of Lee Photography
Jeff’s success this season truly spoke for itself. Including a 51-point night that earned him our Performance of the Year for the boys basketball season, the 6’7″ forward’s Senior year was dominant to say the least.
Although he was unable to lead his team to a Sectional Title, Jeff outscored every other player in Monroe County by more than 5 points per game during the regular season – which may be the most-prolific single season in Batavia history. The Blue Devils did participate in a fairly-weak league this season, but Jeff’s number of notable performances can not be discounted, as he would make crazy shots from difficult angles on the regular – leading to his incredible PPG average at season’s end.
No matter the competition, the level of difficulty that was presented to him by opponents’ top-defenders almost nightly was astounding, and the fact that Jeff was able to rise to the occasion consistently for his team was what was most-impressive. For example, against perhaps the most-difficult team on the Devils’ regular season schedule (Irondequoit) the Batavia Senior dropped a school-record 51 points, proving his season-long performance was no joke and anything but fluky (the Eagles made the AA semis).
That being said, to be honest, Jeff struggles against more-physical players that are able to match his size and length. However, one thing that can also be said of him despite this fact, is that he has proved throughout his time at Batavia that he will put it up no matter who is guarding him, no matter the situation – and he will eventually find his way to success.
With his late-commitment to play at Daemen College next year it will be interesting to see how Jeff’s game translate’s to the next level. However, with his 6’7″ frame, and such great ability to shoot the three – combined with his will to succeed – I bet he will do just fine.
Congratulations to Jeff – our Batavia’s Best Boys Basketball Player of the Year.
Abbie Kelley – Byron-Bergen Girls Basketball – 18 points per game, 11 rebounds per game – Class C1 Sectional Finalist – GR League Division Champion
Photo submitted by athlete
This season Abbie turned out to be the most-impressive girls basketball player I watched throughout the Genesee Region. Possessing the ability to score from inside and out, while also pursuing rebounds with great tenacity, the Senior forward left a mark on the league in her final season which will not soon be forgotten.
Highlighted by a 37-point night against York earlier this year, Kelley had several big games which propelled her team to a Sectional Finals berth – which they dropped to a quality Mynderse team. Despite their inability to win their final game, the Bees accomplished a ton behind Kelley and will be looked at as one of the best teams in about ten years at the school.
Congratulations to Abbie – our Batavia’s Best Girls Basketball Player of the Year.
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Thanks for checking out the Batavia’s Best Basketball Awards.
Other articles you may like:
Batavia’s Best Basketball Awards – All-Batavia’s Best Team
Batavia’s Best Basketball Awards – Underclassman/Underclasswoman of the Year
Batavia’s Best Basketball Awards – Coach of the Year
Batavia’s Best Basketball Awards – Performance of the Year
