Weaton captains All-Union team

With the beginning of the spring sports season, the 2021-22 high school boys basketball season is in the rear view, which means it’s now time to take a look at some of most prolific players from the Southeast Conference this past season.

Washington had yet another successful season, taking the SEC conference title once again, but nearly every game was a slug fest. Mt. Pleasant and Fairfield both ended their season with a 3-7 conference record, tied for fourth in the league.

This year’s All-Union large school boys basketball list is led by upperclassmen and one underclassmen. Three seniors are featured on the list, along with three juniors and one sophomore. Washington represents the majority, with four distinctions including head coach and three players.

COACH

Collin Stark, Washington

With a senior lead squad, Stark’s Demons had high expectations and big goals in 2021-22. They did not disappoint, ending the season with an 19-4 overall record and a 9-1 record in conference play. The Demons staked their claim on another SEC title, this season winning it outright.

For most of the season, the Demon’s were ranked inside the Class 3A top five, accumulating as high as the No. 2 ranking in the state.

Washington started off the year strong winning six straight games, before its first loss coming from the hands of conference foe and eventual Class 3A No. 1 Fort Madison. It was Washington’s only conference loss on the season, 56-46. Washington never went down without a fight, as all four of its losses came by 10 points or less.

The Demon’s were one of the post exciting teams heading into the postseason. They dominated South Tama in round one of the Class 3A Region 4 bracket, 54-29, but would fall in round two with a heartbreaking loss to Solon, 48-44.

CAPTAIN

Max Weaton, junior, Fairfield

Fairfield’s junior forward, Max Weaton, has only gotten better has his high school basketball career has progressed. This season Weaton was again an around catalyst for the Trojans.

Weaton was very proficient at putting the ball in the basket and grabbing boards, finishing second in both points and rebounds per game in the SEC with averages of 19.9 points and 10.1 rebounds. He ranked first in defensive boards, 6.7 per game, and third in offensive, 3.4 per game. He was also second in field goals made per game, tallying 7.9 per contest.

Weaton was an defensive nightmare for teams, as he was the most efficient scorer in the conference. He led the SEC connecting on 60.2% of his shots from the field. He found himself at the foul line night in and night out, finishing third in both free throws attempted (5.2) and free throws made per game (3.7). Weaton shot with a 71.3% clip from the line.

On the defensive side of things, Weaton was also a problem. Scoring inside the paint was tough against the Trojans, as Weaton averaged 1.3 blocks per game, a conference best.

If the last three season are anything to look at, Weaton will be even greater come his senior season.

Kasen Bailey, senior, Washington

Bailey was one of the top facilitators in the league and for the Demons this past season. The senior guard did just about everything you could ask for in a leader.

Bailey was the best at dishing out the rock in the conference, finishing atop the SEC averaging 4.6 assists a game. He wasn’t too bad at scoring the ball either, finishing fifth averaging 15.2 points per game.

He made 4.8 shots per game, good enough for ninth in the conference, along with 2.1 three balls, second-best in the SEC. Bailey tallied 48 total deep balls on the year, second-best in the league behind teammate Ethan Patterson. With a 42.5% average from the three point line, Bailey was the third best shooter from deep.

Bailey was one of the best in the conference from the foul line too. He averaged 4.4 free throws a game and 3.4 made, both fifth best in the SEC. His 78.2% free throw average was fourth best.

Come next season, Bailey will be tough to replace with what he brings on the court.

Ethan Patterson, junior, Washington

Patterson put together an excellent season for the Demons this past winter and was one of Washington’s go to scorers.

He was pretty good at finding the bottom of the net. Patterson was great on the offensive end for the Demons, finishing as the leading scorer. His 16.1 points per game were not only a team-best, but also fourth best in the SEC. He finishing with the sixth best field goals made per game average at 5.2. His 2.2 assists per game were eighth in the conference.

Patterson was stellar from outside the arc too, leading the SEC with an average of 3.0 three pointers made per game and 69 total.

On the free-throw line, Patterson was the most efficient. With an 88.9% free throw average, Patterson sat a top the SEC.

Come the winter of 2022, Patterson will surly be in the conversation with the top players in the conference.

Dewon Trent, senior, Mt. Pleasant

Mt. Pleasant’s Dewon Trent has always been an electrifying player and his senior season for the Panthers it was no different.

Trent led the Panthers in both points and rebounds per game for the second straight season. With 13.8 points per game, Trent was the seventh highest scorer in the league. Trent was fantastic on the glass too as his 7.1 rebounds per contest were fifth best in the conference. His 5.5 field goals made per game were tied for third in the SEC.

With a 49.0% field goal average, Trent was among the most efficient players in the league, finishing in eleventh for field goal percentage.

Trent also showed out defensively, averaging 1.7 steals and 0.4 blocks a game, good enough for eighth and ninth in the SEC.

Next season, Trent’s athleticism on both sides of the ball and his ability to take over games at any moment will be tough to replace.

JJ Lane, junior, Fairfield

The Trojan guard was crucial to the Trojans success this season. The junior ran the point for Fairfield whenever he was on the floor and was one of the best shot creators in the conference.

Lane finished first in assists with 4.0 per game for the Trojans and second in scoring with 12.9 points per game, behind teammate Weaton. His assists average was second-best in the conference and his scoring average rated ninth. He put in 5.1 baskets per game, eighth best in the SEC.

Lane saw the ball well on the defensive end and was a top on ball defender in the league, finishing third overall in steals per contest, with an average of 2.3.

He will again be an important piece to a senior squad that graduates just three seniors.

Lucas Kroll, senior, Washington

Washington’s third leading scorer and top low post player is the third Demon on this year’s list. Kroll did just about everything you could ask down on the block for Washington.

Kroll’s 10.3 points per game was twelfth best in the SEC and his 8.8 rebounds per game was not only a team-high, but third best in the league. He was the second best defensive rebounder, averaging 6.0 a game, and his 2.7 offensive boards was fifth best.

When Kroll got the ball in his hand’s he was one of the most well ordered at getting the ball in the bucket. Per minimum 35 shots taken over the course of the season, Kroll connected on exactly half of his shots, 50.0%, a team-high and tied for seventh in the SEC.

Thanks to his elusiveness and battling effort in the paint, Kroll was one of the best at getting to the foul line. His 5.2 foul shots per game and 3.7 made is the best of any Demon and slots him at fourth best in the conference. With an 70.8% average from the line, Kroll was seventh in the SEC.

The Demons will miss Kroll’s paint presence and effort next season.

Payton Hagans, sophomore, Mt. Pleasant

As the only underclassman on the list, Mt. Pleasant’s sophomore standout has shown that he can play with the best.

Hagans did a little bit of everything for the Panthers this past season. He finished second in scoring, and third in both rebounds and assists.

He averaged 12.0 points per game, good enough to tie for tenth in the SEC. Hagans had one of the best strokes from outside, connecting on 1.8 threes a game with a 35.3% clip. Those numbers are good enough for fourth and sixth best in the conference. He hit the fourth most threes in the SEC, a total of 42.

Hagans was just outside the top 10 in nearly every other statistical per game category, including eleventh in field goals made (4.0), eleventh in free throws attempted (3.2), eleventh in free throws made (2.2), eleventh in free throw percentage (67.6%), twelfth in assist (1.9), and twelfth in steals (1.3).

Come next season, Hagans will be among the top players in the league.