2011 MSA SPORTS BOYS ALL-NETTERS TEAM

By: Bruce Markey
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 | 12:00 AM

It was a rare season in the WPIAL in terms of points. Three players averaged 30 points or more for the first time in at least 25 years. All three of those players are the MSA Sports Boys All-Netters team.

The All-Netters team is selected by the MSA staff and all players in the WPIAL are eligible. Ten players are selected and slotted into first and second team. This was one of the toughest years to pick the All-Netters team. Although the WPIAL didn't have one or two great players who stood out above the rest, the league had many, many good players.

Here is an example of how tough it was to pick the team: 45 players got votes from MSA staffers.

The three players who averaged 30 or more in the regular season were Highlands' Micah Mason, Trinity's Josh Valentic and Norwin's Matt Palo.

Introducing the 2011 Player of the Year and the rest of the All-Netters Team:

2011 PLAYER OF THE YEAR:
MICAH MASON
HIGHLANDS, JR., 6-1, G

It would not be an overstatement to call Mason one of the greatest scorers and shooters in WPIAL history.

Mason had an unforgettable season and also an unforgettable game. In January, he scored 64 points in a game against Valley. It was the second-highest point total in WPIAL history and the most in more than 50 years. Mohawk's Larry Hardesty scored 71 in 1959.

In the game against Valley, Mason was almost perfect. He was 17 of 19 from the field, including 7 of 7 from 3-point range. He also made 23 of 24 free throws.

For the season, Mason averaged 33.3 points a game, one of the top averages in the WPIAL in the past 25 years. He also is an excellent free-throw shooter, making about 90 percent from the line.

Mason still has one more year left at Highlands. He has an excellent shot at reaching 2,000 points for his career. He has 1,583. He also has 259 career 3-pointers and has a shot at reaching the WPIAL record for 3-pointers. Chartiers Valley's T.J. McConnell had 344.

Mason is getting recruited by Division I colleges. Drake and Colgate already have offered scholarships and Butler University also is showing interest.

Here is a look at the other players on the All-Netters team.

FIRST TEAM:

DEVON COTTRELL
GATEWAY, SR., 6-7, F

Cottrell was the rock of the Gateway team, a four-year starter who capped his career by helping the Gators win the first WPIAL championship in school history. Cottrell averaged 17.6 points, 10.1 rebounds and an awfully impressive 4.7 blocks a game. He finished his career with more than 1,000 career points. Cottrell has not decided on a college yet, but a few Division I schools were showing interest in him before the season.

ANTHONY DALLIER
NORTH ALLEGHENY, JR., 6-6, G-F

Dallier has already displayed enough talent to earn a scholarship offer from Duquesne University. Some Patriot League and Ivy League schools also are showing interest.
Dallier is a versatile player who can shoot the 3-pointer, but also score on the inside. He was one of the top scorers in the WPIAL and averaged 24.4 points a game. He had a memorable game against Central Catholic when he scored 47 points.

JOSH VALENTIC
TRINITY, SR., 6-3, G

Valentic moved into Trinity's starting lineup as a freshman, and every year his scoring average moved up considerably. He averaged 13 as a sophomore, 22 as a junior and 30.2 this season. He played mostly point guard this year and was unstoppable at times. He scored 51 in a game against Highlands. Valentic finished as the school's all-time leading scorer with well over 1,500 points. He has made a verbal commitment to Wheeling Jesuit, a Division II school.

C.J. HESTER
WEST MIFFLIN, SR., 6-3, F

Hester missed some games near the end of the season because of a concussion, but he was a headache for most opponents. A versatile player, Hester helped West Mifflin become one of the top teams in WPIAL Class AAA this season by averaging 17.7 points a game. Hester scored more than 1,000 career points, but has not decided on a college yet.

————————————————————

SECOND TEAM:

MATT PALO
NORWIN, SR., 6-5, G-F
As a junior, Palo was a talented player and averaged 15 points a game. He just about doubled that average this season. Palo averaged 30 a game in the regular season and finished with a 29.3 average. "Palo was always a kid who could get to the rim and finish. Now he's become a really good shooter," said Norwin coach Lynn Washowich. Palo combined with Andy Carter, who averaged more than 20 a game, for one of the top scoring combinations in WPIAL history. Palo has not decided on a college yet. Division II schools are showing interest.

STEVE LIMBERIOU
UPPER ST. CLAIR, SR., 6-3, G-F
Limberiou turned into one of the top players in Class AAAA this season. He expanded his game from years past when he was more of just a 3-point shooter. He did a lot things for Upper St. Clair, averaging 20.4 points and nine rebounds a game. He helped Upper St. Clair reach the WPIAL quarterfinals and also the PIAA playoffs.

JESSE REED
GREENSBURG CENTRAL CATHOLIC, SR., G, 6-4
Greensburg Central Catholic made it to the WPIAL Class AA title game and will play for the PIAA title Saturday. Reed has been the driving force in the Centurions' success. He transferred to GCC from Saltsburg as a junior and had two excellent seasons. He averages 17 points a game for the Centurions and can score in a variety of ways. He has not decided on a college yet, but a number of Division II schools are interested.

SHELDON JETER
BEAVER FALLS, JR., 6-6, G-F
Jeter didn't play until Jan. 12 because of a broken hand. But he scored more than 20 in first game back and was a major force the rest of the season. Jeter averaged 24.9 points a game and figures to be one of the top prospects in the WPIAL for next season. Penn State and Dayton already have offered scholarships. St. Joseph's and a few others are interested.

CHAQUILLE PRATT
LINCOLN PARK, SR., 6-3, G-F
Pratt came to Lincoln Park as a junior and has helped the Leopards to big things. Lincoln Park has played in the past two WPIAL Class A championships and played in a PIAA title game loss for the Leopard on Friday. After averaging more than 20 a game as a junior, Pratt is averaging 21.4 this season.

Tags: Gateway, Greensburg C.C., Highlands, Lincoln Park, Upper St. Clair, West Mifflin