It was another highly competitive year on the basketball court in the Big Seven League and a pair of girl’s teams in Jeff West and Nemaha Central still competing after earning spots at State. 

While several teams had strong seasons, several players have had strong years too and the All-Big Seven League honors have been awarded. 

The Big Seven League girls saw Jeff West win the League crown going 14-2 in League play, while Holton and Nemaha Central both finished 13-3 in the League to tie for second after splitting their two games during the year. Hiawatha girls took fourth in the Big Seven finishing 10-6 in League play, while Sabetha tallied an 8-8 League mark to take fifth. Royal Valley, Perry Lecompton, ACCHS and Riverside finished sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth in the League standings with League records of 6-10, 5-11, 2-14 and 1-15, respectively. 

Jeff West girls had four players earn All-Big Seven League first team honors as senior, Faith Becker, along with juniors, Mariah Murdie and Alyssa Garza and sophomore, Aaliyah Negonsott all got the All-League honors. Holton, Nemaha Central and Hiawatha all had a duo earn first team All-League honors. For Holton senior, Courtney Boswell and junior, Shay Tanking earned first team All-League, while Nemaha Central had senior, Kaley Dalinghaus and junior, Laura Macke get the nod for first team honors. Hiawatha Red Hawk senior, Courtney Brockhoff and junior, Cariann Kunkel each snagged first team All-League honors. 

Honorable mention girls All-League honors went to Taylor Russell of Royal Valley, Ashlyn Wielert of Holton, Maggie Hammes and Jacy Dalinghaus of Nemaha Central and both Hillary Krebs and Lauren Huber of Sabetha. 

The Big Seven League boy’s title belonged to Nemaha Central as the Thunder finished 15-1 in League play to capture the League title. Holton Wildcats took second place in the Big Seven after going 13-3 in Big Seven play, while Sabetha finished third going 10-6 in League action. Jeff West and Perry Lecompton split their two matchups on the year and both finished 9-7 in Big Seven play tying for fourth in the League standings. Royal Valley, Hiawatha, Riverside and ACCHS finished sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth, respectively with League records of 7-9, 6-10, 2-14 and 1-15. 

Nemaha Central claimed the most players with first team All-Big Seven honors as seniors, Nate Beck and Dylan Enneking along with junior, Mitchell Henry each got the nod for first team All-League. The Holton Wildcat duo of senior, Bryson Patch and junior, Mason Strader earned first team All-League honors. While Jeff West, Perry Lecompton, Sabetha, Royal Valley and Hiawatha all had one first team All-Big Seven League player. Jeff West senior, Nick Malloy got the nod for the Tigers, while Sabetha Bluejay senior, Eric Renyer also earned first team honors and Hiawatha Red Hawk senior, Joseph Kunkel picked up the honors, too. For Perry Lecompton and Royal Valley a junior earned first team All-League as Kaw junior, Canaan Daniels and Panther junior, Mason Spoonhunter each earned first team. 

Honorable mention boys All-League honors went to Christian Meyer of Sabetha, Toby Baker of Perry Lecompton, Andrew Miller of Riverside, Isaiah Schmidt of Jeff West and Ian Lee of Royal Valley. 

                             2016-17 Big Seven All-League Basketball