Rayce Hoepker had a lot of great games on his way to leading the Humboldt Cubs to a one-loss regular season and the No. 1 ranking in 3A boys basketball, but the unquestioned highlight was on a seemingly random Thursday night in January.
In the semifinals at the Pleasanton Tournament, Hoepker made it was a night to remember.
The Humboldt senior went off against Oswego for 51 points in only three quarters of play and opened eyes in not only Southeast Kansas, but across the state about just how dynamic he can be.
Games like that left little doubt about who the Iola Register’s Boys Basketball Player of the Year would be. Hoepker finished the season averaging 27.5 points per game with 5.3 rebounds and 3.3 steals a game.
Hoepker is joined in the First Team All-Area backcourt by his teammate and classmate Daylon Splane.
After starting the season slowly on offense, Splane developed into a great complementary offensive piece alongside Hoepker.
Splane finished the season averaging 8.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game.
Where Splane really shined was on the defensive end of the court where he led the Cubs with an astonishing 4.5 steals per game.
Joining Hoepker on the wing for the First Team is Iola senior Isaiah Fawson.
Fawson was the primary outside scorer for the Mustangs and expanded his offensive game this season by adding to his off-the-dribble arsenal to complement his deadly outside shooting ability.
Iola forward Ethan Holloway is the second Mustang to earn a spot on the First Team.
The 6-7 junior gave the Mustangs a clear height advantage inside in every game this season, but unlike many players his height, Holloway has the athleticism to allow the Mustangs to play fast with their talented guard-court.
Holloway averaged a double-double this season with 11.3 points and 10.3 rebounds while serving as an intimidating defensive presence whenever opposing players dared drive the lane.
Adding to the length on the First Team is Yates Center sophomore Aaron King.
The 6-3 forward was a swiss-army knife this season for the Wildcats as he averaged 21.9 points per game.
The King shot 43 percent from three-point range and 5.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 2.2 steals per game.
