Simon still GNC's best

Eskymos' Fisher named top defender

By Dennis Grall - dgrall@dailypress.net
WELLS — Joe Simon has repeated as player of the year in the Great Northern Conference boys basketball ranks.

The 6-foot-6 Marquette junior, who is approaching the school’s all-time scoring record, was the leading vote-getter in balloting by the head coaches here Thursday at the Family Inn.

Simon averaged 20.1 points and nine rebounds for the Redmen, who finished second behind Menominee (8-0) for the league title. He has scored 988 points in three seasons. Tim Bullock holds the record of 1,057 points, set 55 years ago.

Simon also converted 66 percent of his field goal tries inside the arc and hit 63 percent overall. “He is an unbelievable basketball player,” said Marquette coach John Tiziani.

Senior Garrick Fisher of Escanaba was the unanimous choice as defensive player of the year.

Coaches are not allowed to vote for their own player.

Joining Simon on the first team are Tom Erickson of Escanaba, Andy Cretens of Gladstone and Brett Beland and Tom Janson of Menominee.

The second team includes Fisher and Cory Gylock of Escanaba, Jake Groeneveld of Kingsford, David Mellon of Menominee and Erik Powers of Marquette.

Beland and Powers are juniors, the rest are seniors.

Pete Pericolosi of Menominee was tabbed coach of the year.

Special mention went to Andy Lauscher, Kyle Jensen and Mike Coyne of Gladstone, Antone Ramos of Marquette, Matt Eisenzoph of Menominee and Jordan Wickman of Kingsford.

Earning honorable mention are Paul Wakefield and Connor Ruberry of Escanaba, Adam Huss of Marquette, Justin Salzman of Menominee and Chris Siegler of Kingsford.

Gladstone and Menominee (7-1) shared the GNC junior varsity title and Menominee (6-2) won the freshmen title.