By Chris Parker

2023 All-O-Zone Boys Basketball Team

The All O-Zone Boys Basketball team as voted on by the KY3 & OzarksSportsZone.com staff is below. There are more than 100 boys basketball teams in the area, which makes this list extremely difficult to narrow down. We used many factors including opposing coach observations to get this list narrowed down.

Below are this year’s team with a first-team, second-team and honorable mention. Each team is in alphabetical order after the Player of the Year Kael Combs.

FIRST FIVE

Kael Combs, Nixa (Player of the Year)

Combs took his game to another level this season. The senior was the driving force behind an unbeaten regular season. When the lights shined brightest, Combs answered the bell. He averaged 31.3 points per game in the Nixa Invitational Tournament including a 46-point masterpiece against eventual Class 3 state champion New Madrid County Central. Combs scored 33 in a regular season win over Kickapoo and 36 in the district championship game loss to the Chiefs. He had 28 in a key conference game against Republic. On the season, Combs averaged 23.4 points, 6.9 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game leading Nixa to a 28-1 record and four regular season tournament championships.

STATS: 23.4 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 6.1 apg, 44% 3FG
HONORS: Class 6 All-State, COC Player of the Year, Class 6 District 5 Player of the Year

Ahlante Askew, Republic

Askew made his team better every time he was on the court during his time at Republic. As a senior, Askew scored 15.5 points per game on a stellar 57.9% shooting mark from the field. He also set his teammates up with 5.3 assists per game. Defensively, he had 1.7 steals per game. He finishes as Republic’s all-time leader in both assists and steals while eclipsing the 1,000-point mark for his career. One of the moments of the year for Askew came when he hit a deep three in the Blue & Gold semifinals against Hartville to force overtime. The Tigers went on to win the Blue Division title.

STATS: 15.5 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 5.3 apg, 1.7 spg, 57.9% FG, 38.4% 3FG
HONORS: Class 6 All-State, First-Team All-COC, All-Class 6 District 5

Jacob Lafferty, Sparta

Lafferty put the area on notice leading Sparta on an incredible run through the Blue & Gold tournament finishing runner-up to Republic in the Blue Division. He scored 88 points in four games of the tournament. For the season, Lafferty averaged 23 points and 12 rebounds per game while shooting 63.6% from the field. He will be one of the area’s top returning players next season.

STATS: 23 ppg, 12 rpg, 1.4 apg, 2.2 spg, 63.6% FG
HONORS: Class 3 All-State, SWCL Player of the Year, Class 3 District 11 Player of the Year

Kyle Pock, Bolivar

Pock has been an impactful player for Bolivar for four years. He capped off his final season as a Liberator averaging 20.6 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3 assists and 1.2 blocks per game to go with 51.3% shooting from the field and 37.5% shooting from three. He was named Class 5 Player of the Year. He had 15 games with at least 20 points and 11 games with double-digit rebounds. Pock played out of position for much of his career, but thrived wherever he was needed finishing top five in Bolivar history in nine different categories including first in career points (2,319) and rebounds (961). He will play his college basketball at the University of Northern Iowa.

STATS: 20.6 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 3 apg, 1.2 bpg, 1 spg, 51.3% FG, 37.5% 3 FG
HONORS: Class 5 Player of the Year, Co-Ozark Conference Player of the Year, Class 5 District 6 Player of the Year

Brayden Shorter, Kickapoo

No team grew more throughout the season than Kickapoo, and Brayden Shorter was one of the big reasons why. The senior stepped up to lead the Chiefs in scoring at 17.4 points per game on his way to Co-Ozark Conference Player of the Year and Class 6 all-state honors. He shot 51% from the field and 43% from three. In a district championship upset of Nixa, Shorter put up a team-high 28 points. In the final four, he led Kickapoo in scoring in both the semifinal and state title game.

STATS: 17.4 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 1.8 spg, 1.9 apg, 51% FG, 43% 3 FG
HONORS: Class 6 All-State, Co-Ozark Conference Player of the Year, All-Class 6 District 5

SECOND FIVE

Aidan Burns, Thayer

STATS: 21.5 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 3.2 apg, 51.7% FG, 31.5% 3FG
HONORS: Class 3 All-State, SCA Player of the Year, Class 3 District 10 Co-Player of the Year

Tom Emerick, Mansfield

STATS: 20 ppg, 8 rpg, 2 apg, 2 spg, 1 bpg, 64% 2FG, 37% 3 FG
HONORS: Class 3 All-State, First-Team All-Summit Conference, Class 3 District 10 Co-Player of the Year

Trae Oetting, Kickapoo

STATS: 15.1 ppg, 2.9 apg, 2.5 rpg, 1.4 spg, 53% FG, 50% 3FG
HONORS: First-Team All-Ozark Conference, All-Class 6 District 5

Curry Sutherland, Rogersville

STATS: 23.8 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 3.1 apg, 1.8 spg; 53.1% FG
HONORS: Class 4 All-State, Big 8 East Player of the Year, Class 4 District 11 Player of the Year

All Wright, Joplin

STATS: 26.5 ppg, 5 rpg, 3 apg, 1.5 spg
HONORS: Class 6 All-State, First-Team All-COC, All-Class 6 District 5

HONORABLE MENTION

Jay Baxter, Stockton

STATS: 21 ppg, 10 rpg, 3 apg, 2 spg, 1 bpg, 60% FG
HONORS: Class 3 All-State, First-Team All-Southwest Conference, Class 3 District 12 Player of the Year

Wil Carlton, Marionville

STATS: 16.1 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 4.1 apg, 1.2 spg, 1.88 assist/turnover, 50.1% FG, 34.3% 3 FG
HONORS: Class 2 All-State, Southwest Conference Player of the Year, Class 2 District 12 Player of the Year

Cole Griesemer, Hillcrest

STATS: 14 ppg, 10 rpg, 3 spg
HONORS: First-Team All-Ozark Conference

Gage Johnson, Weaubleau

STATS: 19 ppg, 3.2 apg, 5.1 rpg, 64.6% FG, 44.3% 3FG (118 made)
HONORS: Class 2 All-State, Polk County League Player of the Year, All-Class 2 District 13

Brady Nicholson, Ash Grove

STATS: 26.6 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 2.5 apg, 44% 3FG, 56% FG
HONORS: Class 2 All-State, First-Team All-Southwest Conference, Class 2 District 13 Player of the Year

Josh Reeves, Golden City

STATS: 26.4 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 4 apg, 2 spg, 45% FG, 37% 3FG (91 made)
HONORS: Class 1 All-State, Ozark 7 Player of the Year, Class 1 District 7 Player of the Year