Liberty's run is rewarded: Hilliard gets first-team all-state; Landis is named co-coach of the year

FROM KEITH GROLLER

The deeper you go in the state tournament, the more attention you get.

By winning three PIAA tournament games and reaching the state semifinals for the first time in school history, the Liberty boys basketball got people across the state to take notice.

And, on Wednesday, the Hurricanes were rewarded for playing into the season's final week when star player Darrun Hilliard was named first-team all-state at the 4A level and coach Chad Landis was named co-coach of the year in 4A along with North Allegheny's Dave DeGregorio.

Hilliard, a 6-foot-5 junior point guard, was named The Morning Call's player of the year just last week after averaging 18 points and six rebounds per game while shooting 52 percent from the field and 78 percent at the line.

He was instrumental in Liberty's seven-game win streak in districts and the state tournament as the team regrouped from a disappointing league semifinal loss to Nazareth to win its second district gold in three years and beat Penncrest, York and Hempfield in the state tournament before losing to Penn Wood in the 4A semis.

Landis just completed his second season at Liberty after succeeding his mentor and friend, the late Todd Rothrock.

Landis did a masterful job of holding the team together as it went through some difficult times late in the season, and then regrouped thanks in large part to the return of starter Anthony Gonzalez to the lineup.

Liberty finished 25-6 and Landis is now 43-16 in two seasons with a league and district titles on his resume.

In addition to Hilliard, Pocono Mountain East senior Kyheim Hall was a third-team selection in 4A.

In 3A, Pottsville junior Nick Schlitzer was a third-team choice after helping the Crimson Tide win the District 11 title.

In 2A, Notre Dame-Green Pond's Joey Giangiobbe was a third-team choice after helping the Crusaders win their third district gold in four years.

In 1A, Marian Catholic's Matt Yaich, another senior, was selected to the first team after the Colts won their first district championship since 1999.

Here's the complete all-state list:

CLASS AAAA

First team

C.J. Aiken, Plymouth-Whitemarsh, 6-10, Sr., 16.

Jaylen Bond, Plymouth-Whitemarsh, 6-7, Jr., 16.5

Rakeem “Rahk” Brookins, Roman Catholic, 5-11, Sr., 19.0

Aaron Brown, Penn Wood, 6-5, Jr., 18.7

Tyrone Garland, Bartram, 6-1, Sr., 23.7

Darrun Hilliard, Bethlehem Liberty, 6-5, Jr. 18.0



Second Team

Ryan Arcidiacono, Neshaminy, 6-3, So., 18.0

Taran Buie, State College, 6-2, Sr., 20.5

Trenity Burdine, Reading, 6-5, Sr., 18.0

Courtney Harden-Pullium, Strong Vincent, 6-3, Sr., 20.5

Tyree Johnson, Penn Wood, 5-9, Sr., 10.9

Evan Pierce, Mount Lebanon, 6-2, Sr., 15.0

Mike Terry, Philadelphia North Catholic, 6-1, Sr., 17.3



Third Team

Kyheim Hall, Pocono Mountain East, 6-3, Sr., 19.5

Troy Hockaday, La Salle College, 6-2, Sr., 13.9

Joe Nardi, St. Joseph’s Prep, 6-2, Sr., 14.4

Nate Perry, Hempfield (Dist. 7), 6-3, Sr., 23.1

A.J. Picard, Souderton, 6-1, Sr., 19.0

Terry Turner, Scranton, 6-5, So., 20.1

Christian Walck, Hempfield (Dist. 3), 6-2, Sr., 17.1



Player of the year: C.J. Aiken, Plymouth-Whitemarsh

Coaches of the year: Dave DeGregorio, North Allegheny and Chad

Landis, Bethlehem Liberty



CLASS AAA

First Team

Tony Chennault, Neumann-Goretti, 6-3, Sr., 19.1

Tyreek Duren, Neumann-Goretti, 6-2, Sr., 14.1

Juan’ya Green, Archbishop Carroll, 6-3, Jr., 16.2

Bill Luther, Hampton, 6-8, Sr., 19.0

T.J. McConnell, Chartiers Valley, 6-0, Sr., 34.3

Austin Tillotson, Eastern York, 6-0, Jr., 19.5



Second Team

Peter Alexis, Holy Redeemer, 6-11, Jr., 21.1

D.J. Irving, Archbishop Carroll, 5-11, Sr., 12.8

Andrew “Red” Nicholas, Eastern York, 6-6, Jr., 20.8

Andrew Rickard, Girard, 6-3, Sr., 22.1

Danny Stewart, Neumann-Goretti, 6-6, Sr., 14.0

Wendell Torres, Erie East, 6-6, Sr., 20.3

Jerrell Wright, Dobbins Tech, 6-7, Jr., 21.8



Third Team

Mike Byrne, Holy Ghost Prep, 6-0, Sr., 14.5

Scott Eatherton, Hershey, 6-9, Sr., 18.6

Joe Getz, Archbishop Wood, 5-11, Jr., 16.3

C.J. Hester, West Mifflin, 6-4, Jr., 23.0

Ryan Hill, Steelton-Highspire, 6-4, Sr., 16.3

Ike Robinson, Conwell-Egan, 6-2, Sr., 19.1

Nick Schlitzer, Pottsville, 6-4, Jr., 20.5



Player of the year: T.J. McConnell, Chartiers Valley

Coach of the year: Tim McConnell, Chartiers Valley



CLASS AA

First Team

Cameron Ayers, Germantown Academy, 6-4, Sr., 22.8

Josh Chojnacki, Mercyhurst Prep, 6-9, Sr., 21.6

Devin Coleman, Friends Central, 6-2, Jr., 14.5

Brian Gerney, Hughesville, 6-2, Sr., 17.5

Amile Jefferson, Friends Central, 6-7, So., 15.2

Devonte “D.J.” Newbill, Strawberry Mansion, 6-4, Sr., 24.2


Second Team

Jon Angstadt, Holy Name, 6-2, Jr., 23.8

David Appolon, Imhotep Charter, 6-4, Jr., 11.6

Jeff Hughes, Devon Prep, 5-9, Sr., 20.3

Eric Kindler, Trinity, 6-5, Sr., 20.2

Mike Lamberti, South Fayette, 6-5, Jr., 15.6

Jesse Long, Pittsburgh North Catholic, 6-0, Sr., 18.8

Aquil Younger, West Catholic, 5-11, Jr., 18.3



Third Team

Jerome Barnes, Shady Side Academy , 6-2, Sr. , 19.6

E.J. Blackwell, Rochester, 6-3, Jr., 19.0

Joey Giangiobbe, Notre Dame-Green Pond, 6-4, Sr. 14.3

Kevin Montminy, Penns Valley, 6-3, Jr., 20.2

Brett Podhyski, Holy Cross, 6-2, Sr., 12.5

Ian Vescovi, Cambria Heights, 6-8, Sr., 17.0

Patrick Zedreck, South Fayette, 6-0, Jr., 13.3



Player of the year: Devonte “D.J.” Newbill, Strawberry Mansion

Coach of the year: Rich Bonnaure, South Fayette



CLASS A

First Team

Rakeem Christmas, Academy of the New Church, 6-10, Jr. 14.0

Marcus Dawkins, Reading Central Catholic, 6-3, Jr., 17.1

Tom Droney, Sewickley Academy, 6-6, Sr., 24.0

John Johnson, Girard College, 6-1, Jr., 22.2

Savon Lloyd-Goodman, Academy of the New Church, 6-5, So., 18.0

Chaquille Pratt, Lincoln Park, 6-3, Jr., 27.4



Second Team

Torrell Candelaria, Girard College, 6-1, Sr., 18.3

Dylan Gravatt, Rocky Grove, 6-4, Jr., 24.7

Jay Harris, Paul Robeson, 5-10, Sr., 21.2

Rob Heatherington, Serra Catholic, 6-0, Sr., 23.4

Devontae Watson, Lincoln Park, 6-9, So., 12.5

Maurice Watson, Boys Latin, 5-9, So., 23.5

Randy Zimmerman, Tussey Mountain, 6-0, Sr., 24.2



Third Team

Allan Eaton, Allegheny-Clarion Valley, 6-6, Jr., 19.9

Donovon Jack, Reading Central Catholic, 6-7, So., 13.8

Wes Lyons, Millville, 6-5, Jr., 20.1

Chris Marshall, DuBois Central Catholic, 6-2, Jr., 19.0

Luke Mellott, Southern Fulton, 6-4, Sr., 17.1

Bobby Nittinger, Neshannock, 6-4, Sr., 19.0

Matt Yaich, Marian Catholic, 6-4, Sr., 14.5

Player of the year: Tom Droney, Sewickley Academy

Coach of the year: Win Palmer, Sewickley Academy

FROM KEITH GROLLER