Hayesville’s Zach Cottrell.
BOONE – Appalachian State basketball should count its blessings.
The Mountaineers will soon be getting not one, but both of the N.C. Basketball Coaches Association’s district players of the year for Region 12.
Hayesville senior Zach Cottrell and Pisgah senior Brooklyn Allen took home top honors in voting done by Western North Carolina coaches.
“It’s a great honor for Zach and very humbling,” said Cottrell’s father, Michael, who coaches the Yellow Jackets.
“He had a great year and a great career for us. There are a lot of great players in our area and it’s a nice award for him, especially knowing that it comes from the coaches. I respect their vote.”
Michael Cottrell played from 1984 to 1987 for Cullowhee High and still holds the area record for career points in boys basketball (2,503).
Zach Cottrell is a four-time Big Smoky Mountain Conference Player of the Year and 6-foot-5 guard. He set a school scoring record for Hayesville (1,938 points) to go along with more than 900 career rebounds. Zach Cottrell averaged 20.1 points, 13.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.9 steals per game this past season for the Yellow Jackets (23-6).
“It’s been such a really neat journey for us as a team and a father and son,” Michael Cottrell said.
“You never know how coaching your son is going to go. I’ve heard it go both ways, but it was a real fun time for us. We are certainly going to miss him in a lot of ways and I’m really proud of the young man that he has become.”
Pisgah’s Brooklyn Allen.
Allen’s career points total (2,201) is the eighth-most by any player in WNC girls basketball and the highest ever accumulated by a Haywood County player, girls or boys.
The 5-9 guard was this past season’s WNC Athletic Conference Player of the Year. Allen averaged 24.6 points, 9.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 3.0 steals per game for the Black Bears (25-4). She had 10 double-doubles.
“It speaks volumes about what she has accomplished as a player and a person to win (the district player of the year) award,” Pisgah coach Brandon Holloway said.
“Every coach we play compliments her on her attitude and her class in dealing with other teams and other coaches. Brooklyn and the rest of our seniors have really done an outstanding job in mentoring the younger kids and I think they’re ready to pass the torch on. Sure, we’re going to miss her, but she’ll still be felt in the future by the leadership that she provided.”
District coaches of the year were Avery County’s Scott Postell for the boys, while the girls award was shared by Erwin’s Terry Gossett and Hiwassee Dam’s Ray Gutierrez.
The N.C. Basketball Coaches Association has announced its all-district teams for Western North Carolina (Region 12):
BOYS
First Team
Zach Cottrell, Hayesville
Damon Scott, Asheville
Austin Nelson, North Henderson
Jayce Wolfe, Smoky Mountain
Brennan Hockaday, North BuncombeSecond team
Jacob Waldroop, Avery County
Jamal Wheeler, Polk County
Jason McMillan, Cherokee
Damon Ledford, Smoky Mountain
Jeffrey Puckett, Avery CountyThird team
Brennan Howard, North Buncombe
Drew Williams, North Henderson
Tye Mintz, Cherokee
C.J. Thompson, Erwin
Justus Day, CherokeeCoach of the Year: Scott Polsgrove (Avery County).
Player of the Year: Zach Cottrell (Hayesville).
GIRLS
First team
Brooklyn Allen, Pisgah
Dalton Gossett, Erwin
Samantha Olson, Enka
Hayley Kropp, Polk County
Haylie Shope, Hiwassee DamSecond team
Ciera Chandler, Mountain Heritage
Kendra Griffin, Erwin
Aaliyah McCollum, Smoky Mountain
Pooh King, Cherokee
Tory Agrusa, FranklinThird team
Chesney Gardner, Owen
Zoey Jacobsen, Hiwassee Dam
Shelby Glance, Tuscola
Kinsley Orr, Robbinsville
Erin Maennle, RobbinsvilleCo-Coaches of the Year: Terry Gossett (Erwin) and Ray Gutierrez (Hiwassee Dam).
Player of the Year: Brooklyn Allen (Pisgah).
Follow the HS Huddle on Facebook at www.facebook.com/hshuddle, Twitter at www.twitter.com/acthshuddle or Instagram at www.instagram.com/high_school_huddle