Tucci named Division III coach of the year

Area athletes were among those who earned All-Ohio honors when the teams were announced last week by the Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association.

Leading the list of awards was Malvern in Division III.

Coach Dennis Tucci was named the coach of the year and J’Allen Barrino, who was named as a finalist for the Ohio Mr. Basketball award, was named to the first team. The 6-2 senior averaged 18.6 points per game (PPG). 

Teammate Mitchell Minor, a 6-5 senior who averaged 11.2 PPG, earned special mention.  Sandy Valley senior Dantaw Faiello, who averaged 18.3 PPG, was also special mention. 

Malvern’s Rodney Smith and Sandy Valley’s Nick Petro both earned honorable mention awards. 

Two Carrollton girls earned All-Ohio honors in Division II.

Hillari Baker, a 5-6 senior, who averaged 15 PPG, received special mention honors. Kylie Ujcich, a 5-8 junior, received honorable mention honors. 

Carrollton’s Lincoln Mallarnee was a special mention award winner in Division II boys. The 6-1 senior averaged 19.5 PPG. 

Minerva senior Garrett Gonzalez, a 6-6 senior, earned honorable mention status.