Kabela, Cornwell Named to RVC Elite Team After Leading West Branch to South Division Title
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West Branch concluded one of the best seasons in program history with a 18-6 record, a River Valley Conference South Division title and a trip to the Class 2A Substate final.
A couple of the players turning in two of the best individual seasons in West Branch history had a lot to do with that success.
Cooper Kabela and Beau Cornwell each turned in career-best seasons and were recognized for those efforts with spots on the River Valley Conference Elite team released as a part of the conference's postsason awards on Thursday.
Kabela was named to the 10-member Elite Team made up of the top players from the North and South Divisions for the second straight season after leading the RVC and ranking second in 2A with 23.8 points per game.
The 6-foot-5 senior shot 57 percent from the field, including 57 percent from 3-point range, and 73 percent from the free throw line while leading the Bears in free throw attempts (150) and made free throws (109).
Kabela added 7.9 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game.
Cornwell earned elite team honors for the first time as a sophomore after being named to the RVC South Division team last season.
The 6-foot point guard ranked third in the RVC in scoring, averaging a career-high 19.2 points per game.
Cornwell led West Branch in assists (4) and steals (3.3) and ranked third on the team with 5.2 rebounds per game.
Junior Ben Thompson was named to the South Division team after averaging 9 points and 2.7 assists per game for West Branch.
West Branch coach Tom Burger was named South Division coach of the year after directing the Bears to their first RVC divisional title.
Regina had three players on the South Division squad after finishing runner-up to West Branch in the South Division standings.
Juniors Jake Phillips and Jocoa Kerschen and freshman Even Brauns all named to the South Division team.
Kerschen led Regina in scoring with 12.6 points per game and added 4.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists.
Brauns averaged 10.4 points and a team-best 6.6 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game in his first season of high school basketball.
Phillips averaged 8.5 points and led Regina in assists (3.1) and steals (2.7).
River Valley Conference All-Conference Teams
Elite Team
Dakota Soenksen, Sr., Camanche; Dylan Hundley, Sr., Camanche; Cooper Kabela, Sr., West Branch; Beau Cornwell, Soph., West Branch; Logan Hoffman, Jr., Tipton; Gannon O’Brien, Jr., Cascade; Johnny Supple, Jr., Cascade; Cade Daugherty, Jr., Bellevue; Zach Parson, Sr., Northeast; Luke Empen, Jr., Northeast
North Division Team
Kyle Dell, Sr., Northeast; Axel Dondiego, Sr., Northeast; Harris Hoffman, Soph., Cascade; Brock Simon, Jr., Cascade; Dilan Simon, Sr., Cascade; Dev Patel, Jr., Camanche; Cam Soenksen, Fr., Camanche; Jacob Manternach, Jr., Monticello; Alex Nealson, Jr., Monticello; Carter Johnson, Sr., North Cedar.
Coach of the year – Jacob Brindle, Cascade.
South Division Team
Noah Feldman, Sr., West Liberty; Andrew Stewart, Soph., Tipton; Caleb Statler, Sr., Mid-Prairie; Luke Whitlock, Sr., Durant; Jocoa Kerschen, Jr., Regina; Even Brauns, Fr., Regina; Ben Thompson, Jr., West Branch; Jake Phillips, Jr., Regina; Derek Rich, Sr., Mid-Prairie; Seth Feldman, Soph., West Liberty.
Coach of the year – Tom Burger, West Branch.
Honorable mention
Mason Minar, Jr., North Cedar; Tyson Sullivan, Sr., Northeast; Derek Koppes, Jr., Cascade; Trey Daugherty, Soph., Bellevue; David Gonzalez, Sr., Camanche; Kyle Sperfslage, Jr., Monticello; Ryne Schooley, Jr., Regina; Tanner Lukavsky, Fr., West Branch; Kaleb Timmsen, Sr., Wilton; Jake Conley, Sr., Durant; Carter Reinier, Sr., Mid-Prairie; Daulton Mente, Sr., Tipton; Spencer Daufeldt, Soph., West Liberty.