Gyorko NCAC Player of the Year; Preston High coach also honored

BY JUSTIN JACKSON The Dominion Post

JUSTIN JACKSON is a sports reporter for The Dominion Post. He can be reached at sports@dominionpost.com 
    If you could use one word to describe the relationship between Jedd and Scott Gyorko, it would be competitive.
    Being the older brother, Scott left behind some big shoes to fill as an all-state football and basketball player at University High.
    “He’s always reminding me about the stuff he did or he won,” Jedd said.
    Jedd drew even closer to Scott on Monday, winning the North Central Athletic Conference boys’ basketball Player of the Year, the same honor Scott won as a senior in 2001.
    “Yeah, it kind of evens things up a little,” Jedd said.
    Gyorko, a junior, led the Hawks to a remarkable season, one of the best in school history with an 18-6 record. The Hawks also won the NCAC for the second time in school history (the first one came during Scott’s senior year). UHS also advanced to a regional championship game for the first time since 1999.
    “It’s a great honor,” Gyorko said. “It makes you feel good that the other coaches thought that much about you.”
    It was an unexpected award for Gyorko, especially considering the Hawks were one of the worst teams in the conference his freshman season and, for the most part, Gyorko considers the sport a hobby.
    “Baseball has always been my first love,” Gyorko said. “Football and basketball were always just something to do. Ever since the basketball program has been growing, though, I definitely have been taking it more seriously.”
    Preston High also made an unexpected run this season, finishing with a 16-8 record and advancing to the Region III title game for the second consecutive season after graduating three starters from the 2004-’05 team.
    PHS coach Barry Sanders was awarded the conference’s Coach of the Year as a result.
    Gyorko, a first-team all-NCAC pick last season, averaged 17.4 points per game, second-best in the conference. He also established himself as one of the conference’s best outside shooters.
    His scoring production actually dropped from his sophomore season, but the victories went up.
    “I’ll take it any day,” Gyorko said. “Wins are more important. I remember when we won only two games my freshman season. Winning is a lot more fun than points per game.”
    Gyorko saw two of his teammates make first-team in guard L.C. Jefferson and center Grant Meadows. Jefferson averaged 12.5 points, while Meadows averaged 12.6 points.
    Morgantown High’s Marlan Robinson also was named to the first team and he led the conference in scoring at 21 points, but was involved in a car accident in January and missed half the season. Robinson was joined by teammate Jeff Lindsay on the first team. Lindsay averaged 15.2 points.
    Preston had center Josh Adams on the first team. Adams averaged 13.9 points and seven rebounds for the Knights.
    Preston’s second-teamer was point guard Major Myers, while Morgantown High had forward John Hatfield named to the second team.

Bob Gay/The Dominion Post Jedd Gyorko


Todd Flint/The Dominion Post Barry Sanders


All-NCAC
Player of the Year: Jedd Gyorko, University Coach of the Year: Barry Sanders, Preston
First team L.C. Jefferson, University Grant Meadows, University Marlan Robinson, Morgantown Jeff Lindsay, Morgantown Josh Adams, Preston Adam Leonard, East Fairmont Jordan Lawson, Elkins Jay Carpenter, Fairmont Senior Second team John Hatfield, Morgantown Major Myers, Preston Luke Hyre, Buckhannon-Upshur Devon Russell, North Marion Derek Daniel, North Marion Derek Sevier, East Fairmont Roy Schneider, Elkins Matt Pellillo, Fairmont Senior