The Minnewaska Area boys basketball team announced its season-ending awards recently.  An awards banquet had been set for earlier this spring, but a snowstorm postponed the banquet until later.

The Lakers went 2-25 overall under first-year head coach Zach Traphagen.  Minnewaska picked up both of its wins against Benson before losing in the opening round of the Section 3AA Tourney to Montevideo, 56-49.

Senior Dylan Alexander earned the Most Valuable Player award for the 2023-24 season.  He averaged about 4.5 points and 5.2 rebounds per game while also leading the Lakers with 77 assists and 42 steals.

Alexander also earned the Defensive Player of the Year award, while senior Alex Panitzke won the Offensive Player of the Year honor.  Panitzke averaged 8.8 points and 3 rebounds per game and also had 61 assists and 37 steals.

In addition, Owen Meulebroeck earned the Most Improved Award this winter, while Carter Meyer won the Best Teammate honor and Alexander was also named for the Hardest Worker Award.

•  Earning All-Conference honors this year for the Lakers was Dylan Alexander, while Alex Panitzke earned recognition on the honorable mention team.

• Named to the All-Conference Academic team for 2023-24 were — Carter Meyer, Alex Panitzke, Ryland Martin, Jack Majerus, Levi Johnson, Ian Mills, Zach Palmer, Tenzin Dahl, Kaiden Harvey, Owen Meulebroeck and Marc Gruber.

WCA had four players named to the All-WCC team, while Sauk Centre, Morris Area and Montevideo each had three, Melrose had two and BOLD and Minnewaska Area both had one.

•  Seniors who will be lost to graduation from this year’s team are seniors Austin Ballhagen, Alex Panitzke, Ryland Martin, Dylan Alexander and Jack Majerus.

West Central Area won this year’s WCC title with a 12-2 record, followed by Sauk Centre and Montevideo (both 10-4), Morris Area-CA (9-5), Melrose Area (8-6), BOLD (5-9), Minnewaska Area (2-12) and Benson (0-14).

•  Varsity letterwinners for this year’s season included seniors Dylan Alexander, Alex Panitzke, Jack Majerus, Ryland Martin and Austin Ballhagen; juniors Tenzin Dahl, Connor Frey, Levi Johnson, Zach Palmer, Owen Meulebroeck, Carter Meyer, Kaiden Harvey, Jacob Mrnak, Zach Gugisberg, Ian Mills and Chase Wacker; and sophomores Marc Gruber, Luke Danielson and Tristan O’Neil.

Check out more photos in our photo gallery!