BIG DOGS OF THE YEAR ANNOUNCED

With over 410,000 votes during the final poll, the first-ever Baird Brothers/YSN Big Dogs of the Valley Players of the Year were awarded during intermission of the YSN All-Star Game last night.  The award was based on three separate pieces of data which were weighted and scored.

For the girls, Beaver Local’s Jenna Riccardo will wear the crown for 2019.  Riccardo won the Week 1 vote for BDOV, and was nominated 11 out of the 12 weeks the contest was held.  In only her junior season, Jenna became the all-time leading scorer for the Beavers.  She also averaged a double-double this year with 23 points, and 13.3 rebounds per game alongside her 2.6 steals and nearly two blocks to boot.  She also was recognized for being the Columbiana County player of the year, and most recently was named third-team All-Ohio.

PHOTO CREDIT: JILL RICCARDO

Taking home the award for the guys is Lisbon Senior, Justin Sweeney.  A young man who’s battled through many obstacles just to be on the court this season.  However, when he stepped back on the floor, he owned it.  After returning to the court less than 3 months after reconstructive knee surgery, Justin came back to average 21 points per game with 8 rebounds in 2019 while becoming Lisbon’s All-Time Leading Scorer.  Sweeney took home the Week 4 honors for BDOV, and had nominations in each week thereafter.  Earlier this week, Justin was named to the Division IV All-Ohio team.

PHOTO CREDIT: JKB PHOTO

Congratulations to both Jenna and Justin from all of us at YSN, and on behalf of Baird Brothers.  An extraordinary season for both players, and well-deserved accomplishments this season from many outlets.