Dennis Gagai is the last man standing.

Again.

The only returning starter from the Ironton Fighting Tigers state runner-up team was the last man standing among the elite of the Southeastern district after being named the Division III Player of the Year.

Gagai was among a large group of local players who earned a spot on the Associated Press Southeast All-District basketball team announced Monday.

The 6-foot-3 senior averaged 21 points a game despite facing double and triple teams all season. He also averaged 5.1 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.3 steals while shooting 46 percent from the field and 76 percent from the foul line against one of the most difficult schedules in the state.

Finishing just behind Gagai in the voting was Chesapeake’s 6-2 senior guard P.J. Rase. Like Gagai a four-year starter, Rase averaged 17 points a game, 3.5 rebounds, 5.0 assists while shooting 53 percent from the field and an amazing 93 percent from the line.

Ironton first-year coach Mark LaFon, who guided the Fighting Tigers to a 15-5 record with just one starter back and the grueling schedule, shared Coach of the Year honors with Lou Postage of Adena (17-3) and Blaine Gabriel of Alexander (17-3).

Chesapeake led the team selections as 6-3 senior forward Justin Porter was a second team pick, 6-6 senior Brent Ransbottom a third team choice and 6-4 senior Jeffrey Thornburg voted honorable mention.

Porter averaged 14 points and 6 rebounds, Ransbottom 10 points and 6 rebounds and Thornburg 10 points and 4.5 rebounds.

Ironton 6-1 senior forward Brandon Walker was a second team selection as he averaged 10.6 points and 5.8 rebounds.

South Point’s 6-5 senior center Jeremiah Taylor was a second team pick. Taylor averaged 16.6 points, 10.4 rebounds and shot 66 percent from the field. He also blocked 3.3 shots a game.

Selected to the third team was Fairland 5-8 senior guard Josh Johnson who averaged 10.1 points and 4.2 assists.

On the honorable mention list besides Thornburg was South Point’s 6-2 senior forward J.T. Terry with 12.1 points and 4.7 rebounds a game along with teammate Chase McWhorter, a 6-4 junior who averaged 9.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.1 assists.

Randy Wise, Coal Grove’s 5-7 senior point guard, was honorable mention as he averaged 11. points 4.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists. The hard-nosed defender led the area with 14 charges taken.

Fairland’s 5-11 senior Adam Fuller, 9.3 points and 3.7 rebounds, and 5-11 freshman Cole Hatfield, 9.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.2 assists, were also voted to the honorable mention list.

In Division II, Rock Hill’s 6-foot senior guard K.C. Christian was a second team selection. Christian averaged 14 points, 4.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists.

Nathan Davenport, a 6-3 sophomore with 10 points and 7.0 boards, was honorable mention.

Seven local players were named to the Division IV team.

Ironton St. Joseph had two players as 5-11 junior guard Cory Lewis and 6-3 senior Alex Swarts were honored.

Lewis was a third team choice as he averaged 12.7 points, 2.2 assists and shot 81 percent from the foul line and 42 percent from 3-point range. Swarts was honorable mention with an 11.2 scoring average, 7.1 rebounds and 52 percent shooting from the field.

Symmes Valley also had a pair of honorees as 6-6 junior Michael Humphreys was a third team pick and 6-2 junior Kyle Meadows honorable mention.

Humphreys scored at a 14.3 clip with 5.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists. Meadows averaged 13.9 points and 10.3 rebounds.

Green had three players honor with 5-9 senior guard Derek Lewis named to the second team, 6-3 senior Brian Ramey a third team pick and 6-2 senior John Bowen honorable mention.

Lewis had a 16.0 scoring average to go with 4.0 rebounds, 7.5 assists and 7 percent foul shooting.

Ramey averaged 16.0 points and 10 rebounds. Bowen averaged 6.2 points and 6.8 rebounds.