Coaches always stress the importance of academics to their players. Some local teams listened to the advice.

The Ohio High School Basketball Coaches honor the top five teams and top individuals with All-Academic All-Ohio selections.

The Fairland Dragons had the best team grade point average as Nathan Speed’s squad posted a cumulative 3.838 total. Not far behind in the fifth spot were the Coal Grove Hornets as coach Jay Lucas’ team had a 3.768 GPA.

Several players for the Hornets received individual honors. T.J. Barrett, Colten Bryant, Jordan Beals and Jacob Pauley all received Gold Certificate awards while Silver Certificate honors were given to Trevor Barrett, Paul Brisson, Brandon Mowel, Justin Mullens and Bryan Steele.

“These young men have dedicated themselves in the classroom and are true student-athletes,” said coach Lucas. “They have worked very hard and are deserving of this great honor.”

On the girls’ side, the Chesapeake Lady Panthers, under coach Chris Ball, registered a 3.904 GPA and were fifth.

The teams were also honored by the Ohio National Guard for their GPA awards from the coaches association.

Individual All-Academic All-Ohio went to Green’s Cody Bruce who was honored in Division IV with a 3.76 GPA and he averaged 16.4 points a game for coach Bobby Blanton.

The basketball coaches also award scholarships to individual players in their respective district.

The District 13 coaches announced their OHSBCA Scholarships to Trey Wilds of Rock Hill and Taylor Hale of Oak Hill.