BELOIT — Beloit Memorial sophomore guard Amare Hereford has been named to the 2024 All-Southern Lakes Conference boys basketball First Team.
Hereford was the catalyst for a dramatic turnaround by the Purple Knights in Todd Marks’ second season as head coach. They went from 6-19 overall and 4-16 in their final season in the Big Eight Conference to 21-6 in the SLC (the most overall wins in the league) and 10-4 for third in the standings. They won a WIAA Division 1 regional championship, beating Madison Memorial 53-50 at the Barkin Arena, before falling to state qualifier Kettle Moraine 71-64 in the sectional semifinal in Janesville.
Hereford was outstanding on both ends of the floor. He led the SLC in scoring with a 25.1-point per game average and was third in assists at 4.0. In addition to being a prolific scorer, he was efficient as well. He shot 65 percent from the field (256-394), including 44.7 on 3-pointers (42-94). He converted 78 percent of his free throws (98-125).
The 6-foot-1 Hereford also pulled down 5.2 rebounds per game and had 3.2 steals.
About the only thing he didn’t do was win Player of the Year in the conference. That went to senior Connor Roffers of league champion Burlington, who averaged 16.4 points per game. They were joined on the First Team by Waterford sophomore Caden Gustafson, Westosha Central junior Elijah Griffin and Elkhorn senior Payton Moore.
Beloit’s 6-5 senior post player Jyrell Cousins earned a spot on the Second Team and senior guard Diego Perez earned Honorable Mention.
Cousins was a consistent force inside for the Purple Knights, leading the league in rebounding at 10.3 per game. He averaged a double-double with a 13.4-point scoring average. Cousins converted 52.2 percent of his shots from the field (151-289) and 62.8 percent of his free throws (54-86). He had a whopping 269 rebounds and blocked 21 shots.
Perez averaged 9.5 points and 3.5 rebounds. He shot 51.9 percent from the field and 65.1 on free throws. He also played a physical brand of defense.
The entire All-SLC team follows:
FIRST TEAM: Amare Hereford, Beloit Memorial, so.; Caden Gustafson, Waterford, so.; Connor Roffers, Burlington, sr.; Elijah Griffin, Westosha Central, jr.; Payton Moore, Elkhorn, sr.
SECOND TEAM: Liam Lubkeman, Westosha Central, jr.; Jamison Beesley, Waterford, jr.; Karsen Skiles, Burlington, sr.; Brock Walser, Badger, so.; Jyrell Cousins, Beloit Memorial, sr.
HONORABLE MENTION: Alec Welch, Badger, jr.; Diego Perez, Beloit Memorial, sr.; Tommy Teberg, Burlington, sr.; Carter Georgalas, Elkhorn, jr.; Owen Paddock, Elkhorn, jr.; Griffin Schultz, Union Grove, so.; Adam Chart, Waterford, sr.; Josh Storm, Waterford, sr.; Quinn Burns, Westosha Central, sr.; Kade Frisby, Wilmot, sr.
SLC STANDINGS: Burlington 12-2 (20-6); Westosha Central 11-3 (17-8); Beloit Memorial 10-4 (21-6); Waterford 10-4 (15-10); Elkhorn 6-8 (13-13); Badger 3-11 (8-17); Union Grove 3-11 (8-19); Wilmot 1-13 (7-19).
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