Best in D-IV

FORT RECOVERY - Brian Patch said he felt Greg Kahlig's performance in the regional championship game proved him to be the best player in Division IV. His fellow coaches agreed.

The Fort Recovery High School senior topped off his long list of basketball honors Wednesday when the Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association voted him as Ohio's Division IV Player of the Year.

Also Wednesday, Kahlig was named to the Division IV All-Ohio first team by The Associated Press.

"It's a real honor," Kahlig said. "It's something special, and it's something I've worked for all year ... something that I am going to remember always."

Kahlig, who will play at the University of Findlay next season, was the Indians' leader in all aspects this year.

The senior was one of the state leaders in scoring with 25.2 points per game. No one else on The AP's Division IV All-Ohio first team averaged more than 18.4 points per game.

The senior was also among the state leaders at 11 rebounds per contest, and led the Indians in assists (114), blocks (47) and steals (37). He hit 45 3-pointers while shooting 48 percent from the field and 80 percent at the foul line.

"Greg does so many things on the court," said Patch, who is in his seventh year coaching FRHS. "He's done every thing that a coach and a program and a team can ask. He's getting 25 points a game, five assists and 11 rebounds a game and everyone is guarding him with two or three guys.

"Every defense is made to stop him. ... I think that shows the respect ... when they're willing to put two guys on him and let someone else be unguarded.

"Any award as a player you're able to get is truly and honor. He's deserving of every one of them. I'm glad as a coach that he ... received this from the coaches."

The Division IV Player of the Year Award tops the litany of honors Kahlig has earned in his career.

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He was voted the Midwest Athletic Conference Player of the Year this year for the second straight season. And he was an All-MAC first-team selection as a sophomore, junior and senior.

Kahlig won the Northwest District Division IV Player of the Year award this season as well, and was a first-team selection in the district last year. And he earned third-team All-Ohio honors as a junior.

He is also one of the most prolific scorers in the history of the MAC, having finished his career with 1,727 points. That total places him second all-time in the league, just 17 points behind 2004 Versailles graduate Kyle Gehle.

Kahlig shattered Fort Recovery's previous school record of 1,418 points, set by Ken Heiby in 1969, and is the only player in school history to reach the 1,000-point mark as a junior.

The senior credited his father, Luke, for putting in extra time with him shooting in the gym, and Patch for pushing him throughout his career.

"I think it's a combination of working hard and having the right people behind me," said Kahlig. I think ... I've become a better player every year. I really worked on my ball handling since my freshman year. And I think getting in the weight room and getting stronger has really helped. I also think I've become a lot better shooter over the years."

The efforts were rewarded this season as Kahlig and his teammates turned in one of the best seasons in school history.

Fort Recovery won 16 of its first 17 games and was ranked as high as fifth in the Division IV poll by The AP. And the school won just its third MAC championship.

The Indians advanced to the regional tournament for just the fifth time in school history, joining the 1951, '69, '71 and '99 teams, and finished with a 21-4 record.

"It was memorable," said Kahlig. "It's something us seniors will never forget. Being one of only five teams to go to the regional finals in our history is something special."

Kahlig turned in one of the most memorable performances in school history in the Tribe's regional championship game against Jefferson Township. With his team trailing 32-16 early in the second half, he proceeded to scored 24 points while dishing out three assists over the course of the next 12 minutes.

He lifted Fort Recovery to a two-point lead before fouling out as his team fell by four in overtime, and he finished the game with 27 points, eight rebounds and six assists.

Jefferson Township's Adriean Payne, a 6-foot-10-inch center who will play at Michigan State next year and was voted Division IV Player of the Year by The AP, had nine points and six rebounds in the regional title game. He averaged 15.9 points per game this year.

"He was our catalyst in every aspect," said Patch of Kahlig. "I think that game really showed people something, because they know we played against good, strong physical athletes in the MAC, but a lot of people haven't seen him play against that kind of an athlete before and see him do what he could do. ...

"They had small quick kids. They had big quick kids. They had everything ... and they just couldn't guard him."

Kahlig will have a couple more chances to show off his skills on the high school court before heading to Findlay, which won the NCAA Division II national championship in 2009.

He will play in the Ohio Division IV All-Star Game at Capital University in Columbus April 18 at 3 p.m. And on April 24 he will take part in the Northeast Indiana/Northwest Ohio All-Star Game at the University of St. Francis in Fort Wayne at 7:15 p.m.[[In-content Ad]]