Arcata duo, South Fork standout named MVPs for the boys

By barstoolfanatics on March 7, 2023 • ( Leave a comment )

Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – John Harding

By Ray Hamill — A pair of seniors and a sophomore have been honored as MVPs in H-DN boys basketball after the league announced its annual all-league selections on Tuesday.

As expected, Arcata senior Brandon Bento-Jackson was named co-MVP of the Big 5, along with sophomore teammate Luke Moxon, after the talented duo led the Tigers to a second straight league championship.

In the Little 4, meanwhile, versatile South Fork senior John Harding has been named MVP after a stellar season in leading the Cubs to a second straight league title.

Bento-Jackson was named Big 5 co-MVP for the second straight year, while Moxon’s rapid improvement from a year ago did not go unnoticed.

Both players brought something different to the Arcata lineup, as a young team quickly evolved into championship contenders.

“Brandon, I would put him up against any point guard in the county, as far as what he does and his ability to control the game,” Arcata head coach Kellen Maynard said. “He was a big reason why we won league this year.”

Moxon was equally instrumental in the Tigers’ success, and after impressing as a freshman he really made a substantial jump this past winter.

“He was a knock-down shooter when he was left open and he also had the ability to drive to the basket and finish,” Maynard said.

The Arcata head coach was very impressed with the jump the sophomore made from his freshman season.

“From his freshman year to this year, I didn’t know what I was going to get,” Maynard admitted. “It really is a testament to him and his hard work to go from where he was to where he is now. He has the ability to finish at the basket and rebound and run the break.”

The sensational sophomore averaged close to a double double this season, scoring 17 points a game and coming close to 10 boards.

Moxon also took full advantage of the opportunity he was afforded this season.

Luke Moxon

“As a sophomore, you can’t but be impressed, and he’s just a great kid,” Maynard said. “He never flinched. He stepped right up and grabbed the opportunity by the horns.”

Harding, meanwhile, has been one of the best all-around Little 4 athletes for the past few years and the multi-sport standout really stepped up on the basketball court this winter.

“It’s going to be impossible to replace John,” South Fork head coach Taylor Morrow said. “He was the motor for everything we did this year.”

Among other things, he was one of the best shutdown defensive players in the area.

“On defense, he either guarded the best player or was the defender at the point of attack,” Morrow said. “On offense, he made the rest of the team better. His ability to get to the free throw line and make the right pass was critical to our success.”

Brandon Bento-Jackson

Harding was, in fact, one of the best all-around players in the entire H-DN and averaged 10.2 points, 6.2 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 4 steals a game in league play.

“I would be surprised if anyone else in the H-DN had that type of production on both ends,” Morrow added. “He is one of the best players I have ever coached and I will miss him.”

The three MVPs weren’t the only players recognized on the all-league teams.

In addition to Bento-Jackson and Moxon, Arcata’s Kalani Butor was also named to the all-league team after developing into a key piece of the championship team for the Tigers, especially as the season progressed.

McKinlevyville sharpshooter Cody Whitmer also was named to the all-league team after playing such a crucial role in leading the Panthers to the Dick Niclai Tournament title, as was fellow senior Jack Clancy, who also was instrumental in the team’s success.

Cody Whitmer

For Fortuna, juniors Alfonso Medina and Russell Pascascio were also named all-league after playing key roles for their team this winter, and both should only continue to improve ahead of their senior campaigns.

Eureka’s Hans Chalmers also was honored on the all-league team after his outstanding senior season, as was Del Norte senior Ethan Thomas, who was a consistent bright spot for the Warriors.

In the Little 4, Harding’s South Fork teammates Tommy Rotbergs and Jesus Duron both were named all-league after helping the Cubs win a second straight league title, as were St. Bernard’s Aaiden Burris and Seth Dyer, who both played key roles for the Crusaders all year.

Rounding out the list of all-league selections, Ferndale senior Jack Westfall and Kannon Christiansen each were outstanding all winter for the Wildcats, while Hoopa’s Brendan Baldy was also a consistent bright spot for the Hoopa Warriors.

According to one Big 5 coach, Eureka’s Caden Vance and Del Norte’s Nani Scott each would also have likely received all-league recognition had they not missed the entire season because of injury.