Messenger file photo by Chris McCarthy
A local player and coach were recently recognized for their achievements for the 2023-24 high school basketball season.
Gaston’s Mica Merriman (pictured above) was one of 15 rising seniors across the state named to the north roster for the AHSAA North-South All-Star boys’ basketball game, while Southside’s Justin Bowen was selected as head coach for the girls’ squad.
A 6’4 point guard, Merriman averaged 19.3 points, 6.3 assists, 5.5 rebounds and 2.6 steals a game as the Bulldogs went 24-7 and earned the program’s first appearance in the Northeast Regional Tournament finals since 2005.
Bowen guided the Lady Panthers to a 26-5 record, the county and area tournament championships and a second straight berth in the Northeast Regional Tournament championship game.
The games will be held in July in Montgomery as part of all-star week along with all-star games in baseball, softball, volleyball, boys’ and girls’ soccer, cross country, tennis and golf.