We are down to the final four! Below are the finalists for 2018 O-Zone Boys Athlete of the Year. We’ll announce the winners for all sports on the O-Zone Show, Sun. May 27 on KY3.
Dillon Lancaster, Carthage
The Carthage senior earned Class 5 First-Team All-State Defensive Back, Region Defensive Player of the Year and First-Team All-COC Large Defensive back in football. He finished fifth at the Class 3 state wrestling meet in the 182-pound division. In the spring, Lancaster enters the Class 5 state meet with the area’s fastest 110-meter hurdle time and number 13 javelin.
Josh Pritchett, Rolla
The Rolla senior was named Ozark Conference Offensive Player of the Year, Class 4 Second-Team All-State Quarterback and Class 4 First-Team All-Region with his 3,174 passing yards, 24 touchdowns and 1,735 rushing yards and 26 touchdowns. In the winter, he led the Bulldogs with 20.5 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 4 apg and 2.1 spg to earn Class 4 All-State and First-Team All-Ozark Conference honors. Pritchett is signed to play basketball at Rockhurst.
Arkell Smith, Carthage
The Carthage senior was Class 5 Second-Team All-State as a defensive back and Region Co-Offensive Player of the Year, amassing 65 receptions, 1,201 receiving yards and 9 touchdowns to go with 24 tackles, 1 interception and 4 pass breakups. Smith was a Third-Team All-Ozark Conference basketball player. In the spring, he owns the area’s number 1 triple jump, number 2 high jump, number 3 long jump and anchors the area’s fastest 4×400 relay team.
Logan Thomazin, Walnut Grove
The Walnut Grove senior was the Class 1 Co-Player of the Year, setting a new state record for three-point field goals in a career with 478. He averaged 24.8 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 3.0 apg while connecting on 120 three-point field goals last season. This spring he’s hitting .610 with 7 HR, 31 RBI and a .739 on-base percentage. The Missouri State signee is 6-1 on the mound with a .743 ERA, striking out 76 batters for the top-ranked team in Class 1.
