Basketball – Scottie Lewis and Dara Mabrey Named 2017 Kerwin Winners
Ranney sophomore wing Scottie Lewis and Manasquan junior guard Dara Mabrey are the 2017 Kerwin Award Winners, the Kerwin Family announced on Wednesday.
The Kerwin Awards, named for James J. Kerwin and Margaret M. Kerwin, have been awarded to the most outstanding Shore Conference basketball players in both boys and girls basketball for 44 years, with Lewis and Mabrey representing the 44th class of winners.
Lewis is the first player from the Ranney School to win the James J. Kerwin Award. The 6-5 sophomore and five-star recruit is averaging 16.3 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.7 blocks per game for a Panthers team that has reached the 20-win mark for the second straight year and won a share of a Shore Conference division title for the first time in school history.
“Lewis is a great all around player. He is an excellent shooter, outstanding passer, fights for rebounds, blocks shots and is a fine defensive player,” family spokesperson Peggy Kerwin Fleischer said via the Kerwin Family press release. “Perhaps most importantly, Scottie has extraordinary on court leadership. He’s an unselfish player who involves everyone on the court. He has used his athletic talent to bring out the best in each of his teammates as Ranney has rolled through a tough schedule moving toward the state tournament.”
Mabrey is the third player from Manasquan to win the Margaret M. Kerwin Award and the previous two were her older sisters. Michaela Mabrey won the 2012 Kerwin Award and Marina Mabrey was the 2015 Kerwin winner. Michaela graduated from the University of Notre Dame and is now an assistant at Miami (Fla.) and Marina is currently a sophomore starter for Notre Dame.
Dara continues the legacy of Mabrey Kerwin Award winners and she topped her older sisters by winning the award as a junior. Mabrey is averaging 19.5 points per game for a Manasquan squad that is currently 24-2 and entered the week ranked No. 1 in the state.
“Mabrey has a great overall skill set and excellent court sense," Kerwin Fleischer said. "Her opponents are forced to try to contain her, but she has the ability to find the open shot, drive to the basket or pass it off to her teammates."
Lewis and Mabrey will receiver their awards prior to their team's first NJSIAA Tournament game next week. Manasquan hosts Monmouth Regional in the Central Jersey Group II first round on Monday and Ranney hosts Timothy Christian in the South Jersey Non-Public B opening round on Wednesday.