Brian Gerney was named to the Associated Press Class AA all-state first team last Wednesday, becoming the first Sun-Gazette Class AA coverage area player this century to earn that honor. The senior point guard is the second straight Hughevsille player to earn all-state accolades after Rezin Davis was named to the second team last year and the first in program history to reach the first team.

Gerney and Hughesville won six state playoff games and reached the state quarterfinals the last two years, in addition to the semifinals last year. This season Gerney stood out as a leader on and off the court, moving to point guard and avergaing 17.5 points and hitting a staggering 75 of 150 3-point attempts. He was the catalyst as Hughesville went 25-3, captured HAC-II and District 4 Class AA championships and finished within three points again of reaching the Final 4. All this in a year when the Spartans had to replace three starters and were beset with injuries.

Gerney shined in the biggest games, averaging 23 points against six state-ranked teams and averaging more than 20 in three state tournament games. He erupted for 20 first-half points against then No. 3 Communications Tech in February, he torched Loyalsock for 30 points and forced overtime with a last-second coast-to-coast drive in a 65-49 January win, he scored 12 of his 24 points against Devon Prep in another comeback from 13 points down in states, hitting the game-winning jumper with two seconds remaining, and he shredded Imhotep for 23 points in the quarterfinals.