Hornets' Mahar 23-1A hoops MVP

Jaden Mahar controls the basketball on Jan. 2 for Dodd City during District 23-1A boys' basketball at Savoy. Photo by Rich Hilliard

Dodd City senior Jaden Mahar won the Most Valuable Player honor in the All-District 23-1A boys' basketball awards for 2024.

Kalob Runnels, a Fannindel sophomore, earned the Offensive Player of the Year, with Matthew Stephens, a Dodd City junior, as the Defensive Player of the Year.

Savoy sophomore Layne Steele shared the Newcomer of the Year award with senior Justin Blackwell of Pioneer Technology and Arts Academy-Fate.

First-team selections included:
Ethan Barnard, Dodd City senior; Kaleb Haggard, Ector sophomore; and Nate Van Huss, Dodd City senior.

Second-team recipients were Shorty Grijalva, Ector sophomore; Layton Vaught, Dodd City senior; Josh Tinnell, Fannindel sophomore; Zack Clark, Savoy senior; and Levi Bradshaw, Savoy senior;
Honorable mentions included: Ector's Keithlen Miller, Gauge Williams; Fannindel's Edgar Lopez, Ashton Smith, Ke'monte Cuba, Lucas Moreland; Savoy's Mason Staley.

Dodd City advanced as the district champion for the third-straight season -- and second-consecutive as an undefeated titlist -- to its eighth-consecutive playoffs. The Hornets then reached their third-straight regional tournament.

Ector and Savoy tied with Pioneer Technology and Arts Academy of Greenville for second place at 8-6. The Eagles, the second-place seed after winning a play-in with PTAA-Greenville, advanced to their ninth postseason in the last 10 years, after 2023's rare absence. The Cardinals, the fourth-place seed, made their first postseason trip since 2019 and only second trip -- since 1984.
Both lost in the bi-district round.

Fannindel also contended for its third-straight advance until the end of district play.