The St. Ignace Saints varsity basketball award winners include (from left) Austin St. Louis, Kevin Guillard, Gerrit Mortensen, and Evan Everson. (Photograph courtesy Mortensen family) Four St. Ignace Saints basketball players, Kevin Guillard, Evan Everson, Austin St. Louis, and Gerrit Mortensen, received top honors from Coach Jason Marshall during the team’s annual awards banquet Wednesday, April 7.

Senior Gerrit Mortensen, named the top player in the Upper Peninsula and selected to the Detroit Free Press all-state first team, was presented the Most Valuable Player Award. Mortensen received SAC and all-area honors, averaged 30.3 points in 21 games for a school record, and tied a single game scoring mark with 45 points. He recorded seven assists, five rebounds, three steals per game, 87 deflections, and registered eight blocked shots.

One of the top players in the history at LaSalle High School, he led the team with a 60.6 two-point shooting percentage, 45 from the three-point line, and 83 from the free throw line. During his fouryear career with the Saints, Mortensen averaged 20 points, six assists, five rebounds, and two steals.

Austin St. Louis received the Chairman of the Board Award after leading the Saints with a total of 188 rebounds for a 9.0 average. The junior scored 18 points per game, three assists, and two steals, 59 deflections, and recorded 26 blocked shots on the season.

Kevin Guillard earned the Defensive Award. The senior averaged 3.0 points and rebounds, two assists, and notched 50 deflections during his final season at LaSalle.

Evan Everson received the Coach’s Award. The senior averaged 7.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.5 steals, and registered 34 deflections in his last year on the varsity.

Seniors honored for the final time were Mike Barthelemy, Jake Gustafson, Everson, Guillard, and Mortensen.

The Saints completed the season with a 14-7 overall record and 6-4 in the Straits Area Conference, behind co-champions Rudyard and Cheboygan. St. Ignace was defeated by Rudyard three times, Cheboygan twice, and suffered single defeats to Cedarville and East Jordan.