Frantz

BUFFALO TWP — Darius Frantz took his game to another level this season — which was just the boost the Freeport boys basketball team needed.

Frantz spearheaded a Yellowjackets defense that limited opponents to 43.1 points per game.

Part of that was attributed to the 6-foot-4 senior forward-center, who averaged 10.9 rebounds, 7.0 blocks and 3.3 steals along with 12.1 points and 3.0 assists per game.

For his efforts, Frantz was named the Butler Eagle Boys Basketball Player of the Year. over Allan Eaton of A-C Valley, Scott Booth of Union and Christian Locher of Mars.

"Darius just dedicated himself to playing basketball," said Freeport coach Garrie Davies, who resumed coaching the Yellowjackets after a five-year break. "He was very receptive. I think it was just playing a lot and he was with a great senior class."

Last season, Frantz played 11 games and scored 73 points. As a sophomore, he scored 152 in 18 games (8.4 points per game).

"Having Coach Davies freed us up to help play our game," said Frantz. "We bought into what he was selling and we ran from there."

That all started on defense and opened up everything else. The Yellowjackets went 14-2 during the regular season and a perfect 12-0 to capture the Section 1-AA title.

They won a WPIAL Class AA first-round playoff game before suffering an overtime loss to Washington in the quarterfinals.

"You could see Darius getting better and better as the season went on," said Davies. "He worked with big men. (Assistant coach) Mike Beale worked inside with him.

"Every day you'd see the change of him getting better. He was a big-time shot blocker — I don't know how you calculate seven to eight blocks in points they don't get," Davies added.

"We played man-to-man every day," said Frantz, who made 15 blocks in one game in 2009-10. "We always made sure we were back in position. This year, I had a lot of blocks and protected the paint, and it gave others some opportunities."

Frantz, who was joined by fellow seniors Alex Isenberg, Mick Gentile and Tyler Collins (Mitch Shaw missed the season due to injury) and juniors Jake Campbell, Derek Durand and Shawn Liberto among others, said he knew the team could be successful, but he was a little surprised about his play.

"I didn't expect to do as well as I did this year," Frantz said. "I just played hard. ... A year went by and I got bigger, a little more physical, a little stronger, a little faster."

Frantz also was coming off a huge football season and has signed to play that game at Slippery Rock University.

Davies agrees that Frantz was able to bring that presence from football into his basketball.

"You're going head-to-head every day and that atmosphere made everyone more competitive," Davies said.

"Everyone had confidence in (Frantz). I think he helped the perimeter defense a lot. They felt comfortable with him in there.

"Darius is just as good a kid as he is a player. He's respectful, very humble, a very pleasant human being," Davies added.

Frantz was second in assists behind Isenberg, which showed what Frantz was all about on offense.

"He was always ready to hit the open man when teams closed in on him" Davies said. "I think he's so receptive to the team. As teacher, you appreciate that."