Male Athlete of the Year: Matt Schandelmeier, Moniteau. The three-sport star averaged a double-double in basketball, went to the PIAA track and field championships in the shot put, javelin and discus, and led the Warriors football team to the playoffs as both a fullback and a tenacious defensive force.

Female Athlete of the Year: Jence Rhoads, Slippery Rock. Everybody knows how good Rhoads is on the basketball court, earning the Butler County Girls Player of the Year award. But she showed this year how good she was hitting another net on the soccer field.Rhoads scored 34 goals and was named the region's player of the year.

Turnaround of the Year: Slippery Rock High School football. The Rockets started the season shorthanded and with an 0-4 record, but they regrouped to go 4-1 down the stretch and nearly made the playoffs.

Statistic of the Year: Butler junior center Amy Achesinski had just four points and four field goal attempts heading into the fourth quarter against Franklin Regional in the championship game of the Butler Christmas Tournament.She scored 17 points on 8-of-10 shooting in the fourth quarter to lead her team to a one-point win.

Game of the Year: Union vs. Kennedy Catholic in the girls PIAA Class A basketball quarterfinals. The Damsels led 52-44 with five minutes left in the game before the Eagles launched a comeback that resulted in a dramatic 60-59 win.Union's Andrea Mortimer had two chances to win the game in the final six seconds but neither shot fell through the hoop.It has prompted Union to print shirts this year that read "Unfinished business."

Achievement of the year: Butler City's Don Beeman pitched a no-hitter against the then-unbeaten Saxonburg American Legion team. Beeman had never come close to no-hitting any team at any level.

Coincidence of the year: In back-to-back games, the LaRoche College women's basketball team was beaten by Butler County area athletes at the free throw line.On Dec. 17, Waynesburg College guard and Seneca Valley graduate Candace Eyerman hit a pair free throws with less than one second left for a win. On Dec. 19, Westminster College guard and Union graduate Rachel Eaton hit one of two free throws to edge LaRoche.