HOWLAND — For just the third time, two players from the same school earned Trumbull County Coaches Association Player of the Year honors.

After stellar senior seasons, Badger’s Duncan Moy and Katie Grexa took home the honors at Monday night’s TCCA banquet at Leo’s Ristorante.

Moy became the first Badger boys player to earn the award, while Grexa became just the second in Badger’s history. Jenny Place won the award in 2002.

“It means a lot, being the first person in Badger history on the boys’ side,” Moy said. “It just means a lot to me. … My coaches, my teammates, all of them let me be me when I was on the court, allowing me to score and do what I needed to do.”

Grexa said, “I was really surprised … because there’s a lot of great talent in here. But it honestly feels so special right now. I’m still kind of shocked.”

Moy, who also recently earned All-Northeast Inland District Player of the Year honors in Division IV, averaged roughly 30 points per game this season while leading the Braves to a sectional championship appearance.

He will continue his basketball career at Division II Cal U (PA), where he plans to study accounting.

“When I went to Cal U, the place really excited me — the campus, the coaches, the players,” Moy said. “I got to meet all the players and got to play a little bit, and it just really stood out. I can’t wait to get up there. … It’s a big step, but I’m excited.”

Badger boys coach Joshua Upshire said of Moy, “A kid like Duncan is amazing on the court, but what he does off the court for our program and in our community, that’s what we’re going to miss the most from him. The leader that he’s been for us has been tremendous.”

Upshire added, “His work ethic — he wanted to be in the gym as much as he possibly could. You’re getting text messages early in the morning, midday, late at night asking to get in the building. His work ethic is what separates him and what makes him special.”

Grexa, who averaged a double-double this season with roughly 17 points and 11 rebounds per game, while leading Badger to a district semifinal appearance, also will continue her career. She will head to nearby Lake Erie College to join the Storm.

She hasn’t narrowed down her major quite yet, but plans to stay involved with athletics even after her playing career through either exercise science, sports medicine, athletic training or physical therapy.

Lake Erie reminded her of home in some ways.

“It reminds me of Badger — it’s a smaller school. When I went there the first time, I got to play with the team, and I liked the practice, I liked the schedules, I really felt like I had a connection with the coach,” she said.

Her coach, Pat Carney, said of the senior, “She’s meant a lot to us over the last couple years. Obviously on the floor, she’s a phenomenal player. She’s been a huge part of our success. Over the course of her career, she’s broken four school records, she’s third all-time in points on the girls side. She’s just a great kid, and she’s been a great leader in the program. … We’re hoping that the foundation that she helped lay, future kids can remember that and work hard to strive to her level of accomplishments on and off the court.”

He added, “Her dedication to the game — she was always in the gym. She played AAU, and she was always in the gym during the summer. … She watches a lot of film; she’s a student of the game and really has a high basketball IQ. It’s just her passion for the sport — she made it a big priority in her life, and it’s paid off for her.”

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