This group is essentially the set of writers who decided Associated Press honors in the same sport until a few years ago.

Honors have already been announced in Divisions 2, 3 and 4 for boys basketball. The announcement for Division 1 is scheduled for today and girls honors will be made next week.

Westwood junior Ethan Marta made the First Team All-State in D-3, joining Iron Mountain senior Oskar Kangas as the only other Upper Peninsula player to earn that honor.

And Ishpeming senior Caden Luoma earned Second Team All-State in D-3, joining fellow U.P. player Tanner Theuerkauf of Menominee, a junior, for that particular award.

Westwood's Ethan Marta, left, gets in position to defend Ishpeming’s Caden Luoma, center, as he drives to the basket during their high school boys basketball game played at the Hematites’ gym in Ishpeming on Feb. 5. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)

Two other U.P. players earned all-state honors in each of divisions 2 and 4, but they weren’t from our area.

They were Kingsford seniors Gavin Grondin on the D-2 First Team All-State and Morgan Sleik on the D-2 Second Team All-State, then also Forest Park sophomore Vic Giuliani on the D-4 First Team All-State and Pickford senior Eli MacDonald for D-4 Second Team All-State.

Marta joined 10 other players on the Division 3 First Team, including D-3 Player of the Year Brad Coleman of Millington.

Marta is a 6-foot-3 guard who during this past season became Westwood’s all-time leading scorer after the Patriots’ run to the D-3 semifinals at Michigan State University in East Lansing during mid-March.

He reportedly is now at exactly 1,400 career varsity points with another full season to go.

Through the regionals — all but Westwood’s final two games — Marta averaged 27.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.5 steals and 3.2 assists per game.

He also made 57.6% from the field overall, including 33.1% on 3-pointers, while sinking 73.5% on free throws.

He shared with IM’s Kangas the award for Player of the Year in the West PAC, making that league’s Dream Team as a sophomore and honorable mention as a freshman. In the Mid-Peninsula Conference, Marta has been on the First Team the past two seasons.

Last year, Marta was named All-U.P. Divisions 1-3 First Team as a sophomore as the U.P. Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association will announce this year’s awards on Friday.

Statistically, Marta topped out with 43 points and five steals in one game and 36 points in the other game against Negaunee, along with a 38-point game vs. Hancock and numerous other games with either 30 points or double-doubles in points and rebounds.

Patriots head coach Luke Gray was effusive in his praise for his star pupil.

“Ethan Marta is the leader and heart of our basketball team,” the coach said, adding his shooting percentage was extremely impressive for a guard. “He is also an exceptional defensive player.

“His IQ and love for the game makes him one of the toughest players I have been around.”

Luoma, like Marta, became the all-time scoring leader at his school. The 6-1 guard as a senior set both boys and girls all-time scoring records for the Hematites, putting in 596 points just this season to exceed the 1,300-point plateau as a high school varsity player.

He averaged 26.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.4 steals, 3.1 assists and 4.3 deflections per outing this season, shooting 52.2% from the field, including 33.3% on 3s, and 87.8% on free throws.

While Ishpeming had just a modest 13-11 final record, the Hematites put together a six-game winning streak at the end of the season that was only stopped by Westwood’s victory in their D-3 district title game.

Luoma made the West PAC Dream Team and M-PC First Team this season, and highlighted his campaign with a pair of 40-point outings, one the school record for points in a game — 49 points, seven steals, six rebounds and three blocked shots vs. Hancock; and 40 points, eight assists, five rebounds and five steals against Menominee.

Head coach Paige Yoho also praised her veteran senior.

“Caden is a relentless leader,” the first-year head coach said. “His commitment and work ethic toward his team and himself is truly a coach’s dream.

“He’s always finding ways to make not only himself, but his teammates, better, and that’s what makes him so special.”

Steve Brownlee can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 552. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.