CUMBERLAND — It will be some time before a player like Chris Manherz graces the area again.The senior overcame his size standing at 5-foot-8 to average more than 23 points per game and eclipse 1,000 for his career, all in pursuit of a region championship — something Allegany achieved for the first time since 2017.The lightning-quick Manherz was rewarded for his efforts by being voted area boys basketball Player of the Year in a landslide.“First I want to thank God for putting me in this position,” Manherz said. “I’m really grateful for my coaches and the entire coaching staff for believing in me and pushing me all season.“My teammates mean a lot to me too.

They trusted me and we all worked for each other every night. I also want to thank my family and friends for always supporting me. Not just this year but over the years.”The award was decided at a meeting of the area’s head coaches last week.

Seven voted and Manherz received five nods.East Hardy’s Gideon Good, Fort Hill’s Liam Hamilton, Frankfort’s Jeremy Phillips, Northern’s Jayden McNally, Petersburg’s Kaleb Kuhn and Union’s Braylon Ward were also finalists.Manherz, who was also voted Western Maryland Athletic Conference Player of the Year by the league’s coaches, was fourth in the area in points (540) and points per game (23.5).He was more than a scorer, however, and his 4.6 assists a night were an area-best mark.“It’s very well deserved,” Allegany head coach Brandon Reed said. “For him to do what he was able to do in terms of being high up there with the leaders in the area in scoring, and then also leading the area in assists.

It speaks to what type of player he is.“We asked him to kind of go outside of his comfort zone and be a scorer for us when he’d probably rather be a facilitator. He’s just the ultimate competitor. He wants to do whatever it takes to win.”Manherz rarely left the floor.

The Allegany offense ran through him, and he was tasked with scrambling around on defense when the Campers pressed.In Allegany’s 59-35 upset of Southern on the road in the Class 1A West Region I semifinals, Manherz moved to the top of the Campers’ zone, sacrificing his legs on offense to slow the favored Rams.“He’s an incredible soccer player,” Reed said of Manherz, who is a multi-time first-team All-Area performer on the pitch. “He came in with what (Allegany soccer) coach (Blake) Geatz requires of them, and we’re very fortunate to have Sean Rhodes with us this year, who’s a personal trainer.“Chris was big on making sure we were in shape to play the style we wanted to play and make sure we bring it on the defensive end each and every time.”Manherz — who was first-team All-WestMAC last year and All-City the past two seasons — was also third locally averaging 2.9 steals per night.The senior finished his career with 1,036 points.

He had five 30-point games this year, scored 29 three other times and eclipsed 20 in 16 games.Manherz’s 2.39 3-pointers per game were fifth-best locally, and he ranked 13th in 3-point percentage at 30.4%. He made 99 of 136 foul shots for 72.3%, tied for the 12th-best mark in the area.More important than the numbers, however, was Allegany’s region championship, something that looked unlikely when the fourth-seeded Campers entered the postseason losers in five of seven games.Three playoff wins later, Allegany cut down the nets on its home floor following a 57-46 victory against Mountain Ridge for the region title.“This is a season I’ll never forget,” Manherz said.

“There are a lot of moments that will stick with me, winning our (Bill Bowers) Christmas tournament, getting our first win at our crosstown rival (Fort Hill) under coach Reed, winning in a tough playoff environment at Southern, and being able to cut down the nets at home with our fans there supporting us.“Then the community send-off meant a lot. Really just thankful for everything and everyone who was part of it.Manherz is the record 14th Allegany boys basketball player to record the honor and the first since 2018.He joins the ranks of Justin Copman (2018, shared with Southern’s Tyler Rodeheaver), Rhodes (2017), Jason Copman (2016), Darquel Jessie (2015), Trenton Eirich (2014), Casey Roberts (2009-10), Donavin Vinson (2005-06), Ian Grady (2004), Michael Fields (1996) and D.J.

Jessie (1993-94) as Alco winners.“He went out there every day and played like he was bigger than he is,” Reed said. “He never shied away. He was so impressive on the defensive end this year for us, and that was a big reason for our success.“He wanted to guard every team’s best player, and he was giving up in some cases a foot. He does some stuff that makes you just kind of ooh and ahh.“I’m not so sure we’ll see too many more players like him in terms of that talent and that size.”