Hard work from some of the key standouts on Central High School’s varsity boys basketball team received recognition recently when the 2017 All-Conference 42 accolades were voted on by coaches in the conference.

Chargers junior guard L.J. Watson was named to the all-conference first team, and coaches in the region also recently selected him to the 2017 1A East All-Region second team.

Senior forward/center Raymond Alexander represented Central on the all-conference first team, and junior forward Darryl Jones rounded out the Charger honorees by earning a spot on the all-conference second team.

Central struggled during the 2016-17 season, finishing with a record of 6-17, but the Chargers produced one of their best performances late, routing Cumberland High School 76-49 in the conference tournament quarterfinals after having lost twice to the Dukes earlier in the season.

Chargers Head Coach Mike McGrath made it clear in a previous interview that his team had real strength on the floor.

“I had a great group of kids, always had plenty of fight in them, never gave up in any game we played,” he said.

Watson helped lead those efforts, averaging a team-high 17 points per game. He shot 75 percent from the free throw line (95-for-127) and also averaged 2.9 assists, 2.9 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game.

Alexander averaged a double-double in his final season on the hardwood as a Charger, contributing 12.3 points and 11.6 rebounds per contest. He also averaged a steal and a block each game.

Jones recorded averages of 14.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists and one steal per game.