URBANA — Junior Dan Lilly was named to The News-Gazette's all-area second team Thursday, capping an outstanding all-around season.

After all five starters from the 2007-08 season were lost to graduation, Lilly stepped up into a starring role. His 20.1 scoring average led the team and was good for fifth in the area.

He reached double figures in all 24 regular-season games and led the team in scoring in 23 of those contests.

The 6-foot-3 varsity MVP was also fourth in the area in free-throw shooting (81.4 percent, minimum 40 attempts) and fourth in steals (76 total, 3.2 per game).

Lilly set Uni single-season boys records for total points (483) and three-pointers made (67).

But his accomplishments may lie more in his value to the team than in his value as an individual record-setter. Despite the loss of six seniors from the previous season, the Illineks stayed competitive and finished with a 16-8 overall record, continuing the six-year streak of 15-win seasons.

The Illineks were also able to clinch a share of the East Central Illinois Conference title, their fourth in five years, finishing 2008-09 with a 10-2 conference mark.

In other News-Gazette recognition, 6-2 senior forward Alan Kessler, 6-0 senior point guard Malcolm Taylor, and 6-7 sophomore center Warren Skoza were named News-Gazette all-area honorable mention.

In ECIC honors, Lilly was chosen as a unanimous all-conference pick. Kessler also made the all-conference first team.

Taylor and Skoza were named ECIC honorable mention.