Dona wins Coach of the Year, Dosela takes Player of the Year
Staff Reports
FORT THOMAS — The Fort Thomas Apaches boys basketball team didn’t just win the 1A state championship this winter — they owned the entire conference.
In a clean sweep of the major 2025-2026 1A Conference individual honors, head coach Matthew Dona was named the Boys 1A Conference Coach of the Year, senior Damarae Dosela earned Conference Player of the Year, Channing Wilson shared Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors with Joseph City’s Cort Miller, and Michael Olivar shared Conference Offensive Player of the Year with Hayden’s Tyler Garner. It was a historic haul for the small-school powerhouse from Graham County, underscoring a season of total dominance.
The Apaches finished the year 33-5 overall and a perfect 10-0 in the 1A East, earning the No. 1 seed for the state tournament. Their blend of elite guard play, stifling defense, and sharpshooting carried them through every challenge — right up to the championship game on Feb. 27, 2026, at Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix.
In the state final, Fort Thomas delivered a statement 77-45 thrashing of St. David. The Apaches shot 38.5 percent from three-point range (15-for-39) and never let the Tigers mount a serious comeback after the opening minutes. Dosela, the conference Player of the Year, was named MVP of the championship game after dropping a game-high 26 points. Michael Olivar added 16 points, including four three-pointers, along with six rebounds. Elijah Titla chipped in 12 points, and the supporting cast — including Wilson’s lockdown defense — turned the game into a rout.
“It was a tough game, but we won it out,” Dona said afterward, reflecting the gritty mindset that defined his program.
The awards were announced shortly after the title run. Dosela’s selection as Conference Player of the Year capped a senior season in which he served as the team’s emotional and statistical leader. Wilson’s co-Defensive Player of the Year nod highlighted his ability to anchor the backcourt and disrupt opposing offenses night after night. Olivar was recognized for his scoring punch and floor-spacing ability as the co-Offensive Player of the Year. Dona’s Coach of the Year award came as no surprise; he guided a roster heavy on experience and chemistry to its 13th state title in program history.
Fort Thomas wasn’t just winning games — it was winning them convincingly. The Apaches rolled through the 1A East with the kind of consistency that separates good teams from great ones, then carried that momentum into the postseason. Their state-tournament path featured the same hallmarks: balanced scoring, elite three-point shooting, and a defense that forced opponents into tough shots.
In a touching postscript to the championship season, Fort Thomas announced shortly afterward that Dona had stepped down as head coach. After leading the Apaches to the 2026 1A crown — and multiple deep tournament runs in previous years — the longtime coach decided it was time to retire. The program posted the varsity boys basketball position as open, thanking Dona and his staff for a remarkable run that ended with hardware and a legacy of excellence.
For the Fort Thomas community, the 2025-2026 season will be remembered as one of the program’s finest. A conference sweep, a state championship, and a coach who went out on top — the Apaches didn’t just compete in 1A basketball this year. They defined it.
