Devon Heuer elevated Arlington athletics the past three seasons.

He is the 2019 Register Boys’ Basketball Player of the Year.

The senior averaged 17.5 points per game while shooting 52.4 percent from the field. He added six rebounds and 3.4 assists per game while snagging a school-record 78 steals (3.5 per contest).

“Devon was offensively and defensively our best player all year long,” Cardinal coach Michael Parry said. “He brought intensity to practice and games every day.

“He helped show his teammates that you have to be mentally ready to play all the time, especially in big games.

“His leadership and competitiveness will be missed next year.”

The Cardinals posted a 17-5 record, finishing second in the Dakota Valley Conference regular-season standings and winning the league tourney.

“As a team, I thought we had a really good season,” said Heuer, the DVC MVP and an Academic All-State honoree. “Coming in, people didn’t expect much from us and we kind of came out of nowhere. The underclassmen grew a lot, so that was really fun to watch.

“As for myself, I don’t know, it was just another year of just trying my hardest and doing what I can.”

Arlington was the No. 2 seed in Region 3B, beating Deubrook Area 63-45 in the quarterfinals but falling 54-51 to Wolsey-Wessington in the semis.

Heuer was a three-year varsity player in both basketball and football.

He did all right on the gridiron, as well.

Heuer rushed for 846 yards – averaging nine yards per carry – and 15 touchdowns while throwing for 882 yards with seven scores as a senior, adding three pick-sixes.

Arlington/Lake Preston won the DVC crown with an 8-0 record and Heuer was voted league MVP.

The year before, he had a hand in 34 touchdowns, running for 1,483 yards (8.9 per attempt) and throwing for 968. The Badgers posted a 6-2 conference record.

“It’s been awesome,” Heuer said of his time as a Cardinal and Badger. “Seeing all the hard work pay off and the community … in football we were combined with Lake Preston, and to see both those communities come together and support you, it’s awesome.

“The same with Arlington; just everybody talking to you after games and wishing you good luck – it’s just a lot of fun.”

ALP coach Steve Gilbertson spoke highly of his quarterback, a two-time All-Register pick in football.

“Well, in those two sports, he’s been … I don’t know how to say it. He’s been our leader, there’s no doubt about that,” Gilbertson said. “He’s been our leader. He’s a leader in the weight room. He’s a leader on the floor. He’s a leader on the football field.

“I don’t know if I upset anybody by saying he’s our heart and soul, but he’s somebody that is irreplaceable, I think.”

Heuer is undecided on his collegiate plans but has narrowed it down to SDSU or USD.

He said he’s done with sports.

“I’ll miss it a lot,” he added. “And graduation is coming up, so you kind of look back through the pictures and stuff and, you know, it’s just really cool to see everything we accomplished. Like me and some of my best friends just working out all the time together and looking back on the memories – they’re unbeatable.

“So it’s been nice; I’m perfectly content with how it went. You know, we gave it everything we could and what happened, happened.”