Smith highlights trio of Tiger basketball players named All-Conference performers
Helping the Cowley College men’s basketball team achieve 20-plus wins and a chance for more, the Tigers had three players named to the Kansas Jayhawk Community College All-Conference list.
Smith highlights trio of Tiger basketball players named All-Conference performers
Helping the Cowley College men's basketball team achieve 20-plus wins and a chance for more, the Tigers had three players named to the Kansas Jayhawk Community College All-Conference list.
Freshman Marcus Smith was named a First Team All-Conference selection, while sophomores Kyden Thompson and Leslie Owens Jr. were named Honorable Mention selections.
"All three are very deserving of all-conference honors, and I am proud of them all," Cowley head coach Donnie Jackson said. "They all bring different things to the table, and being named All-Jayhawk is an honor for them and for our program."
Smith averaged 15.8 points to go along with nearly three rebounds and three assists per contest. He surpassed the 30-point plateau in three games and had 11 games where he scored 20 or more.
"Marcus has been one of the most dynamic players in the Jayhawk conference over the course of the season. He can change a game in a hurry," Jackson said.
Thompson scored in double figures in seven conference games and filled up the stat sheet by averaging 8.7 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game.
"Kyden has been our steady force," Jackson said. "His playmaking and defense have been a huge key to our team."
After missing the previous season due to injury, Owens return to the lineup has been key to the Tigers' success. Both he and Thompson have combined to win 50 games over the past two seasons, with Owens averaging 10.5 points and 3.2 rebounds per contest. Owens scored in double figures in 12 conference tilts.
"Leslie has brought a game to game toughness to him, and when he plays well, we have played well," Jackson said. "With all of the injuries he has battled and overcome, it's great to see him recognized."
The Tigers are two wins away from a third straight appearance at the national tournament and will face Butler on Friday at 7:30 p.m. in Great Bend, KS, in the semifinals of the District Plains Tournament.
All-Conference List:
CO-PLAYER OF THE YEAR – TRISTAN HANKINS, BUTLER COMMUNITY COLLEGE
CO-PLAYER OF THE YEAR – DERRICK RIVERS, DODGE CITY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR – TRISTAN HANKINS, BUTLER COMMUNITY COLLEGE
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR – NOAH WILLIAMS, BARTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR – WESLY ROSA, DODGE CITY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
COACH OF THE YEAR – ERIC NITSCHE, BUTLER COMMUNITY COLLEGE
FIRST TEAM YR SCHOOL
ARIS RODRIGUEZ SO BARTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE
NOAH WILLIAMS R-FR BARTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE
TRISTAN HANKINS FR BUTLER COMMUNITY COLLEGE
RASHID KUTA SO COFFEYVILLE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
JACK SORRELL FR COFFEYVILLE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
MARCUS SMITH FR COWLEY COLLEGE
DERRICK RIVERS SO DODGE CITY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
MARQUINTEZ DIXON SO FORT HAYS TECH NORTHWEST
STERLING KNOX R-FR INDEPENDENCE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
DAVID WILSON SO INDEPENDENCE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
SECOND TEAM YR SCHOOL
SEBASTIAN MUCHITSCH SO BARTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE
DEVIN KERR SO BUTLER COMMUNITY COLLEGE
JOSIAH KIRKWOOD SO BUTLER COMMUNITY COLLEGE
MANASSEH STACKHOUSE R-FR CLOUD COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
DANIEL NTAMBWE SO COFFEYVILLE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
RICKEY LOFTIN II SO DODGE CITY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
WESLY ROSA SO DODGE CITY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
DASEAN LEWIS SO GARDEN CITY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
LUCAS N'GOMBO SO SEWARD COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
ANTIONIO WILLIAMS JR. FR SEWARD COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
ALL-KJCCC HONORABLE MENTION
BARTON: JAYDEN RAMIREZ - FR
BUTLER: JAISE COMBS - FR, AJ PIERRE-JEROME – R-SO
CLOUD COUNTY: SYNCERE BURNETTE - SO, DJ HOLLOWAY - SO, ELIDJAH SAVANE – SO,
COFFEYVILLE: ULYSSES WEBB - FR
COLBY: D.J. CASON - SO
COWLEY: LESLIE OWENS JR. – SO, KYDEN THOMPSON - SO
DODGE CITY: BRAD JOHNSON - FR
HUTCHINSON: BOBBY CANNON - SO, LOLO RUDOLPH - SO, KYRELL SHAW - SO, DALERON THOMAS -SO
INDEPENDENCE: TRAE LEWIS - FR
PRATT: HUNTER VAUGHN – R-SO
SEWARD COUNTY: RJ McKINNIE - FR
