Bonds on ECAC first team
Saint Michael’s College (Vt.) men’s basketball junior Matt Bonds, a North Point High School graduate from Accokeek, added to his postseason honors on Tuesday by landing on the Eastern College Athletic Conference Division II All-Star first team, becoming the first Purple Knight to do so in 15 years.
As one of 10 players to claim an ECAC honor, Bonds earned his second award for his breakout junior season, having also nabbed a Northeast-10 Conference All-Conference third-team placement.
Bonds recorded double-digit scoring in 24 of 26 games while grabbing at least eight boards 25 times. He turned in career highs in scoring (16.2), rebounding (12.3), offensive boards (4.3), assists (44) and blocks (12) while tying his best in steals (18).
Bonds, who leads Division II in offensive rebounding while placing second in rebounding and tying for second in double-doubles (19), is first in the region in rebounding and offensive rebounding while tying for the top spot in double-doubles. He is also third in the Northeast-10 in free throw attempts per game, 10th in free throw makes per contest and 14th in scoring. Since offensive rebounds began being tracked in 1992-93, Bonds has been the only Purple Knight with 100 in a season, with 107 last winter and 111 this year.
Bonds’ 19 double-doubles are the most by a Purple Knight since complete rebounding figures became available in 1981-82. Bonds became the seventh Purple Knight with 400 points and 300 rebounds in a season, and his 27 career double-doubles tie for the most in the program since 1981-82. Bonds placed 10th in school history with 320 boards this winter, the most since Ken Johnson (346) in 1975-76, and he also passed Peter Cragan (769) to take over 10th in program history with 780 career caroms. Bonds enters his senior year with 959 points.
The Purple Knights ended the year 7-19 overall and 5-16 in the Northeast-10, going 5-7 following a 2-12 start.
Saint Michael’s College (Vt.)
Thomas makes AMCC team
The Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference announced its 2015-2016 Winter All-Sportsmanship Team to kick off the national NCAA Division III Week, and it included five Penn State Altoona (Pa.) student-athletes.
Among them is women’s bowler Jasmine Thomas, a Thomas Stone High School graduate from Pomfret.
All teams that compete for an AMCC championship select one member from their roster who displays good sportsmanship throughout the season to be a member of the All-Sportsmanship Team. These individuals are selected by vote of their teammates.
The student-athlete selected by each team must consistently demonstrate a high level of ethical conduct, respect, and fair play in both practice and competition, whether on the sidelines or as an active competitor. Such sportsmanship shall be evident toward teammates, coaches, opponents, officials, and fans. The player must also serve as a positive representative of school spirit when a spectator at other teams’ sporting events.
Penn State Altoona (Pa.)
Still in the game
To submit to Still in the Game, have the sports information director at the college or university of the student-athlete fax game results or any other information to 301-645-2175 or email to pwatson@somdnews.com. Results and information can also be mailed to Maryland Independent, c/o Regional Sports Editor Paul Watson, 7 Industrial Park Drive, Waldorf MD 20602.