Three Chargers grab All-conference honors
DONALDSON — Three Marian University Ancilla College men’s basketball players have been named by the Michigan Community College Athletic Association (MCCAA) as all-conference honorees with sophomores Willie Reece and Ben Jones, and freshman Jayden Sanders, all chosen for the team.
Reece was named to the MCCAA Third Team Allwestern Conference. Reece, a graduate of Pearl River Central High School (MS), played two seasons for the Chargers and has decided to continue his academics and athletics at Indiana University-columbus next season.
On the season, he averaged 9.7 points and 2.8 rebounds per game, but during the conference season, he upped his scoring to 10.8 points per game, including three 20-point outings. In two of those conference games he played limited minutes due to illness, so if you remove those games, he averaged 12.1 points per game in the other 10 MCCAA contests.
Classmate Ben Jones earned Honorable Mention All-western Conference honors, as well as a spot on the Western Conference All-defensive Team. The well-rounded 6-3 guard graduated from Andrean High School in Merrillville, and he spent a 5th Year at Don Bosco Institute in Crown Point.
This season, Jones averaged 9.2 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. His ability to make contributions at both ends of the floor has been aptly rewarded with the defensive honor.
The lone rookie of the group, Jayden Sanders also earned Honorable Mention All-western Conference honors. Jayden came to MUAC from Francis Joseph Reitz High School in Evansville. The 6-5 forward
finished as the team’s 2nd leading scorer at 11.0 points per game, and he led the Chargers with a 6.4 rebound per game average. He grabbed double-figure rebounds in four games this season, and he topped the 20-point mark on three occasions as well.
“It has been an honor to have coached both Willie and Ben these last two seasons,” said Charger head coach Jeremy Herring. “Their representation of the Charger name is something we want in all of our players, and I wish them nothing but success as they move forward in their academic and athletic careers. Jayden was a great addition this season because he often played much bigger than he’s listed. He was good on the boards and defending the paint, plus he showed skill at all levels.”