BENNINGTON, Vt. - Southern Vermont College has high hopes for its basketball program in 2008-2009 with its men's team at 3-4 at the break after only winning six games total last season and the women's team at 2-5, already matching the previous season win total.
Aside from SVC's team accomplishments the Mountaineers are also individually achieving - with freshman guard Joa Claircius winning NECC women's Player of the Week, her first, and freshman forward Deandre Kennedy-Ebron winning NECC men's Rookie of the Week, his third of the year.
Claircius, a previous NECC Rookie of the Week winner, posted 25 points in a tough 81-73 loss against St. Joseph's College of Brooklyn on Saturday. Claircius added seven boards, six assists and four steals. She shot 46 percent (10-for-22) from the field, and 50 percent (2-of-4) from beyond the arc as well as 50 percent (3-for-6) from the charity stripe.
"To win Rookie of the Week as a freshman (like she did a few weeks ago) is one thing, but to win Player of the Week for the Conference as a freshman just goes to show what type of future this program can have with Joa at the point," SVC head coach Ben Kozik said. "Still, I'm sure she'd trade any award for the win. That's just the type of player she is. She's unselfish and just wants to get the (victory)."
Claircius, averaging just over 30 minutes a game, is dominating the NECC - leading all scoring with 128 total points and 18.3 per game and ranking third in steals with 19 total and 2.7 per game. She is not just a shooter, as she is also averaging 5.9 rebounds per game.
Albany native Kennedy-Ebron (CBA) guided the Mountaineers to an 82-61 victory over St. Josep''s College of Brooklyn on Saturday. Kennedy-Ebron registered another double-double in only 26 minutes of action. He notched 16 points, 11 rebounds, two assists and two steals. For the week, he shot 50 percent (4-for-8) from the field and 57 percent (8-of-14) from the line.
"Deandre is no stranger to accolades," SVC head coach Michael McDonough said. "He has certainly proven himself to be an impact player with his skills and work ethic. We are very pleased that the Conference has recognized Deandre with his third Rookie of the Week award."
Kennedy-Ebron - who is averaging just over 30 minutes a game - is also averaging a double-double, and is fourth in NECC scoring with 18.0 points per game (126 total points) and first in rebounding with 10.6 per game (74 total). He also leads the Conference in blocks per game with 2.1 (15 total).
The women's team hosts Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts on Tuesday, Jan. 6, at 7 p.m. The men's team hosts NECC foe Wheelock College on Saturday, Jan. 10, at 2 p.m. Admission is free to all games!
