OCCAC Honors Four Student-Athletes With D-II, D-III POTW Recognition

By Nicholas Huenefeld/OCCAC Sports Information

Springfield, Ohio---Sydney Miller, Allyse Rutter, Dae'Shawn Jackson and Rodney Willis have been named the OCCAC D-II and D-III player of the week recipients for games played Feb. 13-19.

NJCAA Division II OCCAC WBB Player of the Week
Sydney Miller, Edison C.C.

Miller, a sophomore guard, won her first career OCCAC player of the week award after averaging 16.5 points, five rebounds, 3.5 assists and one steal as her team split a pair of games last week.

In a 74-50 loss to Owens Community College, Miller led her team with 18 points, six rebounds and three assists. She was the only player on her team to score in double figures. Then, in an 86-72 win over Hocking, she produced 15 points, four rebounds, four assists and two steals.

Miller is now averaging 14.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.5 steals per game overall this year. In OCCAC play, she is averaging 16.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.2 steals per game.

Miller and Edison are now 18-8 overall this year, including a 7-6 mark in conference play. They will be back in action Tuesday at Southern State Community College.

NJCAA Division III OCCAC WBB Player of the Week
Allyse Rutter, Columbus State C.C.

Rutter, a freshman guard, averaged 11.5 points, 7.5 assists, seven rebounds and two steals per game for Columbus State this past week as her team split a pair of games against Cuyahoga Community College and Owens Community College.

In her team's 83-67 win over Cuyahoga, Rutter produced six points, 10 assists, four rebounds and four steals. Then, in a 90-77 loss to Owens, she had 17 points, 10 rebounds and five assists.

Rutter is now averaging 10.2 points, six rebounds, 3.9 assists and 2.2 steals per game overall this year. In OCCAC play, she is averaging 11 points, 6.5 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 2.2 steals per game.

Columbus State's women's basketball team has now won eight straight player of the week awards at the Division III level. Rutter (Jan. 15), Keyvona Davis (Feb. 12 Feb. 5, Jan. 29), Hunter Kershaw (Jan. 22) and Carli Codner-Pinto (Dec. 18, Jan. 1) won the award previously.

NJCAA Division II MBB Player of the Week
Dae'Shawn Jackson, Edison C.C.

Jackson, a sophomore guard, averaged 24 points, 8.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, three blocks and two steals per game over two games last week.

In his team's 85-79 loss to Owens Community College, Jackson produced game-highs in points (32), rebounds (13) and blocks (2) in addition to recording five assists and two steals. He then closed the week with 16 points, four rebounds, four assists, four blocks and two steals in a 101-74 win over Hocking College.

Jackson is now averaging 16.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.9 steals and one block per game for Edison. In conference play, he is averaging 15.5 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.7 steals and one block per game.

Overall, Edison is now 15-11 this year, including a 3-10 record in OCCAC play. They will be back in action tomorrow at Southern State Community College at 7:30 p.m.

Jackson's award gives Edison its second player of the week award of the season. He joins Hadith Tiggs, who won the week of Jan. 23-29.

NJCAA Division III MBB Player of the Week
Rodney Willis, Columbus State C.C.

Willis, a sophomore guard, averaged 30.3 points, 12 rebounds, 3.3 steals and 2.7 assists per game last week in a trio of games.

In his team's 90-77 loss to Cuyahoga Community College to open the week, Willis had 16 points, seven rebounds, one assist and one steal, but he was just getting started. On Saturday, he had career-highs in points (34) and rebounds (16), while adding five steals, three assists and one block in a 96-89 win over Owens Community College. Willis then closed the week by breaking his school's single game scoring record with 41 points in addition to pulling down 13 rebounds and adding four assists and four steals.

Willis, who has played in 12 games for Columbus State this year, is averaging 20.6 points, 8.9 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.6 steals per game. In OCCAC play, he is averaging 20.2 points, 8.9 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.5 steals per game.

Willis and Columbus State are now 11-12 overall and 8-6 in OCCAC play. They will be on the road this Wednesday at Clark State Community College for a 7:30 p.m. matchup.

For Willis, this week's award is his second in a row and the third of his career. He also won the award on March 6 of last year. Outside of him, Mario Young (Jan. 29, Jan. 1, Dec. 18) and Matthew Gierhart (Feb. 5, Jan. 15 and Dec. 11) have also won the award from Columbus State this year.