Battle, Willis, Ivey, Bonner Earn OCCAC POTW Recognition

By Nicholas Huenefeld/OCCAC Sports Information

Springfield, Ohio---Dante Battle, Rodney Willis, Kaylah Ivey and Madi Bonner have been named the OCCAC D-II and D-III player of the week recipients for games played Feb. 20-26.

NJCAA Division II OCCAC WBB Player of the Week
Kaylah Ivey, Owens C.C.

Ivey, a freshman center for Owens Community College, produced a pair of double-doubles last week and finished the week by averaging 14 points, 13 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game.

In a 102-31 win over Lakeland Community College, Ivey produced 14 points, 14 rebounds, two assists, one steal and one block in just 21 minutes. She finished 7-for-11 from the field, as well. Then, in a 106-17 win over Clark State Community College, she helped her team set a school record for fewest points allowed in a game by producing 14 points, 12 rebounds and one assist. She finished 4-for-4 from the field and 6-for-7 from the foul line, and she did all that in 17 minutes of action.

Ivey is now averaging 9.7 points, 9.6 rebounds, 1.4 blocks and 1.1 steals per game for Owens (29-0 overall, 15-0 in OCCAC play). In conference play, she is averaging 9.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, 1.9 blocks and 1.1 steals per game.

Owens will close out its regular season at home on Saturday against Cincinnati State.

The award is Ivey's second of the season. She also won on Nov. 21. 

NJCAA Division III OCCAC WBB Player of the Week
Madi Bonner, Lorain County C.C.

Bonner, a sophomore guard for Lorain County Community College, averaged 20 points, six rebounds, 1.5 steals and one assist per game for her team to close out its season last week.

Bonner, who led her team in scoring at 14.8 PPG this year, opened the week with 18 points, three rebounds, two steals and one assist in a 96-56 loss to Cuyahoga Community College. She also went 3-for-4 from the foul line in the game.

Then, in a 65-58 win over Hocking College, Bonner had 22 points, nine rebounds, one assist and one steal in 36 minutes of action. She finished 8-for-18 from the field (4-for-11 from 3-point range) and 2-for-4 from the foul line.

Bonner, who was the lone player to average double figures for Lorain County this season, also averaged 4.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.3 steals per game. In OCCAC play, she averaged 13.1 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game.

NJCAA Division II MBB Player of the Week
Dante Battle, Cincinnati State Technical and C.C.

Battle, a sophomore guard for Cincinnati State, averaged 30 points, seven rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.5 steals per game in wins over Edison Community College and Lakeland Community College last week.

In a 116-86 win over Edison, he had 14 points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals while shooting 5-for-9 from the field (2-for-5 from 3-point range) and 2-for-3 from the foul line. 

Then, in a 135-64 win over Lakeland, Battle tallied 46 points, 11 rebounds, three assists and three steals on 19-for-45 shooting (8-for-11 from 3-point range).

Battle is averaging a team-high 24.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, two assists and 1.3 steals per game this year for Cincinnati State (23-6 overall and 14-1 in OCCAC play). In conference play, he is averaging 25.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.3 steals per game.

Battle and his Cincinnati State team will close out the regular season with a road matchup against Owens on Saturday. With a win, Cincinnati State can clinch the OCCAC championship outright. With a loss and a Cuyahoga win over Lakeland, they would share the title.

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

Willis, a sophomore guard for Columbus State, continued a torrid offensive stretch by averaging 25.5 points, seven rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.5 steals for his team in wins over Clark State Community College and Edison Community College.

In an 83-49 win over Clark State, Willis had 37 points, seven rebounds, five steals and two assists on 15-for-23 shooting (5-for-9 from 3-point range) and a 2-for-3 finish from the foul line. Then, in an 83-77 win over Edison, he had 14 points, seven rebounds and three assists on 6-for-12 shooting (2-for-7 from 3-point range).

Overall, Willis averaged 22.2 points, 8.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 2.1 steals per game for Columbus State (13-13, 10-6 OCCAC). His team completed its season with a 107-104 OT loss to Lorain County in the Division III Region XII championship game last night. Despite the loss, Willis had a game-high 35 points.

The award is the third straight for Willis, who also won on March 6 of last year.