Basketball Players of the Week Selected
The final regular season OCCAC Basketball Players of the Week honorees have been selected and three conference institutions are represented. Division II winners are Lakeland’s Armani Jackson and LiDonta Hicks-Gentry of Sinclair. Allyse Rutter and Mario Young both led Columbus State to postseason victories to earn the D-III accolades.
By Kyle Kuhlman/OCCAC Sports Information
SPRINGFIELD, Ohio – The final regular season OCCAC Basketball Players of the Week honorees have been selected and three conference institutions are represented. Division II winners are Lakeland’s Armani Jackson and LiDonta Hicks-Gentry of Sinclair. Allyse Rutter and Mario Young both led Columbus State to postseason victories to earn the D-III accolades.
ARMANI JACKSON
Lakeland Community College
Freshman forward
Jackson picked up her fourth weekly recognition of the season, averaging 23.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, 3.0 steals, 2.5 blocks per game last week. She shot 65% (20-31) from the floor, including a 3-for-4 effort from beyond the arc. Jackson came up one rebound shy of back-to-back doubles with 25 points and 12 rebounds vs. Edison State followed by 22 points and nine rebounds against Sinclair.
ALLYSE RUTTER
Columbus State Community College
Sophomore forward
Rutter pushed the Cougars to a Region XII D-III Championships by topping Lorain County with a whopping 39 points. For the week, she averaged 24.0 points, 4.5 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game in a pair of postseason contests. Rutter shot 50% (16-32) overall and 11-of-20 from 3-point range. The three-time OCCAC Basketball Player of the Week committed just two turnovers in 69 minutes of play. In addition to her excellence on the basketball court, Rutter has also been named the league’s volleyball player of the week seven times in her career.
LIDONTA HICKS-GENTRY
Sinclair Community College
Sophomore forward
Hicks-Gentry lifted Sinclair to a road victory at Lakeland in the regular season finale. He posted 20 points and 14 rebounds to garner his fourth weekly recognition this season (fifth of his career). Hicks-Gentry converted on 8-of-16 field goal attempts and dished out five assists in the 90-75 victory.
MARIO YOUNG
Columbus State Community College
Sophomore forward
Young and the Cougars advanced to the NJCAA D-III National Tournament with postseason triumphs over Lorain County and Joilet Junior College. In the District II Championship vs. Joilet, Young nailed the game-winning buzzer beater to send Columbus State onto the nationals. For the week, he shot 68% (17-25) from the field and 71% (10-14) at the foul line. Young took the floor for 70 minutes, including all 40 against Joilet, recording only three turnovers in total. Young now owns six career OCCAC Player of the Week awards.