Willis, Reese Capture Season's Final OCCAC Basketball POTW Awards

By Nicholas Huenefeld/OCCAC Sports Information

Rodney Willis of Columbus State Community College and Jeryn Reese of Owens Community College have earned the season's final Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) Player of the Week awards in men's and women's basketball, respectively.

Willis, a freshman guard who was named the Region XII District 11 tournament MVP, averaged 15.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.3 steals over three postseason games last week. The highlight of his week was a 29 point effort in the Region XII District 11 quarterfinal win over Lakeland Community College. In that game, he finished 11-for-20 from the field and 5-for-6 from the foul line to lead his team to the championship game.

In 30 games this year, Willis has averaged 12.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.1 steals per game for Columbus State.The First Team All-OCCAC selection will lead his team into the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II National Tournament in Danville, Ill. on Tuesday against Essex County College.

Reese, a freshman forward who was named the Region XII District I tournament MVP, averaged 15 points, 10 rebounds, 1.5 assists, two steals and two blocks in two games while leading her team to a Region XII District I tournament championship. In a semifinal win over Columbus State, Reese had 17 points, 11 rebounds, two blocks and one assist in just 25 minutes. In the championship game against Cincinnati State, she had 13 points, nine rebounds, four steals, two assists and two blocks.

Reese, who also earned OCCAC Player of the Year recognition, has averaged 13.5 points, 10.7 rebounds, 2.3 steals, 1.2 blocks and 1.1 assists per game this year over 31 contests. She has helped lead Owens to a 26-6 record overall. The team will open NJCAA Division II National Tournament play next Wednesday at against Dean College in Overland Park, Kansas.