Eight Eagles receive All-Conference honors
By Karl Hunt, TCC Sports Information
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (February 26, 2015) – Tallahassee Community College placed eight players, including five first-team selections, on the 2015 Coaches’ All-Panhandle Conference basketball teams, with four women and four men representing the Eagles.
From the women’s basketball team, three of the four players selected – Cat Wells, Jeremica Edwards, and Karley Barnes – were named first-team all-conference.
Barnes, a sophomore from Milwaukee, Wis., played in 28 games and averaged 20.4 minutes per game. She led the Eagles in rebounds (6.3) and blocks (0.8), while averaging 7.6 points per game and shooting 42.0 percent from the floor.
Wells, a sophomore from Toledo, Ohio, led the team in scoring (14.0 ppg), assists (3.1 apg) and steals (2.4 spg). She saw action in 29 games and averaged 24.8 minutes per contest. Coming off the bench, Wells provided a spark that kept the Eagles’ Chaos 40 attack in full effect.
Edwards, a sophomore from New Orleans, La., saw action in all 31 games and made 26 starts. Ranking second on the team in scoring, Edwards provided 9.4 points per game. On the defensive glass, she tied for third on the team with 3.4 rebounds and also accounted for 1.3 steals per game.
From the men’s basketball team, two of the Eagles’ four all-conference selections – Elmo Stephen and Dirk Williams - were named to the first-team.
Stephen, a sophomore from Auburndale, Fla., was a key component to this year’s team. Seeing action in 28 games, Stephen, known for his three-point shooting, averaged 15.8 points per game, which ranked second on the team. He also contributed on the defensive side of the ball with 4.0 rebounds, 0.3 steals, and 0.2 blocks per game.
Williams, a sophomore from Homewood, Ala., was the team’s leading scorer at 15.8 points per game. Playing in 27 games, he averaged 27.5 minutes and shot 46.4 percent from the floor. He also averaged 0.9 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game.
Three other Eagles – Eboni Watts from the women’s team, and Cameron Smith and Norbertas Giga from the men’s – were named second-team all-conference.
Watts, a native of Macon, Ga., appeared in every game this season for the Eagles. With 8.4 points a game, she ranked third on the team in scoring. She wasn’t afraid to crash the boards either, pulling down 3.4 rebounds per game.
Smith, a native of Tallahassee, Fla., played in 22 games and averaged 25.1 minutes. He shot a team-high 61.3 percent from the floor and averaged 9.3 points per game. A defensive leader, Smith led the team on the glass pulling down 6.5 rebounds per game and also averaged 1.9 blocks.
Giga, a native of Kedainiai, Lithuania, saw action in 25 games and averaged 7.8 points per game. A big man who can shoot the ball, Giga shot 31.8 percent from behind the three-point line. He ranked second on the team with 5.8 rebounds per game.
Beginning this year, the men’s coach of the year award was named in honor of Tallahassee’s Eddie Barnes, who retired from coaching at the end of the season. The recipient of the Eddie Barnes Panhandle Conference Coach of the Year Award is Northwest Florida State College’s Steve DeMeo.
2015 Men’s Basketball Coaches’ All-Panhandle Conference Teams
First-team (Player, Class, School): Benji Bell, So., Northwest Florida State; Rozelle Nix, So., Pensacola State; Anton Waters, So., Gulf Coast State; Elmo Stephen, So., Tallahassee; Jalen Jackson, So., Northwest Florida State; Brandon Austin, Fr., Northwest Florida State; Shamar Johnson, So., Pensacola State; Quavius Copeland, Fr., Gulf Coast State; Dirk Williams, So., Tallahassee; Junior Saintel, Fr., Chipola; DeJuan Marrero, So., Chipola; Jon Wade, So., Gulf Coast State.
Second-team: Kevin Baker, So., Pensacola State; Cameron Smith, Fr., Tallahassee; Ty Baker, So., Chipola; Norbertas Giga, Fr., Tallahassee; Tre Williams, So., Northwest Florida State; Darrion Stokes-Graham, So., Pensacola State; Xavier Moon, So., Northwest Florida State; Tyrone Culbreth, So., Pensacola State; KeKe Williamson, So., Pensacola State.
Player of the Year: Benji Bell, Northwest Florida State
Freshman of the Year: Brandon Austin, Northwest Florida State
Newcomer of the Year: Brandon Austin, Northwest Florida State
Eddie Barnes Coach of the Year Award: Steve DeMeo, Northwest Florida State
2015 Women's Basketball Coaches' All-Panhandle Conference Teams
First-team: Evelyn Akhator, So., Chipola; Chelsey Gibson, So., Gulf Coast State; Sueterrica Key, So., Chipola; Simone Westbrook, So., Northwest Florida State; Cat Wells, So., Tallahassee; Daniella Wallen, So., Northwest Florida State; Kristina King, Fr., Gulf Coast State; Rosemarie Julien, Fr., Chipola; Tianah Alvarado, So., Gulf Coast State; Jeremica Edwards, So., Tallahassee; Alaysia Mitchell, So., Pensacola State; Karley Barnes, So., Tallahassee.
Second-team: Tia Sanders, Fr., Northwest Florida State; Auteonna Gilmore, Fr., Chipola; Tyshara Fleming, So., Northwest Florida State; Kendra Martin, So., Chipola; Takisha Jordan, So., Northwest Florida State; Tyisha Moore, So., Pensacola State; Eboni Watts, Fr., Tallahassee.
Player of the Year: Evelyn Akhator, Chipola
Freshman of the Year: Kristina King, Gulf Coast State
Coach of the Year: Greg Franklin, Chipola