March 3, 2009

Poland named Jayhawk East Freshman of the Year

Capturing its second straight Jayhawk Conference Eastern Division title, the Cowley College men’s basketball team had three players receive all-conference recognition.

Cowley sophomore Jack Crowder was named a first-team all-conference performer, while freshman Jawanza Poland earned second-team honors and was selected as the conference’s Freshman of the Year.

Fellow freshman, Dominique Lane, received honorable mention all-conference recognition.

Cowley head coach Steve Eck was glad the players were recognized for their efforts.

Somehow, Crowder was bypassed for Most Valuable Player honors by Neosho County’s Mark Gomilla. This despite Crowder leading the conference in scoring and being a sophomore leader for the Tigers.

Crowder, one of only two sophomores on the Tiger roster, averaged 20.7 points and 6.5 rebounds. He helped Cowley tie for the Jayhawk East title and finish the regular season with a record of 26-4.

Crowder had a higher scoring average (20.7) than Gomilla (20.0), shot a higher percentage from the floor (59 percent to 51 percent), and three-point range (35 percent to 31 percent) and led his team to 10 more wins (26-16) on the season. Neosho County finished only 16-14 overall and 8-10 in the conference, while Cowley finished 26-4 overall and 15-3 in the Jayhawk East.

All the coaches needed to see was the game Crowder had in the Tigers’ win at Coffeyville on Feb. 18 to know who the Most Valuable Player in the conference was. In that game, a 93-91 overtime win by the Tigers, Crowder scored 43 points, including the game-winning basket with 3.5 seconds left in overtime.

The win helped Cowley catch Coffeyville in the conference standings as they won their second straight Jayhawk East title under head coach Steve Eck.

At least the coaches got it right when they awarded Jawanza Poland the Freshman of the Year award.

Poland, a 6-foot-4 freshman from Wichita, averaged 13.5 points and 3.5 rebounds. He also shot 51 percent from the floor, 38 percent from three-point range, and 77 percent from the foul line.

Poland is one of nine freshmen that see playing time for the Tigers.

“We have a number of guys who could have gotten the award,” Eck said. “I’m glad for Jawanza, he’s been working harder late in the season.”

Lane, a 6-foot-4 freshman from Kansas City, Mo., averaged 10.3 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game. He shot 55 percent from the floor and was second on the team in blocked shots with 29.

2008-2009 All-Conference Team Eastern Division Coach of the Year — Jay Herkelman, Coffeyville Most Valuable Player — Mark Gomilla, Neosho County Freshman of the Year — Jawanza Poland, Cowley