Martin Methodist Claims SSAC Men's Basketball Championship - Mar 8, 2015
The No. 2-seeded Martin Methodist (Tenn.) RedHawks claimed the SSAC Men's Basketball Championship, presented by Newk's Eatery, at the Cramton Bowl Multiplex in Montgomery, Ala., Saturday.
After a Monte Burney (6'2''-G) steal with less than 10 seconds remaining on the clock, senior Darius Woods (5'9''-PG) banked home a transition three-pointer at the buzzer to punch the RedHawks ticket to Kansas City, Mo. The buzzer-beater was part of Martin Methodist's 28 points off of William Carey turnovers.
Woods and Burney, who were both named to the All-Tournament Team, each netted 18 points in the championship. Senior Josh Watson (6'5''-G) (11) and Reginald Porter (6'8''-F) (11) also scored in double-figures.
The Crusaders got 21 points from their bench and also won the battle in the paint, 30-24, but could not close out the RedHawks. Junior All-Tournament Team selection Dontarius Pittman (6'1''-F) shouldered the load for William Carey with a game-high 30 points in the losing effort. Junior Corey Brister (6'2''-G) also crossed the double-digit threshold with 10 points.
With today's win, Martin Methodist punches its ticket to the NAIA Division I Men's Basketball Championship , where the RedHawks will be making their ninth all-time appearance. The RedHawks last appeared in the national championship in 2013 as part of a run of three-straight bids.
The win was the third of the year for Martin Methodist over William Carey, all by five points or less. Martin Methodist won on the road in Hattiesburg, Miss., 58-57, on Jan. 17 and also claimed the victory at home in Pulaski, Tenn., 68-63, on Feb. 7.
Barring a surprising at-large bid to the NAIA Division I Men's Basketball Championship, William Carey concludes the season 20-11. The Crusaders bested SSAC regular-season champion Dalton State (Ga.), 68-64, in the SSAC Men's Basketball Championship semifinals to earn the matchup with Martin Methodist.
SSAC Tournament Final: Martin Methodist - William Carey 68-65
SSAC Tournament Semifinals:
Martin Methodist - Bethel 87-72
William Carey - Dalton State 66-62
Courtesy of SSACSports
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All-Tournament MVP: Monte Burney (6'2''-G) of Martin Methodist
Player of the Year: Ladaris Green (6'10''-F) of Dalton St.
Freshman of the Year: McKell Miller (6'1''-G) of Brewton-Parker
Newcomer of the Year: Monte Burney (6'2''-G) of Martin Methodist
Coach of the Year: Tony Ingle of Dalton St.
1st Team
F: Ladaris Green (6'10''-F) of Dalton St.
PG: Jordan Bedford (6'0''-PG) of Belhaven
F: Caleb Hardy (6'5''-F) of Bethel, TN
G: Shane Butler (6'1''-G) of Blue Mountain
PG: Sean Tate (5'8''-PG) of Dalton St.
G: Josh Watson (6'5''-G) of Martin Methodist
G: Nick Drake (6'1''-G) of Faulkner
G: Monte Burney (6'2''-G) of Martin Methodist
F: McCall Tomeny (6'6''-F-92) of Loyola, LA
F: Dontarius Pittman (6'1''-F) of William Carey
2nd Team
G: Reggie Burke (6'2''-G) of Co.Georgia
G: Warren Lebeauf (6'2''-G) of Brewton-Parker
F: Preston Earle (6'4''-F) of Dalton St.
: Jordan Bowling (6'6'') of Dalton St.
G: Di'Mar Hill (6'3''-G) of Faulkner
G/F: Robert Lovaglio (6'5''-G/F-91) of Loyola, LA
: Brett Murphey of Cent.Coast C.
F: Reggie Brown (6'7''-F) of Auburn-Montgomery
C: Daouda Soumaoro (6'9''-C) of Mobile, AL
PG: Darius Woods (5'9''-PG) of Martin Methodist
All-Tournament Team
G: Monte Burney (6'2''-G) of Martin Methodist
PG: Darius Woods (5'9''-PG) of Martin Methodist
F: Dontarius Pittman (6'1''-F) of William Carey
: Jordan Bowling (6'6'') of Dalton St.
F: Jonathan Williams (6'4''-F) of Bethel, TN
All-Freshman Team
G: McKell Miller (6'1''-G) of Brewton-Parker
G: Nick Parker (6'0''-G) of Loyola, LA
G: James Davis (6'3''-G) of Mobile, AL
F: Chase Brittingham (6'4''-F) of Blue Mountain
G: Jamaal Ahmad (6'1''-G) of Martin Methodist
All-Champions of Character Team
G: Spencer Jones (6'3''-G) of Auburn-Montgomery
G: Jerrial Dawson (6'1''-G) of Belhaven
F: Zack Fitzgerald (6'4''-F) of Bethel, TN
F: Bruno Santana (6'5''-F-92) of Blue Mountain
G: Justin Quarterman (6'3''-G) of Brewton-Parker
F: Milton Geddes (6'7''-F) of Co.Georgia
PG: Sean Tate (5'8''-PG) of Dalton St.
G: Cortez Riley (6'4''-G) of Faulkner
PG: Ben Amoss (5'7''-PG) of Loyola, LA
F: Kadijon Townsend (6'4''-F) of Martin Methodist
PG: David Bivins (5'8''-PG) of Middle Georgia
F: Cody Scott (6'6''-F) of Mobile, AL
G: Leo Garrett (6'2''-G) of William Carey
All-Academic Team
G: Jake Carnley (6'4''-G) of Auburn-Montgomery
G: Spencer Jones (6'3''-G) of Auburn-Montgomery
G: Jerrial Dawson (6'1''-G) of Belhaven
F: Zack Fitzgerald (6'4''-F) of Bethel, TN
G: Taylor Clay (6'5''-G) of Bethel, TN
F: Caleb Hardy (6'5''-F) of Bethel, TN
F: Vladimir Filipovic (6'8''-F) of Blue Mountain
G: Stefan Vukovic (6'5''-G) of Blue Mountain
F: Cameron Bokenham (6'8''-F) of Brewton-Parker
G: Joseph Sciberras (6'2''-G) of Brewton-Parker
PG: Ben Amoss (5'7''-PG) of Loyola, LA
C: Nate Pierre (6'8''-C-94) of Loyola, LA
PG: Kyle Simmons (5'9''-PG-92) of Loyola, LA
F: McCall Tomeny (6'6''-F-92) of Loyola, LA
G: Jalen Gray (6'4''-G-95) of Loyola, LA
G: Lawrence Pierce (6'4''-G) of Mobile, AL
F: Cody Scott (6'6''-F) of Mobile, AL
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