 Beavers SLIAC Champs For First Time Since 2005 (Photo: SLIAC)
Beavers SLIAC Champs For First Time Since 2005 - Apr 13, 2021 
Blackburn College completed one of their most historic seasons in program history on Saturday afternoon, winning its first St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Men's Baskteball Championship since 2005. The Beavers fourth title in program history puts a capstone on the program's recent resurgence. The Beavers won three titles in the conference's first 10 years but then missed 11 straight postseasons. They returned to the tournament in 2018 and have made four straight trips now, concluding with today's title.Blackburn jumped out on top quickly, taking a 10-2 lead just three-minutes into the game. However Fontbonne's Cody McKinney (6'0''-PG) started to draw out the Beavers zone defense with a hot hand. McKinney scored 11 points in the first-half, knocking down three triples, including one just before the half-time buzzer that gave Fontbonne a 36-33 lead at the break. The two teams continued their see-saw battle in the second-half with Blackburn opening up a six point lead after back to back three's from David Lopez (6'1''-F) and Chanz Aldridge (6'1''-G/F). McKinney gave the Griffins the lead back at 49-48 with 13:12 to play and later extended hist team's lead to 55-52 after another three just three-minutes later. But that would be the final three off the hot hand of McKinney as the Blackburn defense clamped down. Jarrius Burnett (6'4''-F) came up big down the stretch, putting the Beavers back on top with 9:12 on the clock. He continued his effort minutes later with buckets on back to back trips down the court that put Blackburn up 62-55 and gave them breathing room. Noah Coddington (6'7''-F) made a pair of free-throws that brought the Griffins within three at the 5:03 mark. SLIAC Player of the Year Chanz Aldridge took charge and stopped any Griffin momentum with a three on the Beavers next possesssion and Bryson Kirby (6'3''-F) followed with another deep shot to push the score to 68-59. Once again the Griffins made a push, closing to within four points, but again it was Kirby that closed the door with another three, being set up by Aldridge. Aldridge continued his attack with a lay-up moments later and Javon Stovall (6'3''-G) sealed the deal with a steal and lay-up with just 22 ticks remaining. The game featured 9 ties and 8 lead changes with Blackburn shooting a blistering 53-percent from the field as a team. Aldridge would lead all players with 29 points to go on an capture SLIAC Tournament MVP honors. His teammate Bryson Kirby, who finished with 9 points and 6 rebounds, also earned All-Tournament honors. Fontbonne shot just 34-percent in the game and were led by McKinney's 21 point effort, earning him All-Tournament team honors. Joining him on the All-Tournament team was teammate Noah Coddington, who finished with 15 points and 6 rebounds. Other All-Tournament team members were Carver Locke (6'4''-F) from Iowa Wesleyan University and Jarred Johnson (5'11''-PG) from Greenville University. SLIAC Tournament Final: Blackburn - Fontbonne 77-69 SLIAC Tournament Semifinals: Blackburn - Iowa Wesleyan 61-59 Fontbonne - Greenville 155-22 Courtesy of sliac.org All-SLIAC Awards 2021 - Apr 13, 2021
All-Tournament MVP:  Chanz Aldridge (6'1''-G/F) of BlackburnPlayer of the Year: Chanz Aldridge (6'1''-G/F) of BlackburnDefensive Player of the Year: Rodson Etienne (6'3''-F) of WebsterSixth Man of the Year:  David Lopez (6'1''-F) of BlackburnCoach of the Year: Austin Kirby of Blackburn
1st Team Chanz Aldridge (6'1''-G/F) of Blackburn Rodson Etienne (6'3''-F) of Webster Jarryd Fernandes (6'4''-F) of Iowa Wesleyan Ian Milsteadt (6'2''-G) of Eureka Javon Stovall (6'3''-G) of Blackburn
2nd Team Jaxon Althaus (6'5''-F) of Westminster, MO Wynne Brown (5'7''-PG) of Webster Chris Daniels (6'2''-G) of Eureka Anthony Jones (6'2''-G) of Fontbonne Kameron Vinsel (6'1''-G) of Greenville
3rd Team Jaedon Banks (6'9''-F/C) of Eureka Caden Clark (6'0''-PG) of Fontbonne Ethan Hughes (6'5''-F) of Webster Gus Kleekamp (6'3''-G) of Fontbonne Cristian Wagner (6'5''-F) of Blackburn
All-Defensive Team Chanz Aldridge (6'1''-G/F) of Blackburn Jaedon Banks (6'9''-F/C) of Eureka Rodson Etienne (6'3''-F) of Webster Jarryd Fernandes (6'4''-F) of Iowa Wesleyan Javon Stovall (6'3''-G) of BlackburnAll-Sportsmanship Team Bryson Kirby (6'3''-F) of Blackburn Jaedon Banks (6'9''-F/C) of Eureka Trenton Eckert (5'10''-PG) of Fontbonne Kameron Vinsel (6'1''-G) of Greenville Jett Tjaden (5'10''-PG) of Iowa Wesleyan Lance Hatten (5'8''-PG) of Webster Makygh Galbreath (6'1''-G) of Westminster, MO
All-Tournament Team Chanz Aldridge (6'1''-G/F) of Blackburn Bryson Kirby (6'3''-F) of Blackburn Cody McKinney (6'0''-PG) of Fontbonne Noah Coddington (6'7''-F) of Fontbonne Carver Locke (6'4''-F) of Iowa Wesleyan Jarred Johnson (5'11''-PG) of GreenvilleTags : CHANZ ALDRIDGE, BLACKBURN COLLEGE, NCAA3 BASKETBALL |
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