By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information
Toledo, Ohio---Kenny Jones and Sierra Harley have been named the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) player of the week selections in men's and women's basketball, respectively.
Jones, a sophomore forward for the No. 14 Owens Community College men's basketball team, averaged 13.5 points, 11.5 rebounds, four blocks and one steal per game in wins over Columbus State Community College and No. 11 Cincinnati State Technical and Community College last week.
In a 103-77 win over Columbus State, Jones produced 12 points, six rebounds and three blocks. Then, in a 107-102 overtime win over Cincinnati State on Saturday, Jones led Owens to a share of the OCCAC championship with 15 points, 17 rebounds, five blocks and one steal.
In conference play, Jones averaged 13.1 points, eight rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game for Owens (24-6, 12-2 OCCAC), who shared the OCCAC title with Lakeland.
Jones and the Express will open the Region XII District 11 postseason tournament as the No. 2 seed and will take on the winner of No. 3 seed Cincinnati State and No. 6 seed Columbus State on Friday at 8 p.m. The winner advances to the championship game on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. All games are at Ohio Christian University in Circleville, Ohio.
Harley, meanwhile, led the No. 2 Owens Community College women's basketball team to a perfect 14-0 conference season with wins over Columbus State and Cincinnati State by averaging 18.5 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and 2.5 steals per game.
In the team's 90-67 win over Columbus State, Harley had 20 points, 11 rebounds, five assists and four steals. She followed that up with 17 points, nine rebounds, seven assists and one steals in an 87-66 win over Cincinnati State.
It is her third OCCAC player of the week award of the conference season, and it is her fourth overall this season.
The freshman guard averaged 15.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, 6.2 assists and 3.3 steals per game in conference play for Owens (29-1 overall, 14-0 OCCAC), who secured its third straight OCCAC championship.
Harley and her teammates are the winners of 29 straight and have the No. 1 seed in the upcoming Region XII District I tournament. They will play on Friday at 1 p.m. in the semifinals against the winner of No. 4 seed Sinclair Community College and No. 5 seed Lakeland Community College. The winner plays in the championship game at 1 p.m. on Saturday. All games are at Ohio Christian University in Circleville, Ohio.