By Nicholas Huenefeld/OCCAC Sports Information
Martell Medley, a sophomore guard for Lakeland Community College, and Karahn Scott, a sophomore forward for Owens Community College, have been named the OCCAC men's and women's basketball players of the week, respectively.
Both players helped their teams win OCCAC championships in the past week.
In a 106-80 win over Cuyahoga last Wednesday, Medley produced 13 points, a career-high nine assists, four rebounds and three steals.
Then, in a victory over Edison Community College on Saturday, Medley scored a career-high 25 points to go along with eight rebounds, five assists and two steals in the 100-79 win.
Medley and the Lakers, with those two wins, clinched at least a share of their first OCCAC championship since 1995. With a win over Sinclair on March 2, they would capture the title outright.
Medley becomes the second Laker to win the award this year. Richard Smith took home the award on Jan. 13.
Meanwhile, Scott opened the week with 17 points, 18 rebounds, four steals and two assists in an 80-70 win over Edison Community College on Feb. 20.
Then, in an 88-79 win over Columbus State Community College on Feb. 23, Scott had 11 points, 13 rebounds and two steals in the OCCAC championship clinching victory.
For the season, Scott is averaging 11.7 points and 10.3 rebounds per game. She has added totals of 55 steals, 26 assists and two blocks this year.
She has produced 11 double-doubles this year - including seven in OCCAC play. She both tied and then broke the program's single game rebounding record in two games this year. Against Mid-Michigan on Dec. 22, Scott had 21 rebounds to tie the record before posting 22 rebounds against Edison on Jan. 30 to break it.
Scott becomes the second consecutive Express player to win the honor and the third overall this year. Uniqua Mitchell won it for the week ending Feb. 17, while Eboni Adams won it Jan. 13.
The Express women (23-7 overall, 10-2 OCCAC) clinched an outright OCCAC championship with their two wins this week.
Thus, with the #1 seed in district play, they will receive a bye in the quarterfinals of the district tournament. They will next play in the semifinals on March 8 against an opponent yet to be determined at 3 p.m. The tournament semifinals and finals will be held in Cincinnati, Ohio.