Z-Pouch Posted March 7, 2005 Report Posted March 7, 2005 CLEVELAND -- Three specialty awards and the all-MAC Freshman team were announced today as the first of the league's post-season honors signals the tip-off of this week's conference festivities that conclude Saturday night with the conference's championship game at Gund Arena. The five freshmen who comprise the team, as voted by league head coaches, are Bubba Walther from Akron, teammates Leon Williams and Jeremy Fears of Ohio, Kashif Payne of Toledo and Joe Reitz from Western Michigan. Williams, a graduate of Cardinal Gibbons High School in Baltimore, Md, helped the Bobcats increase their win total by seven (from 10 to 17) from last year with averages of 11.3 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. Williams, a 6-foot, 7-inch forward, started all 27 games and added 32 steals and 13 blocked shots. He shot 63.8 percent (118-165) from the field and led all league freshman in rebounding, ranking third in the MAC overall. Joining Williams on the all-Freshman Team is teammate Jeremy Fears, Bubba Walther from Akron and Kashif Payne of Toledo - all guards - and forward/center Joe Reitz of Western Michigan. Fears played in all 27 games for the Bobcats and worked his way into the starting role on 21 occasions. His 10.9 ppg was fourth on the team and he added a team leading 103 assists, the most by a MAC freshman this season, and 48 steals. The 2005 MAC All-Freshman Team Player School Pos. Ht. Hometown/High School Bubba Walther Akron G 6-4 Cincinnati, Ohio/Moeller Leon Williams Ohio F 6-7 Baltimore, Md./Cardinal Gibbons Jeremy Fears Ohio G 6-3 Joliet, Ill./Joliet Township Kashif Payne Toledo G 5-9 Philadelphia, Pa./Mt. Hermon School Joe Reitz WMU F/C 6-7 Fishers, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern 2005 MAC Freshman of the Year - Leon Williams, Ohio (Baltimore,Md./Cardinal Gibbons HS) 2005 Defensive Player of the Year - Chet Mason, Miami (Cleveland, Ohio/South HS) 2005 Sixth Man Award - Mark Bortz, Buffalo (Commerce Township, Mich./Walled Lake HS) The league's all-MAC team, Coach of the Year and Player of the Year will be announced Wednesday, March 9. -MAC- Quote
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