LANSING, MI – The Michigan Community College Athletic Association released the post season awards for men's basketball. Six different Norse players were recognized for their efforts this year and for the second year in a row, Head Coach Matt Johnson is the Northern Conference Coach of the Year.
Genesis Kemp (SO, Grand Rapids, MI) headlines the Norse list. He was named to the All-MCCAA Team and was named the to the First Team All-Northern Conference. Kemp averaged 12.8 points per game while shooting 49.6% for the season. He also grabbed 5.8 rebounds per game.
Kairee Gadson (FR, Rochester, MN) also received First Team All-Conference, as well as being named to the All-Freshmen and All-Defensive Teams. Gadson averaged 12.3 points per game, had 61 assists and 20 steals on the season, and shot 48.4%.
Three Norse Players received Second Team All-Conference. Baril Mawo (SO, Manchester, NH) is one of those honorees and was also named to the All-Defensive Team. Mawo started in 30 games for the Norse this season and put up 11.7 points per game while shooting 51.6%. He averaged 6.9 rebounds per game, which led the team. He led the team with 49 steals and had 11 blocks on the season.
Ryan Sweeney (FR, Green Bay, WI) was not only named to the Second Team All-Conference, but also to the All-Freshmen Team as well. Sweeney led the Norse in scoring at 13.6 points per game and shot 52.2% from the floor. He also led the team in assists (108) and had 46 steals. He is the only Norse player to play in all 32 games and started 31 of them.
Joshua Ofori (FR, Shakopee, MN) was the third Norse player to be listed on the All-Conference Second Team and All-Freshmen lists. He shot 53.7% for the season, which helped him average 12.7 points per game. He grabbed 5.2 rebounds per game and tied for the team lead with 20 blocks for the season. Ofori started in 28 of the 30 contests he played in.
Nic Williams (FR, La Crosse, WI) was the final player from Bay College to earn recognition and was placed on the All-Conference Honorable Mention Team. Nic started and played in 20 games in an injury shortened season, and averaged 13.4 points per game while shooting 54.8%. He had 48 assists and 25 steals in those games.
"I am very proud of these six young men," Head Coach Matt Johnson said. "Each of these guys had incredible seasons, helping us win back-to-back MCCAA North Division Championships, elevating our program to another level. The individual honors are well deserved and our team success was due to the unselfishness and team-first mentality of all of them. This was as fun of a team to coach as I have ever been apart of, they made coming to the gym everyday a blast. The future is bright for all of these guys and the Bay College Men's Basketball program. I look forward to watching all of the continue to play, grow, and do incredible things in their future endeavors."
Matt Johnson has been named as the MCCAA Northern Conference Coach of the Year for the second time. He led Bay College to a 27-5 overall record and a 13-1 record in conference. The Norse were the Northern Conference Champions, but for the second season in a row they lost in the Region Championship game, this time to Hocking College.