By Gargoyle sports staff
Posted Tuesday, March 6, 2007, The OG, boys basketball & girls basketball & sports

THE UNI BASKETBALL community gathered at Gregory Hall on Monday for a night of awards, refreshments, and the traditional season video, as the boys and girls varsity, junior varsity, and subbie teams were honored. Individual awards went to members of the JV and varsity. Junior Aran Yoo won the most valuable player award for the girls, while junior Mike Renner was named MVP for the boys.

The girls varsity, despite injuries to key players Samantha Nguyen and Rachel Skoza, finished 12-13 overall and 8-4 in the ECIC, which was good for third place in the East Central Illinois Conference. The boys varsity finished 15-13 overall and 11-1 in the ECIC, clinching the school's third straight conference title.

This year's head coaches for the girls were Rebecca Murphy, varsity; Becca Nitzsche, junior varsity; Bianca Zaharescu and Morgan Reeder, subfreshmen. The head coaches for the boys were Joel Beesley, varsity; Cole Cruz, junior varsity; Rick Murphy, subfreshmen.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Junior Varsity Awards

— Most improved player: Rachel Harmon

— Most intense player: Karen Woodley

— Most dedicated player: Angie Jin

— Outstanding defender: Michelle Wong

Varsity Awards

— Top scorer: Rachel Skoza, 11.9 points per game (237 total)

— Top rebounder: Rachel Skoza, 7.8 rebounds per game (155 total)

— Most steals: Aran Yoo, 5.5 steals per game (131 total; News-Gazette area leader)

— Most assists: Sarah Pfander, 2.0 assists per game (51 total)

— Most improved player: Sarah Pfander

— Most dedicated player: Samantha Nguyen

— MVP: Aran Yoo

— Outstanding defender: Ruthie Welch

— Tough Illinek: Mandy Grill

— Sophia Neely Honorary Coaches Award for Exemplary Leadership and Sportsmanship: Bianca Zaharescu

— East Central Illinois Conference All-Conference team members: Rachel Skoza (unanimous), Aran Yoo

— ECIC honorable mention: Sarah Pfander, Jessi Sullivan

— IHSA Three-Point Showdown: Jessi Sullivan, state qualifier

BOYS BASKETBALL

Junior Varsity Awards

— Team dedication: Nick Zukoski

— Sportsmanship: Jack Snyder

— Best defensive player: Malcolm Taylor

— Most improved player: Nile Hamer

— MVP: Stephen Prochaska

Varsity Awards

— Top scorer: Mike Renner, 17.1 points per game (462 total)

— Top rebounder: Isaac Radnitzer, 5.8 rebounds per game (157 total)

— Most steals: Mike Renner, 2.7 steals per game (72 total)

— Most assists: Chumar Williams, 4.4 assists per game (122 total)

— Most improved player: Frankie McFarland

— Most dedicated player: Alan Kessler

— MVP: Mike Renner

— Leadership: Chumar Williams

— Sportsmanship: Michael Belmont

— Best defense: Michael Belmont

— Tough Illinek: Michael Renner

— Hussle: Austin Rundus

— ECIC All-Conference team members: Mike Renner (unanimous), Chumar Williams, Michael Belmont

— ECIC honorable mention: Isaac Radnitzer

RELATED

— Girls 2006-07 varsity season: Links to complete Gargoyle coverage

— Boys 2006-07 varsity season: Links to complete Gargoyle coverage