Roadrunners Earn Postseason Accolades
Program's Historic Postseason Run Yields Results
By GARY STALLARD
AC Athletics
The Angelina College Roadrunners' best postseason run in program history certainly yielded results, with several players earning conference recognition – and another player picking up a national tournament honor.
Roadrunner Christian Jones was a 1st Team All-Region selection, while teammate Chris Carpenter picked up 2nd Team All-Region honors.
Daemon Ely, Kanaan Holder and Jordan Mathews each earned Honorable Mention All-Region.
'Runner Kyle Morgan earned All-Tournament recognition following his performance at the NJCAA Division I Men's Tournament in Hutchinson, Kansas, where AC's men finished among the nation's Elite Eight.
Jones, a freshman from Bishop Montgomery High School in Los Angeles, averaged 10. 4 points and 4.1 rebounds per game while leading Region XIV in three-point shooting, converting 45.6 percent of his long-range attempts.
Carpenter, a sophomore from Huntington High School in Shreveport, Louisiana, not only steered the Roadrunners from his point-guard position, but he also built a reputation as a clutch shot maker: Carpenter nailed three buzzer beaters this past season, with two of those game winners. He finished the year among league leaders in assists, having averaged 3.6 per game while scoring 9.4 points per game. Carpenter also converted 86.2 percent of his free throws and 32.6 percent of his three-point attempts.
Freshman Ely from Taos, New Mexico was a force down low for AC, leading all of Region XIV in field-goal percentage (65.4 percent) while finishing sixth in the league in rebounding (7.2 rpg) and fifth in blocks (1.4 bpg).
Hometown guy Holder, from Hudson High School, capped his career as an all-around player by staying among team leaders in several categories, including scoring (9.8 ppg), rebounds (4.1 rpg) and assists (2.3 apg). Holder finished his AC career with 576 points scored.
Mathews, from Peabody High School in Alexandria, Louisiana, teamed with Ely to provide the 'Runners with solid post play, finishing the year having averaged 9.5 points and 6.1 rebounds per contest.
Sophomore Morgan, from Summer Creek High School in Houston, posted solid numbers all season (9.2 ppg, 39.3 percent shooting from three-point range), but saw his stock rise dramatically with a 25-point performance in AC's South Georgia State College in the national tournament.
The Roadrunners finished the season with a 28-7 record, a No. 12 overall ranking, the nation's No. 1 defense and an Elite Eight finish at the national tournament.
The email address for AC's Sports Information Director is gstallard@angelina.edu.