A trio of University of the Fraser Valley hoopsters were honoured as the Canada West conference handed out its post-season awards last week.
Joel Friesen of the Cascades men's squad was named a first team all-star. The third-year guard averaged 16.8 points per game, good for 11th in the conference in scoring. Friesen, a second team all-star last year, was joined on the first all-star team by conference MVP Jamelle Barrett (Saskatchewan), Jordan Baker (Alberta), Ryan MacKinnon (UVic) and Nathan Yu (UBC).
Tessa Klassen and Nicole Wierks of the UFV women's team were also honoured. Klassen, a fifth-year point guard, was a second team all-star after leading the Cascades in scoring at 12.6 points per game.
Wierks is the Canada West nominee for the CIS Tracy MacLeod Award which recognizes perseverance. The third-year forward has been plagued by knee, shoulder and foot injuries dating back to her high school days, but came back strong this season to average 10.6 points and 5.9 rebounds per game.
FORD, SPRING EARN ALL-STAR NODS
A pair of Columbia Bible College basketball players have been named PacWest all-stars.
Kevin Ford, a point guard with the Bearcats men's squad, was a first team all-star after putting together a huge season statistically. He was third in the league in scoring at 19.9 points per game, second in rebounding (8.9), and fifth in assists (5.0).
Melissa Spring of the CBC women's hoops squad was a PacWest second team all-star after leading the league in rebounding with 13.6 boards per game.