James, Stark honored as Players of the Year

Story by Gage Johnson, Staff Writer

Senior guards Jonathan Stark and Ke’Shunan James headlined the All-OVC basketball awards winners for Murray State.

Graphic by Rosalynn Churchman

On Tuesday the award winners for the OVC conference were announced. Two women’s Racers were recognized to go along with three men’s Racers.

James was named to the All-OVC first team, as well as the OVC player of the year. This is the third time in her career that she has been named to the all-conference first team, while it is her first time being named the conference’s player of the year. James was the leading scorer in the conference (21.4 PPG) as well as being in the top five in rebounds (8.1 RPG) and steals (2.0 SPG).

Senior forward Bria Bethea was named to the All-OVC second team. This is the first time two teammates have both been named to the all-conference teams in the same season since Ashley N. Hayes and Amber Guffey were in 2008-2009.

Bethea was second on the team in scoring, averaging 15.6 points per game and was second on the team in rebounding, pulling down 6.1 a game.

Stark’s name was called the most for the men’s basketball team. He was also named to the All-OVC first team to go along with the OVC player of the year honor. This is Stark’s second time being named to the all-conference team and his first time being named the conference player of the year. This is the second straight season that he has led the OVC in scoring (21.7 PPG).

Senior forward Terrell Miller and freshman guard Ja Morant joined Stark on the All-OVC first team. Morant averaged 12.6 PPG, 7.3 APG and 6.8 RPG in his freshman season.

Miller’s All-OVC first team recognition was the second of his Racer career. Miller put up 14.7 PPG to go along with top 10 rebounding numbers with 8 RPG a game. Stark and Miller are the 28th and 29th Racers to be named to an all-conference team twice during the collegiate career.

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