Loyola basketball teams rake in postseason conference accolades

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Loyola Wolf Pack men’s basketball team finished the regular season 28-1 overall with the Southern States Athletic Conference Regular Season Championship and a No. 2 national ranking. On Tuesday, the SSAC showered the Pack with postseason awards.

Not only was head coach Stacy Hollowell named the SSAC Coach of the Year, but senior Zach Wrightsil won the SSAC Player of the Year award, Myles Burns was named the SSAC Defensive Player of the Year for the fourth straight season, and sophomore transfer Brandon Davis was picked as the league’s Newcomer of the Year.

Those three also made the SSAC All-Conference First Team, and Andrew Fava and Terry Smith Jr. made it five honored with SSAC All-Conference Second Team nods.

Meanwhile, the Loyola Wolf Pack women’s basketball conference champions were well represented with 10 total players receiving honors. Kennedy Hansberry highlighted the announcement by earning the SSAC Player of the Year nod, and Taylor Thomas and Sydni Tangle were given the Defensive Player of the year and Sixth Woman of the Year awards, respectively.

Sandra Cannady and Tay Cannon were also honored, joining Hansberry and Thomas on the SSAC All-Conference First Team. Cannady, Hansberry, Thomas, Morgan Hervey, Jazmene McMillan, Kate Petrovic, Eve McFarland and Dajja Williams tied for the league-most on the SSAC All-Academic Team with eight, and McMillan was Loyola’s representative on the league’s Champions of Character Team.

The Pack men also led the SSAC with eight on the SSAC All-Academic Team (Fava, Sam Ater, Luke Ladner, Josh Leaney, Milan Mejia, Zach Muller, Andrew Stagni and Joshua Tolbert), while Tolbert was Loyola’s represented on the Champions of Character Team.

Hollowell guided the Wolf Pack to a program-best 16-0 start to the season, including a program-best 28 wins so far this season. The eighth-year coach has now won 20-plus games in three of the last four seasons, and he secured the program’s first SSAC regular-season title with a season-finale win at No. 5 Talladega. The team’s 17-1 SSAC record is also a program-best.

Wrightsil, who was named SSAC Men’s Basketball Player of the Week six times this season, including the last five weeks, picked up his first Player of the Year title after also earning the Freshman of the Year honor in 2018. The senior led the team with 18.7 points per game, which was second in the conference, and he had a season-best 63.5 field goal percentage. He also led the conference with 8.8 rebounds, and he was second in the league for steals (2.1) and third for blocks (1).

Burns, once again, was the best defensive player in the league, if not the NAIA. Somehow, the Houston, Texas, native outdid his previous three seasons, breaking his own total steals school record while leading the NAIA with 112 steals. His four steals-per-game average easily ranks among the nation’s best, too, and rebounding-wise, Burns is second in the conference with an 8.1-rebound-per-game mark, pulling down 4.1 on the defensive end of the court. His dominant play on defense has led to excellent offense as well, as he’s third on the team with 13.8 points per game, producing 10 double-doubles this season to lead the Pack.

Davis has been a welcomed addition to the team this season, transferring into the program from Delgado Community College in New Orleans. The LaPlace, Louisiana, native leads the team with 4.1 assists per game and he’s second on the team in points (15.9), ranking fourth and sixth in the league in each of those categories. Davis is also a threat from the 3-point line, averaging 2.4 made 3s per game, which is third in the SSAC, while also helping the team on defense with the third-best steal-per-game average in the league at 2.1.

Fava and Smith also played important roles for the Wolf Pack this season, as Fava is fourth on the team with 10.8 points per game and Smith is next with 8.4 points an outing. Fava made his impact at the 3-point line, averaging 2.6 made 3s per game with a 39.2 3-point shooting percentage, both are the second-most in the SSAC. Smith protected the boards, collecting 149 total rebounds this season (74 offensive and 75 defensive) to average 5.1 rebounds per game.

Hansberry paced a Wolf Pack offense that led the league in scoring with 15.3 points per game and 4.3 assists, which ranks third and second in the SSAC. Kennedy also scored in double figures in 19 of the 23 games she played while producing four 20-point games. She scored a career-best 29 points on Feb. 12 against Talladega and a career-high 12-assists four days prior against Blue Mountain on Feb. 8.

Thomas was relentless on defense this season, leading the team with a 2.1 steal-per-game average, which is second in the SSAC. The junior also pulled down five rebounds per game, recording 90 total defensive rebounds, too. Thomas had multi-steal games 11 times this season, and that includes a career-best seven-steal performance in early January, six steals on Jan. 20, and five steals on Jan. 13.

Tangle made her impact for the Pack mostly beyond the arc, as she averaged 2.1 made 3s per game to rank third in the conference. The sophomore transfer made 11 starts, but she mostly came off the bench to make her eligible for the award. She averaged 8.8 points, 3.1 assists and 2.8 rebounds in 24 games this season.

Cannady and Cannon both had great seasons as well, with Cannady recording nine double-doubles while Cannon was second on the team in scoring with 14.1 points per game. Cannady was second in the SSAC with 8.3 rebounds per game, also averaging 11.2 points, and she ranks second in the conference in the rebounding category. Cannon is second in the league in field goal percentage (54.1%), third in steals per game (2), fifth in blocked shots (0.8) and sixth in rebounding (6.4)

The Wolf Pack women finished the regular season 19-5 overall and 13-3 in the SSAC, winning the program’s first SSAC regular season title since 2017.

SSAC MEN’S POSTSEASON AWARDS
Coach of the Year: Stacy Hollowell, Loyola (La.)
Player of the Year: Zach Wrightsil, Loyola (La.)
Defensive Player of the Year: Myles Burns, Loyola (La.)
Newcomer of the Year: Brandon Davis, Loyola (La.)
Freshman of the Year: Damariee Jones, Mobile (Ala.)
Sixth Man of the Year: Edwin Louis, Talladega (Ala.)
Sportsmanship Award: Brewton-Parker (Ga.)

First-Team All-Conference
Gary Jefferson, Mobile (Ala.)
Cam Potts, Talladega (Ala.)
Londell King, Stillman (Ala.)
Tristan Harper, Middle Georgia State
Brandon Davis, Loyola (La.)
CJ Hines, Faulkner (Ala.)
Jalon Perry, Faulkner (Ala.)
Darryl Baker, Talladega (Ala.)
Myles Burns, Loyola (La.)
Zach Wrightsil, Loyola (La.)

Second-Team All-Conference
Terry Smith Jr., Loyola (La.)
Maxwell Starwood, William Carey (Miss.)
Andrew Fava, Loyola (La.)
Jervay Green, Talladega (Ala.)
Trace Hill, Faulkner (Ala.)
Ty Jones, Blue Mountain (Miss.)
Joshua Williams, Mobile (Ala.)
Devin Merriweather, Stillman (Ala.)
Trey Petty, Stillman (Ala.)
Rodley Adjei, Dalton State (Ga.)

All-Freshman Team
Damariee Jones, Mobile (Ala.)
Ezra McKenna, Mobile (Ala.)
Franklin Almonte, Dalton State (Ga.)
Bryce Wilson, Brewton-Parker (Ga.)
Trenton Moye, Mobile (Ala.)
Aaron Udell, Brewton-Parker (Ga.)

Barnes & Noble College All-Academic Team
Cameron Cherry, Brewton-Parker (Ga.)
Chance Hatcher, Brewton-Parker (Ga.)
Jaelin Ferrell, Dalton State (Ga.)
Igor Stokic, Dalton State (Ga.)
Samuel Ater, Loyola (La.)
Andrew Fava, Loyola (La.)
Luke Ladner, Loyola (La.)
Joshua Leaney, Loyola (La.)
Milan Mejia, Loyola (La.)
Zachary Muller, Loyola (La.)
Andrew Stagni, Loyola (La.)
Joshua Tolbert, Loyola (La.)
Jaron Masis, Blue Mountain (Miss.)
Jalen Taylor, Blue Mountain (Miss.)
Luka Tejic, Blue Mountain (Miss.)
Derrick Herrick, William Carey (Miss.)
Emile Kazeneza, William Carey (Miss.)
Zarkeichious Martin, William Carey (Miss.)
John Rawls, William Carey (Miss.)
Max Keebaugh, Mobile (Ala.)
Tadeas Manas, Mobile (Ala.)
Trace Hill, Faulkner (Ala.)
Jordan Hamlette, Faulkner (Ala.)
Daniel Garmendia, Faulkner (Ala.)
Rashad Elloie, Middle Georgia State
Siage Batten, Middle Georgia State
TJ Morgan, Middle Georgia State
Eddie Galloway, Stillman (Ala.)
Travious Johnson, Stillman (Ala.)
Jordan Crumbley, Talladega (Ala.)
Trevon Adams, Talladega (Ala.)

Champions of Character Team
Trace Hill, Faulkner (Ala.)
Josiah Moore, William Carey (Miss.)
Josh Tolbert, Loyola (La.)
Igor Stokic, Dalton State (Ga.)
Richard Boggan, Talladega (Ala.)
David Reynolds, Stillman (Ala.)
Cole McGrath, Blue Mountain (Miss.)
Gary Jefferson, Mobile (Ala.)
Charles Ubah, Middle Georgia State
Cameron Cherry, Brewton-Parker (Ga.)

SSAC WOMEN’S POSTSEASON AWARDS
Coach of the Year: Reed Sutton, Faulkner (Ala.)
Player of the Year: Kennedy Hansberry, Loyola (La.)
Defensive Player of the Year: Taylor Thomas, Loyola (La.)
Newcomer of the Year: Sydni Tears, Talladega (Ala.)
Freshman of the Year: Carmen Taylor, Blue Mountain (Miss.)
6th Woman of the Year: Sydni Tangle, Loyola (La.)
Sportsmanship Award: William Carey (Miss.)

First-Team All-Conference
Sandra Cannady, Loyola (La.)
Rebekah Engle, William Carey (Miss.)
Destanee Wright, Middle Georgia State
Taylor Thomas, Loyola (La.)
Madison Evans, Brewton-Parker (Ga.)
McKinley Seal, William Carey (Miss.)
Tay Cannon, Loyola (La.)
Sydni Tears, Talladega (Ala.)
Ashlyn Adkins, Faulkner (Ala.)
Kennedy Hansberry, Loyola (La.)

Second-Team All-Conference
Lauren Rowley, William Carey (Miss.)
Angela Grant, Faulkner (Ala.)
Fu’Tra Banks, Talladega (Ala.)
Laneja Warner, Stillman (Ala.)
Sidney Sims, Mobile (Ala.)
Angel McRae, Brewton-Parker (Ga.)
Carmen Taylor, Blue Mountain (Miss.)
Erica Jones, Mobile (Ala.)
Kameron Shelley, Talladega (Ala.)
Morgan Holland, Faulkner (Ala.)

All-Freshman Team
Carmen Taylor, Blue Mountain (Miss.)
Crystin Guy, Blue Mountain (Miss.)
Charmen Taylor, Blue Mountain (Miss.)
Nequoia Adams, Faulkner (Ala.)
Angel McRae, Brewton-Parker (Ga.)

Barnes & Noble College All-Academic Team
Tamera Alexander, Brewton-Parker (Ga.)
Cisley Copper, Brewton-Parker (Ga.)
Chmaiya Miller, Brewton-Parker (Ga.)
Sandra Cannady, Loyola (La.)
Kennedy Hansberry, Loyola (La.)
Morgan Hervey, Loyola (La.)
Jazmene McMillan, Loyola (La.)
Kate Petrovic, Loyola (La.)
Taylor Thomas, Loyola (La.)
Dajja Williams, Loyola (La.)
Eve McFarland, Loyola (La.)
Carissa Horton, Blue Mountain (Miss.)
Julia Nicholson, Blue Mountain (Miss.)
Olivia Chadwell, Blue Mountain (Miss.)
Kandice Ricks, Blue Mountain (Miss.)
Rebekah Engle, William Carey (Miss.)
Jamaya Galloway, William Carey (Miss.)
Gabrielle Gallup, William Carey (Miss.)
Morgan Jones, William Carey (Miss.)
Sabreya Lee, William Carey (Miss.)
Lauren Rowley, William Carey (Miss.)
McKinley Seal, William Carey (Miss.)
Kyley Seals, William Carey (Miss.)
Mary Denman Luker, Mobile (Ala.)
Claire Worth, Mobile (Ala.)
Channing Gafford, Faulkner (Ala.)
Morgan Holland, Faulkner (Ala.)
Angela Grant, Faulkner (Ala.)
Megan Wilkinson, Faulkner (Ala.)
Jacie Andrews, Faulkner (Ala.)
Olivia Colson, Faulkner (Ala.)
Evaiah Burrows, Faulkner (Ala.)
Micala Fisanick, Faulkner (Ala.)
Tamira Anderson, Middle Georgia State
Imanni Wimbush-Gay, Stillman (Ala.)
Jocelyn Anderson, Talladega (Ala.)
Champions of Character Team
Tyra Wilson, Brewton-Parker (Ga.)
Jamaya Galloway, William Carey (Miss.)
Devyn Lockhart, Stillman (Ala.)
Jazmene McMillan, Loyola (La.)
Megan Wilkinson, Faulkner (Ala.)
Kameron Shelley, Talladega (Ala.)
Miya Kimber, Mobile (Ala.)
Jade Wells, Blue Mountain (Miss.)
Jurnee Powell, Middle Georgia State

You can keep up with the Pack by following Wolf Pack Athletics on Facebook at Facebook.com/LoyolaWolfPack, Twitter and Instagram @LoyolaWolfPack, and by checking out our website at LoyolaWolfPack.com