MARIETTA, Ohio — Marietta College placed four players on the 2021-22 All-Ohio Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Team announced Friday (Feb. 25) morning by the league office.
Jason Ellis (Marion, Ohio/Marion Harding) was named the Dick Reynolds Player of the Year and head coach
Jon VanderWal earned Coach of the Year honors.
Ellis and
Lukas Isaly (Clarington, Ohio/River) were named first team All-OAC, while
Tim Kreeger (Delphos, Ohio/Delphos St. Johns) and
Mason Lydic (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio/Woodridge) earned honorable mention accolades.
"I am so happy for these guys and the entire senior class. They have gone through so much the last two years and never lost their focus and determination to bring a championship to Marietta College," VanderWal said. "Not only are they great basketball players, they are even better young men and their leadership has been invaluable to our program."
Ellis becomes just the third Pioneer to earn first team All-OAC honors three times joining Marietta College Hall of Famers Mark Davis and Jesse DuPerow. In addition to his three first team honors, Ellis earned honorable mention recognition as a freshman.
The sharpshooting wing is the seventh player in OAC men's basketball history, and the first Pioneer, to win Player of the Year honors in back-to-back seasons. Ellis leads Marietta in scoring averaging 17.3 points per game. He is currently seventh on Marietta's all-time scoring list with 1,470 career points and is poised to become only the seventh player in program history to eclipse 1,500 career points.
"Jason has worked so hard to make himself one of the best players in the country," VanderWal said. "Nobody out works him. He can score from anywhere on the floor and is also one of the best defensive players in the conference."
Isaly is making his third appearance on the All-OAC team after earning honorable mention the last two seasons. The Pioneer point guard averages 14.5 points per game and ranks among the conference leaders in three-pointers, three-point shooting percentage, free throw percentage and assists.
Isaly joined Marietta's 1,000-point club this season. He is currently 36th on the all-time scoring list with 1,043 career points.
"Lukas is the best point guard in the conference," VanderWal said. "He unselfishly creates scoring opportunities for our other players, but he is capable of putting the team on his shoulders and scoring points in bunches."
Kreeger is also making his third appearance on the all-conference team after earning second team accolades two years ago and honorable mention last year. The Pioneer big man is averaging 11.6 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. Kreeger joined the 1,000-point club this season as well and is currently 31st on the all-time scoring list with 1,062 career points.
"Tim has expanded his weapons in the post and has made himself one of the top inside players in the conference," VanderWal said. "He has a variety of moves around the basket and he can step out and hit the mid-range jump shot."
Lydic, a second team selection last year, is making his second appearance on the all-conference team. Deadly from the long range, he leads the OAC in three-point shooting converting 45.8% of his shots from beyond the arc. Lydic is averaging 11.3 points per night this season.
"Mason has battled a nagging injury the second half of the season, but has still managed to have a great season," VanderWal said. "He always makes the big shot when we need it and his defense is among the best in the conference, even with his injury."
Marietta is currently 24-2 on the season and on a 22-game winning streak. The Pioneers hist Mount Union on Saturday (Feb. 26) for the OAC Tournament Championship. Tip-off in Ban Johnson Arena is set for 7:30 p.m.
Fans can follow all of the Pioneer teams all year long at
pioneers.marietta.edu. You can also follow the Pioneers on Facebook at
facebook.com/MariettaCollege and @MariettaPioneer on Twitter and Instagram.
