Eight members of Chiefs' basketball programs honored
The Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference (ISCC) and the NJCAA Region IV Basketball Committee recognized eight members of Waubonsee Community College’s basketball programs for their outstanding play this past season. Men’s basketball players Tyrone Carey, Germaine Roebuck, Alec Goetz and Deon Ward, along with head coach Dave Heiss, all received post-season honors. A trio of freshman women’s basketball players, Mozelle Kempiak, Lauren Goff and Alexis VanWyhe were also recognized.
Carey, a 6’2” sophomore was named to the All-ISCC First Team, the All-Region First Team and was selected the Most Valuable Player of the Region IV Division II District 4B Tournament after helping lead the Chiefs to the championship. The Aurora West High School graduate led Waubonsee in scoring with a 19.3 points-per-game (ppg) average, while also grabbing 6.0 rebounds and handing out 4.5 assists per contest. Carey led the Chiefs with 163 assists and also shot 42.9 percent (54 of 126) from three-point range. Among all NJCAA Division II players, the Chiefs’ small forward was eighth in total points (693) and free throws made (163), and ninth in total field goals made (238).
A 6’5” forward, Roebuck was tabbed All-ISCC First Team, All-Region First Team and was named to the Region IV Division II District 4B All-Tournament team. The Champaign Central High School graduate was a force inside for Waubonsee, averaging 9.4 rebounds and 18.3 points a game. Roebuck was fourth nationally in offensive rebounds (148), fifth in total field goals made (272), ninth in total rebounds (340) and 13th in total points (660) among all NJCAA Division II players.
Goetz, a St. Charles North High School product, was also an All-ISCC First Team selection and was named to the All-Region Second Team. The 6’0” shooting guard averaged 17.1 ppg in conference play and shot 85.7 percent from the foul line. The sophomore also averaged 3.1 assists per contest and led Waubonsee with 102 made three-pointers, placing him 10th nationally among all NJCAA Division II players in that category.
Ward earned All-ISCC Second Team honors as the Chiefs’ sixth man. The Champaign Centennial High School graduate averaged 14.4 ppg while coming off the bench in all but one of Waubonsee’s 36 games played. The 6’0” sophomore guard reached double digits in points 24 times, and also averaged 3.1 assists a game and was third on the team with 104 made free throws.
Heiss, in his 32nd season leading Waubonsee’s program, was chosen as the ISCC Men’s Basketball Coach of the Year and the Region IV Division II District 4B Coach of the Year. The Aurora West High School alumnus led unranked Waubonsee to a top-12 finish nationally. It was the sixth time Heiss has guided a team to a berth in the NJCAA Division II National Tournament. The Chiefs finished the season 26-10 overall and were co-champions of the ISCC, the 12th title for Waubonsee under Heiss’ direction. In early February he coached his 1,000th career game and later in the month joined a select group of NJCAA coaches when he guided the Chiefs to victory for the 600th time.
Kempiak was named to the All-ISCC First Team and the All-Region First Team. The Serena High School product averaged a double-double for the season, scoring 14.4 points and grabbing 11.8 rebounds per game. In ISCC action the 5’11” freshman center was even better, averaging 16.9 points and 13.5 boards per contest while helping lead Waubonsee to the ISCC title with an 11-3 record. Kempiak finished the season ninth nationally in offensive rebounds (152) and 12th in total rebounds (342) among all NJCAA Division II players.
Goff, a Sycamore High School graduate, was also an All-ISCC First Team and All-Region First Team selection. The 5’4” freshman averaged 14.8 ppg and 6.0 rebounds in conference play. The Chiefs’ point guard also averaged 4.4 assists per contest, and led the team with 68 made three-pointers and 129 total assists on the season.
A 5’9” freshman forward, Van Wyhe was tabbed an All-ISCC Second Teamer after averaging 12.8 ppg and 5.8 rebounds. The Indian Creek High School alumnus also averaged 3.2 assists per game and led the Chiefs with 87 made free throws on the year.
