Webster, MacMurray Take Home SLIAC Men's Basketball Top Individual Honors

ST. LOUIS - The St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) has announced the 2011-12 All-Conference Men's Basketball Team and special award winners. Webster University's Stefan Whittingham was tabbed the SLIAC Player of the Year, while head coach Chris Bunch earned Coach of the Year honors. MacMurray College's Clayton Whitlock was also named the SLIAC Newcomer of the Year.

Whittingham, a sophomore forward, averaged 17.5 points per game to lead the SLIAC in scoring this season. He also averaged 8.9 rebounds per game to rank second in the league, and he ranked third with a 57.9 field goal percentage.  In addition to Player of the Year honors, Whittingham also received First Team All-SLIAC.

Whitlock, a freshman forward, helped lead the Highlanders to a 10-6 conference record and a spot in the 2012 SLIAC Tournament. He averaged 11.9 points per game and ranked fifth in the SLIAC in both field goal percentage (55.5) and free throw percentage (80.0)

Bunch led the Gorloks to a 13-3 conference record and their seventh regular season conference championship. It marks the fourth time that Bunch has earned the honor from his peers, with his last Coach of the Year award coming in 2007-08.

Greenville College received the Sportsmanship Award for the fifth consecutive year. The team Sportsmanship Award is given to the team whose players, coaches and fans best exhibit the principles of good sportsmanship. The SLIAC also recognizes one individual from each team, selected by his coach and teammates, who throughout the season best displays the ideals fo sportsmanship. The 2011-12 All-Sportsmanship Team includes Jon Lowry (Blackburn), Rian Nailor (Eureka), Yada Demisse (Fontbonne), Jose Garcia (Greenville), Luke Bishop (MacMurray), Matt Jones (Principia), Thomas Blakemore (Spalding), Jarrod Huskey (Webster) and Kelsey Weymuth (Westminster).

The 2011-12 All-SLIAC Teams are as follows:

FIRST TEAM
Dustin Fritsch, Eureka (Jr., Forward)
Mark Lessen, Eureka (Jr., Center)
Jametrius Brasher, Spalding (Jr., Forward)
Roman Robinson, Webster (Jr., Forward)
Stefan Whittingham, Webster (So., Forward)

SECOND TEAM
Julian Lott, Blackburn (Sr., Guard)
Markeith Brown, Greenville (Sr., Guard)
KJ Hilliard, Greenville (Sr., Guard)
Clayton Whitlock, MacMurray (Fr., Center)
Joe Prophet, Westminster (Jr., Guard)

HONORABLE MENTION
Jordan Kindred, Eureka (Jr., Guard)
Clint Lee, MacMurray (Sr., Guard)
Brady Slagle, MacMurray (So., Forward)
Cody Bradfisch, Webster (Jr., Guard)
Verdis Lee, Jr., Westminster (Fr., Guard)

ALL-DEFENSIVE TEAM
Mark Lessen, Eureka (Jr., Center)
Cody Best, MacMurray (Jr., Guard)
Thomas Blakemore, Spalding (So., Guard)
Jametrius Brasher, Spalding (Jr., Forward)
Hollis Edwards, Webster (So., Guard)