2006-07 Defenders of the Week
Defender of the Year:
Jerrell Smith, Ctr, Riverside
The defining moment of the season for Riverside was an unprecedented half against OEC rival Saddleback on February 9th. That game featured two teams rated in the top 6 in Southern California, and obviously had OEC title implications.
In that game, Riverside held the Gauchos to exactly 3 points in the entire first half. That is believed to be a state record, even including the era before a shot clock. Saddleback's only basket came on an uncontested lay-up after a steal at midcourt.
In the middle of it all was Smith, who had 6 blocks on the night. By the second half, it got so frustrating for Saddleback that one of their players shot the ball into the wrong basket (but far away from Smith!)
Smith's defensive dominance comes as no surprise to regular viewers of this site, however. He was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Fullcourt Press JUCO Camp last July, largely on the strength of his defensive prowess.
Defender of the Week:
March 3-11: Troy Watson, SG, Ventura
In Ventura's 75-70 win over Riverside in the regional final, the Pirates got a team-wide effort to advance to the state tourney. But a key part of that was keeping scoring win Mookie Pierre from putting up big numbers. Enter Watson, who had primary responsibility on Pierre. The result: Pierre had just 7 points on 3-of-12 from the floor. And Ventura got the win.
Feb 18-24: Wayne Andrews, PF, Compton
In Compton's 87-77 win over Chaffey in the first round of the playoffs, the whole team played a solid game, particularly on defense. But the standout on the defensive end was Andrews. Sometimes overlooked, Andrews is a perfect complementary player, guarding the other team's top scorer and making the most of his opportunities on offense. Against Chaffey, he had 3 blocks and a game-high 11 rebounds, and helped hold Panther standout Mike Strawberry to 3-for-14 shooting. And he even managed 21 points on the offensive end. It all added up to an upset win for the Tartars.
------------------------------------
All too often, it's easy to overlook defensive performances. Yet defense is often the key to winning, and a player can make an impact on a game through his defense as easily (perhaps more easily) than by merely scoring.
Twice in mid 2002-03, a player's excellent but nearly-overlooked defense was pointed out to me. And that inspired me to create a weekly award for this site: Defender of the Week.
This "award" is much like any "Player of the Week" award, except that this will be awarded solely on the basis of a player's individual defensive performance. Of course it's going to be quite subjective and solely my opinion, but it will give me an opportunity to recognize some players whose contributions could otherwise go unnoticed.
Defender of the Year for 2005-06: Joseph Taylor, Ctr, LA City
2005-06 Defenders of the Week:
Nov 9-13: Joseph Taylor, Ctr, LA City
Nov 16-22: Derrick Williams, F, Canyons
Nov 26-27: Rai Colston, PG, LA Valley
Nov 29-Dec 4: Corey McIntosh, PG and Jibri Taylor, SG, Fullerton
Dec 8-10: Joseph Walker, Ctr, Compton
Dec 11-17: Kevin Ochoa, PG, Foothill
Dec 18-24: Leslie Malone, C, Merced
Dec 26-30: David Van Someren, SG, Ventura
Jan 4-11: James Reynolds, SG, Citrus
Jan 18-21: Joseph Taylor, C, LA City
Jan 23-28: Michael Earl, C, Fullerton
Feb 1-4: Charles Dillon, SF, Ventura
Feb 8-15: Shakir Johnson, C, Santa Monica
Feb 16-18: Jason McClure, C, Chaffey
Feb 19-25: Aaron Scott, SF, Sequoias
March 4-12: Phil Jones, SF, Fullerton
Defender of the Year for 2004-05: Ruben Mitchell, SF, Desert
2004-05 Defenders of the Week:
Nov. 7: Ruben Mitchell, SF, Desert
Nov 10-17: James Chang, SG, El Camino
Nov 26-28: Kevin Thomas, PG, Compton
Dec 2-5: Brandon Murray, C, Antelope Valley
Dec 9-14: Keith Allen, SF, Mt. San Antonio
Dec 15-17: Marcus Dorsey, PF, Feather River
Dec 18-23: Kevin Hasenfus, C, Delta
Dec 27-29: Cedric Davis, SF and Andrew Morris, C, Canyons
Jan 2-8: Bryce Sheldon, SF, Fullerton
Jan 9-15: Kevin Henderson, PG, San Bernardino Valley
Jan 16-22: Carlton Spencer, SF/SG, Canyons
Jan 23-29: Cedric Davis, PF, Canyons
Feb 1-5: Ruben Mitchell, SF, Desert
Feb 6-12: David Van Someren, SG, Ventura
Feb 13-19: Juma Kamara, SF, San Francisco
Feb 20-26: Kenji Rocket, PG, Ventura
Mar 5-10: Chris Walker, PG, Delta
2003-04 Defenders of the Week:
11/9/03: Omar Cowan, SF, Santa Barbara
11/16/03: Kyle Myrick, SF, Riverside
11/30/03: Ian Parks, PF, Santa Ana
12/7/03: Andrew Bruckner, C, Canyons
12/14/03: Durell Davis, PF, Canyons
12/21/03: Ronnie Holmes, PG, Ohlone
12/31/03: Anthony Davis, SG, LA City
1/5/04: Andrew Bruckner, C, Canyons
1/10/04: Eric Jones, G, Santa Monica
1/17/04: Kevin Johnson, PF, LA Pierce
1/24/04: Simon Coetzee, C, Pasadena
1/31/04: Tony Key, C, LA City
2/7/04: Rendell Pegg, F, LA Valley
2/14/04: Steve Thompson, SF, Citrus
2/21/04: Reggie Johnson, PF, West LA
2/27/04: Stane's Bufford, C, Fullerton
3/6/04: Gary Looney, PG, Compton
---------
2002-03 Defender of the Year: Midwin Francis, PF, LA Valley
The first annual Defender of the Year award is Francis, whose activity inside was the anchor to his team and its success. Always looking for steals, deflections and blocks, Francis averaged 3.7 steals a game in the three games I saw though his dirsuptive effect went far beyond these numbers. The number that best reflects his value is his team's record: they went 27-8.
2002-03 Defenders of the Week:
Nov 17: Germaine Dixon,SG, Glendale
Nov 24: Midwin Francis, PF, LA Valley
Dec 1: Midwin Francis, PF, LA Valley
Dec 8: Trae Fortier, PF, Antelope Valley
Dec 15: Eric Norcross, SF, Santa Monica
Dec 22: Jeff Jones, C, San Jose
Dec 29: Tyrone Riley, C, LA City
Jan 5: Tezzaray Banks, C, Cerritos
Jan 12: Rashien Little, PG, Ventura
Jan 19: (tie) Joakim Kjellbom, C, Irvine Valley
Jan 19: (tie) Damon Knight, SG, Mt. San Antonio
Jan 26: Steve McMaryion, SF, West Los Angeles
Feb 2: Chris Adams, C, San Francisco
Feb 9: Mike Morales, PG, Canyons
Feb 16: Eric Jones, PG, Santa Monica
Feb 23: Rashien Little, PG, Ventura
Mar 2: Quinton Crenshaw, PG, West LA
Mar 9: Marko Mihailovic, SG, Santa Monica
Mar 16: Julian Sensley, C, LA City
