Sports

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Huntington backcourt duo Zach Goodline and Lane Sparks are two of the best players in the league as announced by the Crossroads League earlier today. The pair were two of the top ten players named First Team All-League as picked by the CL coaches.

Goodline has been a First Teamer in each of his four years as a Forester which includes being named Player of the Year last season. The 6-1 point guard is currently pouring in 21.0 points per night to rank fifth among his league peers in scoring. He leads the CL in steals (2.4) and is second in assists (5.7).

To date, Goodline has piled up 2,391 career points to rank third on HU’s all-time scoring list. He’s also handed out 620 dimes. He is the program’s only player to have posted over 2,000 points and 500 assists.

For the second straight year, Sparks garnered First Team All-League praises. A scorer at all three levels, Sparks puts up a team-leading 21.5 points per night which is the fourth best average in the league. He has missed just 13 free throws this season to lead the league at the line where he is shooting 89.6 percent (112-for-125).

The 6-3 guard, Freshman of the Year as a rookie, rips down 4.3 boards and snags 1.7 steals per outing. He is also shooting just under 50.0 percent from the field (239-for-488) which includes having knocked down a team-best 55 three-pointers.

Two other Foresters, juniors Landen Jordan and Jackson Paul, were honored by the conference as well.

Jordan, a dominant presence down low for Alford’s crew, earned a spot on the Second Team. He does a little bit of everything for the Foresters which includes averaging 11.9 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.4 blocks and 1.1 steals per game.

The 6-9 forward is sitting third in the league in blocks and fifth in rebounding and field goal percentage. He has connected on 145 of his 227 shots taken for 63.9 percent.

Paul has earned the respect of the league coaches as a defensive stopper and for his efforts is one of five players to land a spot on the All-Defensive Team. No slouch on the offensive end where he chips in 9.5 points per night, the 6-1 guard is better known as a menace on defense where he routinely hounds opponents’ top perimeter player.

In addition to averaging nearly ten points per night, the Churubusco High School product corrals 3.5 rebounds, swipes 1.4 steals and hands out 1.5 assist.

For the third straight year, the Foresters (21-9) will have a seat at the NAIA National Tournament. Alford and crew will find out Thursday who they will play on March 15 in the opening round.

 

Posted By: Joanne K Green