Region XV Men’s Basketball Awards Announced

As the regular season has ended, the Region XV coaches met on Sunday to make their selections for the Region XV Division II All-Region teams, Coach of the Year, and Sportsmanship Award recipients. Orange, deservedly well represented, placed five individuals on the different award lists after compiling a 22-5 record overall and a 6-2 record in the Mid-Hudson Conference. Orange sophomore's George Patsalos and Jared Smalls were voted first team All-Region XV while freshman Marquis Gill found himself on the second team. Tyreke Harewood rounded out players who won awards for Orange with the Region XV DII Men's Basketball Sportsmanship Award. Finally, Coach Tom Rickard was chosen the Region XV Division II Coach of the Year by his fellow Region XV coaches.

Patsalos, out of New Windsor, NY was a double double machine for the Colts this year. He averaged 13.3 points per game on 60% shooting and averaged 10.7 rebounds per game. He also led the team in blocks per game and George showed an ability to play at an elevated level on both ends of the court. Middletown's Jared Smalls will go down as one of the best true point guards in orange history. His play was as unselfish as it comes as he continuously passed up his own shots to find open teammates. His 8.6 assists per game put him second on the all-time orange records list. His steals per game and assist to turnover ratio are also both top ten in the record books. Another Middletown, NY standout for the Colts is the team's leading scorer Marquis Gill. His 14.7 points per game lead the way for the Colts and his eighty-three 3-point field goals is good for fourth all-time and his 8 3 pointers in one game against Western Connecticut JV puts him fourth on that list, Gill also led the team with the most points scored at 383 total points. Tyreke Harewood, hailing from Bridgetown, Barbados spent much of the season hampered by minor injuries. When he was on the court, he was a dominant presence for Orange.

Coach Rickard's second Coach of the Year selection was well earned. After going to the national Final Four the previous season, Coach had to find five new starters. Re-tool he did, as the team, as it has many times under his coaching tenure, reached twenty or more wins for the season. His career record stands at a gaudy 227-93 in twelve seasons.