COBLESKILL MEN NAMED TO 2008 ALL-REGIONAL BASKETBALL TEAM

Three members of the SUNY Cobleskill men’s basketball team have been named to the 2008 All-NJCAA Region III Division III Team by the region’s coaches. Fighting Tiger senior forward Stanley Francois, Valley Cottage, NY, Suffern High School, was named to the region’s All-Region III Division III First Team while senior power forward Anthony Armstead, Schenectady, NY, Schenectady High School, garnered a spot on the Region III Division III Second Team and senior Harley Fuller, Gloversville, NY, Broadalbin-Perth High School, was named to the All-Region III Division III Third Team. Led by the talented triumvirate the Fighting Tigers posted a 22-6 overall record this season and will meet Onondaga Community College from Syracuse, NY on Friday in the Quarterfinals of the 2008 NJCAA Region III Division III Championship Tournament hosted by Herkimer Community College in Herkimer, NY at 3:00 PM.

The 6’2” Francois earned All-Region III honors for the second consecutive season by playing much bigger than listed averaging 11.8 points, 8.4 points, 1.3 steals, 1.0 assists and 0.5 blocked shots per game this season while converting on 138-of-234 shots from the field for a shooting percentage of 64.5%. During the season the talented forward also posted 10 double/doubles in points and rebounds for the Fighting Tigers scoring in double figures 19 times and taking down double figures in rebounds on 13 occasions in 28 games this year to date.

Armstead used his 6’5” 225 lbs frame to lead the Fighting Tigers in scoring averaging 13.0 points, to go with averaging 4.9 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 1.4 blocked shots and 0.6 steals per game converting on 162-of-270 shots from the floor for a shooting percentage of 60.0%. The Schenectady, NY native posted double/doubles in points and rebounds three times during the year and reached double figures in scoring 19 times thru 28 contests.

At the point guard position, the 6’0” Fuller quarterbacked the Cobleskill offense to a highly productive 83.5 points per game on 52.6% field goal shooting on the season. During the campaign the Broadalbin-Perth High School alumnus averaged 6.9 points, 8.8 assists, 3.8 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game connecting on 60-of-130 shot attempts for a 46.2% field goal percentage including 15-of-43 from three-point range for a 34.9% mark. Fuller had three double/doubles in points and assists on the season reaching double figures in assists 15 times in 26 appearances to date. 

“We’re very proud of what Stanley, Anthony and Harley have accomplished for us this season and it have been a pleasure for me to have worked with these young men these past two seasons,” said Fighting Tiger Head Coach Kevin McCarthy. “They have been a major reason for our success this year to date and we are looking forward for them to take their games to an even higher level this weekend at the regional championships this weekend in Herkimer.”

During the tenure of Fighting Tiger Head Coach Kevin McCarthy, Fighting Tiger players have been honored 33 times with NJCAA All-Region III Division III Team status. This season also marks the team’s 15th post-season appearance and 13th twenty-win season under McCarthy’s direction.