Fiegi Named NAIA Player of Year; 4 Other CCC Players Honored

3/18/2008 5:25:00 PM

POINT LOOKOUT, Mo. – Oregon Tech’s Ryan Fiegi, a 6-7 senior guard/forward from Medford, Ore., today was named the NAIA Division II men’s basketball Player of the Year, the national office announced.

Fiegi is the second player in CCC history to earn NAIA Division II men’s basketball Player of the Year honors, joining Southern Oregon University’s Shea Washington, who won the award in 2006.

One other Cascade Collegiate Conference player, Warner Pacific College’s Scott O’Gallagher, joined Fiegi on the NAIA’s All-America first team. O’Gallagher is one of four repeat first-team selections from 2007.

Other CCC players honored as All-Americans were Eastern Oregon’s Mark Carollo, a second-team choice; Evergreen’s Nate Menefee, a third-team selection; and College of Idaho’s Josh Owen, who was named honorable mention.

Fiegi, a second team All-America pick a year ago, led the Hustlin’ Owls to a runner-up finish in the CCC and a spot in tonight’s national championship game vs. Bellevue. In 36 games this season, Fiegi is averaging 20.2 points, 6.2 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game. In four games here at the NAIA’s national tournament, Fiegi is averaging 22.5 points and 3.8 assists while shooting nearly 55 percent from the field. He has been OIT’s leading scorer in all four games leading up to the championship tilt.

Fiegi is the fifth player in OIT history to earn first team NAIA All-America honors.

O’Gallagher, a 6-2 guard from Gresham, Ore., led the CCC in scoring (23.9 ppg) and helped lead the Knights to a CCC tournament championship and third straight berth in the NAIA tournament. It is the fifth time a player from WPC has been recognized as an NAIA All-American in men’s basketball.

Carollo, a 6-5 senior from Hermiston, Ore., led Eastern Oregon to its first conference title in 38 years and a first-ever berth in the national tournament. Carollo averaged 19.4 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. He is the first EOU player to earn NAIA All-America honors in men’s basketball.

Menefee, a 5-10 sophomore from Lacey, Wash., ranked No. 2 in the CCC in scoring (22.8 ppg) and led the Geoducks to a third-place conference finish, a spot in the CCC tournament championship game and only the second winning season in the 10-year history of the program. Menefee is the fourth player in school history to be recognized as an NAIA All-American in men’s basketball.

Owen, a 5-11 senior from Caldwell, Idaho, averaged 17.4 points per game and led the CCC in 3-point field goals made per game (3.0).

First Team All-Americans

Second Team All-Americans

Third Team All-Americans