CCRI ROUNDUP

Four Knights’ basketball players earn All-Region

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The CCRI Lady Knights’ basketball team had an up and down year, but will end their season on a high note, with two of their players being named All-Region XXI. 

The two Lady Knights were tri-captain Jesse Ossian (Chandler, Ariz.) and tri-captain Amber Edwards (Boston, Mass.). These awards are certainly deserved, with Ossian and Edwards being two of the hardest working Lady Knights’ players to ever lace them up for CCRI. 

Ossian came to the Community College of Rhode Island all the way for Chandler, Ariz. Ossian has started all 49 games she has played in as a Lady Knight. As a freshman, Ossian averaged 11.3 points, 5.7 assists and 6.3 rebounds per game. Ossian added two double-doubles as a freshman and had her best freshman game when she faced Lincoln College of New England last year, registering a triple-double consisting of 10 points, 12 rebounds and a CCRI single-game record of 16 assists. 

As a sophomore, Ossian is averaging 13.9 points, 2.7 assists and 6.3 rebounds per game. She has had four double-doubles as a sophomore. For her career, Ossian has 622 total points with 202 assists and 310 rebounds. Ossian’s 622 points ranks her No. 16 on the Lady Knights’ all-time scoring list. 

Her career-high in scoring came in her freshman year, when she charted 31 against Lackawanna College at the 2013-14 CCRI Invitational. It was a special day because it was one of the few games her parents, whom also live in Chandler, Ariz., were able to attend.  

Edwards is another two-year player for the Lady Knights from Boston, Mass., who was coached in high school by another CCRI women’s basketball star, Carla Hands. Edwards has started 46 of the 47 games she has played in for CCRI. 

As a freshman, Edwards averaged 11.5 points per game and 8.1 rebounds, while adding 32 assists and 24 steals.

Also as a freshman, she had eight double-doubles with back to back career-high scoring games of 26 points versus Bristol CC and Bunker Hill CC. 

As a sophomore, Edwards is averaging 11.8 points and 7.4 rebounds per game, with 78 assists, 35 steals and five double-doubles. 

For her career, Edwards has 594 points with 394 rebounds.  Edwards’ 594 points ranks her No. 18 on the Lady Knights’ all-time scoring list.

“It was a joy to coach both Amber and Jesse,” head coach Brittany Brown said. “They truly deserve this honor. They never took a day off in practice or a game. I am glad to see their hard work be rewarded with this recognition. It has been my privilege and I couldn’t be more proud.”

Jernigan and Gillis earn All-Region XXI honors

The CCRI men’s basketball team’s season ended this past weekend with an 88-66 loss to Dean in the Region XXI Championship game. However, the Knights did receive some very good news this week, with two Knights earning All-Region XXI honors. 

The two players selected were sophomore tri-captain guard Anthony Jernigan (East Hartford, Conn.) and freshman center Grant Gillis (Jamestown, R.I.). 

“Both Anthony and Grant are outstanding choices to the All-Region XXI team,” head coach Rick Harris said. “The coaches and team congratulate them on their selection.”

As a freshman, Jernigan was one of the Knights’ co-captains, transferring to CCRI from Monroe Community College. Jernigan led the Knights in scoring with 15.6 points per game. Jernigan also led the Knights in assists with 5.5 per game, which ranked him No. 18 in the nation (NJCAA D-II). He also led the Knights in steals per game with 2.5, which ranked him No. 13 in the nation. Jernigan was an explosive scorer with elusive ball skills, which made his tremendously hard to guard.

As a sophomore, Jernigan was selected as a tri-captain and elevated his game to another level by, not only leading the team in scoring with 13.4 points per game, but he also became an excellent facilitator by leading the team with an impressive 5.7 assists per contest, which ranked him No. 16 in the nation in D-II men’s basketball. In addition, he was also ranked No. 26 in the nation with 2.4 steals per game. 

Jernigan authored his best game as a sophomore with a season-high 31 versus Bunker Hill Community College and was also impressive in the Knights’ first game versus Dean College in November, scoring 29 points. For his career, Jernigan has scored 862 points to rank him No. 22 on the Knights’ all-time scoring list. In addition, Jernigan added 316 assists, 140 steals and made 247 free throws during his two-year career to rank him third all-time behind Bill Robinson (310) and Desmond Williams (291).

“Anthony Jernigan was as dedicated a Knight as I coached over the past two years,” Harris said. “AJ came to play every day and was a tireless player in practice each and every day. A fan favorite, AJ led us to some great wins this season including Dean, Niagara, Globe and Massasoit. Anthony was capable of taking over a game in crunch time and was as exciting a player to watch as there was here in New England. I thank him for his dedication, leadership and desire to help make us the best we could be.”

Also earning All-Region XXI honors for the Knights was Gillis, who burst upon the scene as a freshman to lead the Knights in rebounds, with 7.6 per game and blocks, with 1.4 per contest, while also being the Knights’ third-ranked scorer with 11.4 points per game. Gillis’ inside power game was the perfect complement to long-range shooters like Jernigan, Malieke Young (Providence, R.I.) and Marshall Nelson (Perth, Australia). 

Gillis charted four double-doubles during his freshman campaign, including scoring a career-high of 22 points versus Navy Prep in the Knights’ final home contest of the year. He also charted a career-high in rebounds versus Sacred Heart in January. 

In his first year, Gillis scored 292 points, with 196 rebounds and 37 blocked shots. Gillis will be one the stalwarts for the Knights as he returns for his sophomore campaign in 2015-16.    

“Grant Gillis was one of the top freshmen big men in the entire Northeast this past season,” Harris said. “A quick learner, Grant ended up being our go-to-guy at the offensive end of the court this past season. With his soft shooting touch and ability to rebound and block shots, we expect Grant to help lead us back to the top next season in his sophomore year. Grant was both one of the top freshmen and top players in New England this past season and I look forward to building around him for the 2015-16 season.”

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