It's Official, Skylights are in

George Ferguson

Havre Daily News sports editor
gferguson@havredailynews.com

On a day when four Montana State University-Northern Skylights were tabbed as Frontier All-Conference players, the news got even better.

On Monday afternoon, MSU-N head coach Chris Mouat and the school's athletic department received word that the No. 24 Skylights were officially in the 2006 NAIA National Women's Basketball tournament.

The field of 32 teams won't be filled out until either late tonight or sometime Wednesday afternoon because of one conference championship that has yet to be decided. However, the 19-9 Skylights can now start to prepare for the tournament, which begins next Tuesday in Jackson, Tenn.

Northern went 8-6 in Frontier Conference play this season after starting out 2-5. The Skylights beat every team in the league at least once with the exception of Carroll College. Carroll is also in the field of 32, along with conference champion UM-Western and Lewis-Clark State.

As for the Frontier Conference season, the book is now officially closed with Monday's announcement of the all-conference teams and postseason awards.

On the women's side, MSU-N's Jaci Heny and Delayne Johnston both earned first-team honors. Heny finished her senior season with a school-record 20.5 points per game average. She also led the league in free-throw percentage, was tied for second in assists and was seventh in steals.

Johnston had a brilliant junior season in the post for the Skylights. She finished ninth in the league in scoring (14.4 ppg) and third in rebounding (8.0 ppg).

MSU-N also placed two players on the second team as senior Camille Gardner and sophomore Michele VanDyke were both honored.

VanDyke finished the season 10th in scoring, fifth in field goal percentage and 10th in rebounding. The former Chester standout averaged

13.3 points per game and 6.6 boards.

Gardner was also a statistical juggernaut this season. The senior averaged 11.9 points per game and was tied with Heny for second in the conference in assists per game. She was also tied for second in free-throw percentage and she finished third in the league in steals.

Westminster College senior Shalee Fackrell earned player-of-the-year honors after averaging a whopping 26 points and 11 rebounds per game. Both were tops in the Frontier this season.

Former Havre High and Malta prep star Jolene Fuzesy also earned first-team honors in her sophomore season at Carroll. The 5-10 Fuzesy averaged 14.6 points per game while leading the league in both 3-point percentage (49 pct.) and 3-pointers made (119). Former MSU-N Skylight Laura Keaster of UGF was named to the second team.

MSU-N had the most all-conference selections with four and UM-Western had the most first-teamers with three.

On the men's side, only senior Jordan Matthews earned all-conference honors for MSU-N. Matthews, who finished fourth in the league in scoring with a 16.4 points per game average, was named to the Frontier's first team for a second straight season.

Westminster and Carroll College each had three players named to the first team and Westminster sophomore Danny Reeder earned player-of-the-year honors. Carroll's Sinan Guler was

named defensive player of the

year, and both he and fellow senior Jeff Hays were repeat first-team selections. Saints head coach Gary Turcott won yet another conference coach-of-the-year award.

Like Northern's women, both Carroll and Westminster have been invited to the 2006 NAIA Men's National Tournament in Kansas City.

2005-2006 Women's All-Conference

First Team

Ashley Baker, 6-3 junior, Lewis-Clark State; Shalee Fackrell, 6-0 senior, Westminster College; Jolene Fuzesy, 5-10 sophomore, Carroll College; Jaci Heny, 5-6 senior, MSU-Northern; DeLayne Johnston, 6-0 junior, MSU-Northern; Aundrea Morrison, 6-0 junior, Lewis Clark College; Becky O'Neil, 6-1 junior, UM-Western; Megan Schmitz, 5-6 junior. UM-Western; Katherine Sunwall, 6-1 junior, UM-Western; Emili Woody, 5-10 senior, Carroll College.

Second Team

Camille Gardner, 5-4 senior, MSU-Northern; Jade Fulbright, 5-8 sophomore, Lewis-Clark State; Laura Keaster, 5-7 sophomore, University of Great Falls; Carly Syverson, 5-8 senior, Carroll College; Michele VanDyke, 5-10 sophomore, MSU-Northern.

Player of the Year

Shalee Fackrell, 6-0 senior, Westminster College

Newcomer of the Year

Becy O'Neil, 6-1 junior, UM-Western

Defensive Player of the Year

Katherine Sunwall, 6-1 junior, UM-Western

Freshman of the Year

Shannon Evans, 5-8 freshman, Westminster College.

Co-Coach of the Year

Kevin Engellant, UM-Western; Brian Orr Lewis-Clark State.

2005-2006 Men's All-Conference Team

First Team

Nick Booth, 6-4 junior, Westminster College; Sinan Guler, 6-3 senior, Carroll College; Jeff Hays, 6-5 senior, Carroll College;

Jordan Matthews, 6-4 senior, MSU-Northern; Wes Morales, 6-4 junior, UM-Western; Jared Ruiz, 6-3 senior, Westminster College; Danny Reeder, 5-10 sophomore, Westminster College; Devin Uskoski, 6-6 freshman, Rocky Mountain College; Travis Williams, 6-6 senior, Carroll College; Tyrone Witherspoon, 6-4 junior, University of Great Falls.

Second Team

Jonathan Burnett, 6-0 junior, Lewis-Clark State; Charlie Cox, 6-0 freshman, UM-Western; Chris Nickolei, 6-7 junior, Rocky Mountain College; TJ Scarbrough, 6-11 sophomore, Montana Tech; Cooper Warren, 6-2 sophomore, Rocky Mountain College.

Player of the Year

Danny Reeder, 5-10 sophomore, Westminster College

Newcomer of the Year

Tyrone Witherspoon, 6-4 junior, University of Great Falls

Defensive Player of the Year

Sinan Guler, 6-3 senior, Carroll College

Freshman of the Year

Devin Uskoski, 6-6 freshman, Rocky Mountain College

Coach of the Year

Gary Turcott, Carroll College