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SYRACUSE, NY. -- March 5, 2006 -- The Onondaga Community College men’s basketball team saw its season come to an end last Tuesday with an 86-84 loss at Jefferson Community College in the opening round of the National Junior College Athletic Association Region III Division III Tournament. The Lazers finished the season with a 17-12 record, their 5th consecutive winning season, their 5th consecutive regional tournament appearance, and their 6th consecutive post-season berth. Onondaga has posted a 108-73 record in 6 seasons under head coach Dave Pasiak (Waterville). The Lazers are the only Mid-State Athletic Conference school to qualify for post-Season play in each of those 6 seasons.
Against Jefferson, the #11 seeded Lazers led virtually the entire contest, before being overtaken by the #6 seeded Cannoneers in the final minutes. Onondaga was led by Kenny Gethers (Syracuse Bishop Grimes), who scored 20 points and grabbed 13 rebounds. Jeff Riker (Dryden) added 19 points and 6 rebounds, while Adrian Hanks (Liverpool) and Eric Latendress (Oriskany) also reached double figures with 14 and 12 points respectively. Hanks and Tyler Kurzinski (Central Square P.V. Moore) each handed out 6 assists. The Cannoneers outrebounded the Lazers, 44-34, and Onondaga committed 23 turnovers compared to 15 for Jefferson.
Onondaga’s season was highlighted by its 5th consecutive regional tournament appearance. The Lazers join Hudson Valley Community College and Mohawk Valley Community College as the only Region III schools to qualify for the regionals in each of those 5 seasons. During the season, the Lazers captured wins over Finger Lakes Community College, the eventual Mid-State Athletic Conference and Region III Champion, and Region III semi-finalist and Mid-State regular season runner up Corning Community College. The Lazers also captured the championship of the Columbia-Greene Community College Twins Classic for the first time ever and posted two wins over Division II scholarship level teams. The Lazers averaged 90.7 points per game on the season and rank 2nd nationally and 1st in Region III in that scoring offense. Onondaga also ranks 5th nationally in field goal percentage.
Gethers ended the season as Onondaga’s leading scorer and rebounder. He played in all 29 games and averaged 18.2 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 3.1 steals per game. He led the Lazers in scoring 11 times and in rebounding 22 times. He topped the 20 point mark 14 times and was in double figures in 26 of 29 games. Gethers also led Onondaga in field goal percentage, as he connected on 62.9% of his shots for the season. He had a career high 28 points at Cayuga Community College on January 21, and equaled that total four days later at Coring Community College. He pulled down a career high 19 rebounds at Clinton Community College on December 3, and matched that total in the final regular season contest against Corning on February 22. Gethers was named to the Region III All-Region Third Team and to the All-Mid-State Athletic Conference Team. He was also named Region III Male Athlete of the Week once and Conference Player of the Week once.
Riker averaged 10.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.9 steals in 29 games. He led the Lazers in scoring 3 times, including a career best 27 points in the home finale against Corning. Riker reached double figures 15 times, including all of the last 9 contests, and he topped the 20 point mark on 4 occasions. He pulled down a season best 11 rebounds against SUNY Canton at home on February 15, and handed out 6 assists against SUNY Delhi on November 17. Riker was named Honorable Mention All-Conference, and was named the Region III Male Athlete of the Week once.
Pat Mannion (Marcellus) was one of Onondaga’s co-captains. He averaged 6.2 points, 1.4 rebounds, a team best 5.4 assists, and 1.9 steals in 28 contests. He recorded a double-double of 17 points and 10 assists at home against SUNY Canton, and scored 14 points on two occasions. He handed out a season best 13 assists in defeating Canton in the championship of the Columbia-Greene Tournament on November 6.
Hanks averaged 17.1 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.3 steals in 28 contests. He scored 480 points on the season, and combined with the 607 points that he scored at Cazenovia College in 2003-04, has now accumulated 1,087 points as a college player. Hanks led the Lazers in scoring 12 times, including a team season best 34 points in the win over Finger Lakes. He topped the 30 point mark one other time, topped 20 points 11 times, and reached double figures in 24 contests. Hanks led Onondaga with 47 3-point goals, and shot 52.9% from the floor and 75.3% from the foul line.
Reggie Flynn (Jamesville-DeWitt) played in 28 games and averaged 5.0 points, 3.1 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.7 steals per contest. He scored in double figures 4 times, including recording 11 points at Corning and at home against Canton. He handed out a season best 7 assists at Tompkins-Cortland Community College on February 8 and again at Canton on February 19.
Steve Siechen (East Syracuse-Minoa) played in all 29 games and averaged 5.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per contest. He scored in double figures 8 times, including hitting for a career high 17 points against Queensborough Community College on November 12, and again against Tompkins Cortland at home on January 16. He pulled down a season high 7 rebounds on three different occasions.
Cody Endress (Homer) played in all 29 games. He averaged 5.6 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per contest. His career best was a team high 26 points at Finger Lakes on January 23. He also led the Lazers in rebounding twice, including a season high 9 at home against Tompkins Cortland. He also handed out a season high 6 assists twice.
Eric Latendress (Oriskany) also served as one of Onondaga’s co-captains. He averaged 9.3 points 2.2 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.0 steals per game over 26 contests. He led the Lazers with 20 points at Jefferson on January 7, and posted double figures in 13 games. He pulled down 6 rebounds in the season opening contest against Mohawk Valley, and handed out 5 assists at Morrisville State College on November 22. Latendress shot 51.0% from he floor over the season.
Kurzinski played in 28 games and averaged 3.9 points and 3.3 assists per contest. He scored in double figures 3 times, including a career high 11 points against Schenectady County Community College on November 29. He handed out a career high 9 assists in the home win over Cayuga Community College on February 11.
Joel Hughes (Syracuse Bishop Grimes) played in 24 games and averaged 2.1 points and 1.6 rebounds per contest. He had a season best 10 points and 6 rebounds at home against Tompkins Cortland.
Justin Stern (Jamesville-DeWitt) averaged 6.4 points and 1.2 rebounds in 25 games. He was the Lazers’ top free throw percentage shooter, connecting on 77.8% of his shots from the line. He hit his career high of 16 points in wins at North Country Community College on December 4, and at Tompkins Cortland on February 8.
Dom Perioli (Liverpool) played in 20 games and 2.1 points and 1.1 assists per contest. He had his career high of 9 points in the season opener against Mohawk Valley, and in the win over Schenectady County.
Dan Frisina (Syracuse Henninger) played in 17 games and averaged 1.2 points, 1.1 rebounds, and 1.1 assists. He scored 5 points against Schenectady County and handed out 6 assists at Tompkins Cortland.
Joel Parlour (Liverpool) played in 18 games, averaging 1.8 points and 1.6 rebounds. He had career highs of 7 points and 3 assists at home against Tompkins Cortland and 6 rebounds at home against Clinton.
Markell Douthit (Syracuse Nottingham) was a redshirt member of the team this season. He retains three years of college eligibility.
Riker, Mannion, Flynn, Endress, Latendress, Hughes, Frisina, and Douthit have completed two seasons in the Onondaga program, and are evaluating their transfer options. Gethers and Hanks are transfers who also have two years of eligibility remaining, and Perioli is expected to graduate this spring. They are also considering their transfer options. Siechen, Kurzinski, Stern, and Parlour are expected back at Onondaga next year.