Onondaga CC's Steve Siechen named NJCAA National Player of the Week and Region III Male Athlete of the Week

Lazers to play Clinton CC in regional quarter-final on Friday.

SYRACUSE, NY. - February 28, 2007 - Onondaga Community College men's basketball player Steve Siechen (East Syracuse-Minoa) captured dual honors today when he was named the National Junior College Athletic Association Division III Men's Basketball National Player of the Week and the NJCAA Region III Male Athlete of the Week for the week ending February 25. The national honor recognizes the top performance in all of Division III men's basketball, while the region honor recognizes the top performance among all male athletes in all sports and divisions within Region III. Siechen earned these honors for his efforts in leading Onondaga to its first Mid-State Athletic Conference Championship since 1992. He was the Most Valuable Player of the conference tournament, held over the weekend. In Saturday's semi-final win over Corning he had a game high 23 points and 9 rebounds. In Sunday's championship game win over Broome, he again was game high scorer with 26 points, including 20 in the second half. He made 8 of 12 shots in the final, including 4 of 7 from behind the three-point arc, grabbed 9 rebounds, and handed out 7 assists. In three total games during the week, Steve averaged 20.3 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1.3 steals. He made 22 of 44 shots (50%), including 8 of 16 from behind the arc, and was a perfect 9 for 9 from the foul line.

Onondaga, with an overall record of 23-7, opens play in the Region III tournament this Friday at 8:00 pm at Herkimer County Community College. The Lazers, seeded #3, will play #11 Clinton Community College in the quarter-final round. Clinton defeated #6 Hudson Valley Community College, 96-73, in a first round game last night. The Lazers and the Cougars split two regular season contests, with each team winning on its home court. The winner of the Onondaga-Clinton game will face the winner of Friday's 6:00 pm quarter-final between Herkimer and Broome in a semi-final at 3:00 pm on Saturday. The regional championship game will be held Sunday at 1:00 pm. All remaining regional contests will be played at Herkimer. The winner of the regional tournament will advance to the NJCAA Division III National Championship, to be held March 15-17 at SUNY Delhi.