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SYRACUSE, NY. - March 9, 2007 - The Onondaga Community College 2006-07 men's basketball season came to an end last week with a 76-69 loss to Clinton Community College in the National Junior College Athletic Association Region III Division III Quarter-Finals at Herkimer County Community College. Onondaga was competing in regional play for the 6th consecutive year, the longest active streak among Mid-State Athletic Conference schools and the 3rd longest in all of Region III. The Lazers, in their 7th season under head coach Dave Pasiak (Waterville), completed the season with an overall record of 23-8, and the #3 ranking within the Region. Onondaga is 131-81 overall in Pasiak's 7 seasons at the helm, and has qualified for post-season play (region and/or conference) in every season.
Onondaga's season was highlighted by its run through the Mid-State Athletic Conference. The Lazers captured the conference regular season championship by posting a 12-2 record in conference play, earning them the right to host the conference championship tournament. Onondaga then capped the season off by capturing the school's first MSAC title since 1992, defeating Corning Community College in the semi-finals, then downing Broome Community College in the MSAC Championship game.
The Lazers were again one of the most prolific scoring teams in the nation. The Lazers averaged 87.3 points per game over the season, and rank 7th nationally in scoring. This season will mark the 7th consecutive year that Onondaga has been among the top 10 scoring teams in the country. The Lazers were the top scoring team in the Mid-State Athletic Conference and within all of Region III. Onondaga was also among the national leaders in field goal percentage and in free throw percentage. The Lazers shot 46.4% from the floor, good for 23rd nationally, and 66.9% from the line, good for 20th in that category.
Rich Buckmon (Syracuse Henninger) was Onondaga's leading scorer on the season. Buckmon averaged 16.0 points per game while shooting a team best 52.4% from the floor. A transfer from Cayuga Community College, he also was 2nd on the team in rebounding, pulling down an average of 6.6 rebounds per game. He led the Lazers in scoring 8 times and had a career best 34 points in a win over his former school, Cayuga, on February 10. Buckmon was a 1st team MSAC All-Conference selection and was named to the Region III All-Region 2nd Team. He was named the MSAC Player of the Week for the week ending February 12. He was also named to the All-Tournament Team in the Mohawk Valley Community College Torchia Classic.
Steve Siechen (East Syracuse-Minoa) served as one of the Lazers' co-captains this season. Siechen averaged 14.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per contest. He was Onondaga's leading scorer 10 times, and hit the 30 point mark twice, against Division II Jamestown-Cattaraugus Community College, and against Corning Community College. He was a 1st Team All-Conference selection and a 2nd Team All-Region pick, and was named the Most Valuable Player of the MSAC Championship Tournament. He was also named NJCAA National Player of the Week and Region III Male Athlete of the Week for the week ending February 25.
Danny Smith (Canastota) was Onondaga's 2nd leading scorer at 15.5 points per contest. He averaged 5.6 rebounds per game, and handed out 5.5 assists per contest, good for 25th in the country. Smith also shot 51.8% from the floor and 70.1% from the foul line. He led the Lazers in scoring 8 times, highlighted by a 28 point outburst against Cayuga. He also handed out 11 assists on 2 separate occasions. Smith was a 1st Team All-Conference selection and a 3rd Team All-Region pick. He was named Region III Male Athlete of the Week for the week ending January 21, and was named to the All-Tournament Team at the Columbia-Greene Community College Twins Classic.
Shane Williams (Camillus West Genesee) averaged 9.8 points per game. He also established a new single season Onondaga record with 302 rebounds (9.7) and broke the single game rebounding record with 21 against Tompkins Cortland Community College. He had 9 scoring-rebounding double-doubles on the season and led the team with 1.9 steals and 1.7 blocked shots per game. Williams was an Honorable Mention All-MSAC selection.
Justin Stern (Jamesville-DeWitt), the Lazers' other co-captain, averaged 9.5 points and 2.2 assists per contest. He led the team with 62 three-point goals and shot 41.1% from behind the arc. He also shot 84.5% from the free throw line, good for 8th nationally in that category. Stern tied the Onondaga school record with 9 made three-pointers in a game, scoring 27 points at Jefferson Community College. He was an Honorable Mention All-Conference pick and was named NJCAA National Player of the Week and Mid-State Athletic Conference Player of the Week for the week ending February 3.
Pat Crowley (Union Springs) played in all 31 games, averaging 3.2 points and 2.2 rebounds per contest. He scored a season high 14 points in the Lazers' home win over Jefferson.
Chris Vincent (Baldwinsville C.W. Baker) played in 28 games and averaged 7.0 points and 2.3 rebounds per game. He led the Lazers with a career high 29 points against Division II Jamestown-Cattaraugus, and reached double figures a total of 7 times.
Zack Thomsen (New Berlin Unadilla Valley) started the first 15 games, before suffering a knee injury which forced him to miss the remainder of the season. He averaged 6.5 points and 6.1 assists per contest and still ranks 19th nationally in assists. He recorded season highs of 19 points at Finger Lakes Community College and 11 assists against North Country Community College.
Tyler Kurzinski (Central Square P.V. Moore) played in 27 games. He averaged 2.3 points and 3.6 assists per contest. His season highs were 13 points against Tompkins Cortland and 10 assists against Corning.
Brett Liedka (Syracuse Bishop Grimes) played in all 31 games. He averaged 2.5 points and 2.7 rebounds per game, and shot 50.0% from the floor on the season. His season bests were 9 rebounds against Queensborough Community College and 6 points on 2 occasions.
Ryan Chapman (Syracuse Bishop Ludden) played in 28 games. He averaged 3.0 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game. He scored a career high 11 points at SUNY Canton and led the team with 7 rebounds against Jamestown-Cattaraugus.
Tim Scholz (Camillus West Genesee) played in 25 games. He scored 30 points, grabbed 20 rebounds, and handed out 19 assists on the year. His season best was an 8 point, 4 assist outing against Schenectady County Community College.
Luke Schrader (Herkimer) played in 18 games. He scored 29 points, grabbed 18 rebounds, and handed out 11 assists. He scored a career high 7 points in Onondaga's win at Broome which clinched the MSAC regular season championship.
Josh Kennedy (Chittenango) played in 11 games. He scored 8 points, grabbed 12 rebounds, and handed out 9 assists, including 4 against SUNY Canton.
Ben Johnson (Sherburne-Earlville) played in 10 games. He scored 10 points, including 6 at Schenectady, and grabbed 8 rebounds for the season.
Cameron Manley (Fort Plain) played in 9 games and totaled 4 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists for the season.
Mitch Beaver (Cicero-North Syracuse) played in 9 games, scoring 15 points and grabbing 4 rebounds.
Pete Byrne (Syracuse Bishop Ludden) joined the team as a redshirt in January, after transferring from St. John Fisher College.
Buckmon, Siechen, Smith, Stern, and Kurzinski have all completed two junior college seasons. All expect to transfer to four-year programs and continue their playing careers. Their transfer plans will be announced in the near future. Williams, Crowley, Vincent, Thomsen, Liedka, Chapman, Scholz, Schrader, Kennedy, Johnson, Manley, Beaver, and Byrne are all expected back at Onondaga next season.