FEBRUARY 28, 2008SOBOLESKI, COUSART NAMED FIRST-TEAM ALL-FREEDOM CONFERENCE
WILKES-BARRE -- King's College seniors Jamie Cousart (Holland/Holy Ghost Prep) and John Soboleski (Ashley/Hanover Area) have been selected to the 2008 All-Freedom Conference Team as first-team selections, the Middle Atlantic Conferences Office announced Thursday.
The Monarch duo have played a key role in leading King's to a 18-8 record and a spot in the Freedom Conference Tournament championship Saturday at 4:00 p.m. at DeSales University, Center Valley.
Over the course of their career, Cousart and Soboleski have led the Monarchs to a combined 78-32 record, winning 70.1 percent of their games. On Saturday at DeSales, they will appear in their third Freedom Conference championship game in four years, winning titles in 2005 and 2007. The Monarchs qualified for the NCAA Division III Tournament each year, reaching the Elite Eight in 2005. A victory over DeSales would secure a third national tournament trip for the pair.
Cousart, a 6-4 point-guard, earned his third straight berth on the All-Freedom squad, including his second consecutive first-team choice. In 26 games this season, Cousart has averaged 15.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.1 assists, while shooting 51.0 (134-263) percent from the field and 77.0 (114-148) percent from the foul line while standing second in the Freedom Conference with a 1.96 assist-to-turnover ratio.
Earlier in the season, Cousart registered a career-high of 28 points against Baptist Bible, while eclipsing the 20-point plateau in six games. Cousart is wrapping up an outstanding career at King's where he ranks ninth on the Monarchs' all-time scoring list with 1,316 points, while totaling 625 rebounds, and 439 assists.
Soboleski, meanwhile, developed into the most dominant player in the Freedom Conference midway through the season and has carried the Monarchs on his back down the stretch. Currently, the 6--6 center averages 15.5 points with 7.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 48 blocked shots while posting a team-high 61.9 (146-236) shooting percentage. He has also posted a team-high eight double-doubles (points-rebounds), including at least 10 points and 10 rebounds in five of the last six contests.
During the past five games Soboleski has wreaked havoc on opponents, averaging 26.6 points, 13.2 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 2.4 blocks per-game. During this time, he has earned three straight Freedom Conference "Player of the Week" honors. In his career, Soboleski has tallied 1,096 points, 619 rebounds, 155 assists, and 140 blocked shots. This season he posted career single-game highs of 28 on two occasions and 19 rebounds.
First Team Freedom All-Conference
Player Team Pos. Yr. Hometown (High School)
Phil Stricker DeSales C Sr. Womelsdorf, PA (Conrad Weiser)
John Soboleski King’s C Sr. Ashley, PA (Hanover)
Cody Moffett Manhattanville G Sr. Brooklyn, NY (Edgemont)
Jamie Cousart King’s G Sr. Holland, PA (Holy Ghost Prep)
Ed Ohlson DeSales G Sr. Allentown, PA (Parkland)Second Team Freedom All-Conference
Player Team Pos. Yr. Hometown (High School)
Darnell Braswell DeSales G So. Allentown, PA (Allen)
Donte Chisolm Manhattanville G Sr. Mt. Vernon, NY (St. Raymond)
Ryan McPherson FDU-Florham G Jr. West Orange, NJ (West Orange)
Tom Kresge Wilkes F So. Brodheadsville, PA (Pleasant Valley)
Brian Fink Manhattanville G Sr. Queens, NY (St. Francis Prep)
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Phil Stricker, DeSales
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Chris DeRojas, Wilkes
COACH OF THE YEAR: Scott Coval, DeSales
King's College
133 North River Street Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711
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Questions or comments to: Bob Ziadie, King's College Sports Information Director
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