SE's JOHNSON, KOESTER MAKE OVC's 2ND TEAM

A pair of Southeast Missouri State University basketball players -- Cory Johnson of the men's team and Jamie Koester of the women's squad -- have been named to the all-Ohio Valley Conference second team.

The all-conference squads, based on voting by the league's head basketball coaches and sports information directors, were announced Friday.

Johnson, a 6-foot junior guard, also earned a spot on the OVC All-Newcomer team and he was runnerup in voting for league Newcomer of the Year behind Murray State's Isaac Spencer.

A transfer from Three Rivers Community College in Poplar Bluff, Johnson led Southeast in scoring at 14.5 points per game and he set a school record for 3-pointers in a season with 95.

Johnson's average of 3.5 3-pointers per game was tops in the OVC and he also led the league in free-throw percentage at .873.

David Montgomery, Johnson's teammate, was named honorable-mention all-OVC. The 6-8 junior led the league in field-goal percentage at .621 and he was the Indians' second-leading scorer with 12 points per game.

"Cory and David are certainly deserving of the honors they received," said Southeast coach Gary Garner. "They are certainly two of the best shooters in the OVC, with Cory scoring from the outside and David on the inside."

Koester led Southeast's women in scoring and rebounding, averaging 12.2 points and 8.7 rebounds per contest. She also led the OVC in rebounds and blocked shots (35).

A 5-11 senior who played 1 1/2 seasons for Southeast after transferring from Kansas State, Koester started every game during her Otahkian career.

"Jamie was such a tremendous competitor. She always came to play and worked hard no matter what the score was," said Otahkian coach Ed Arnzen. "I am really going to miss her next year."

League champion Murray State dominated the OVC men's honors as senior guard De'Teri Mayes was named Player of the Year, Mark Gottfried received Coach of the Year and Spencer nabbed Newcomer of the Year.

Mayes and his backcourt mate Chad Townsend headline the all-OVC first team that also includes Rick Kaye of Eastern Illinois, Aylton Tesch of Middle Tennessee and Ryan DeMichael of Tennessee-Martin.

On the women's side, Chrissy Roberts of co-champion Eastern Kentucky was named Player of the Year while Tennessee-Martin's husband-wife duo of Gary and Kim Van Atta nabbed Coach of the Year honors. Middle Tennessee's Joanne Aluka is the Freshman of the Year.

Making up the all-OVC first team are Roberts and teammate Laphelia Doss, Diane Seng of co-champ Tennessee Tech, Tessa Fields of Tennessee-Martin and Barbora Garbova of Eastern Illinois.