With Montana on its way to the NCAA tournament having won the Big Sky Conference Tournament and the 2001-02 men?s basketball season behind us now, the battle amongst league leaders persists. Only this time, it has nothing to do with teams, but rather individual players fighting for the Big Sky Most Valuable Player award and a position on The State Hornet?s Big Sky All-Conference Team.

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER

Anthony Lackey, Portland State University: The two-time all conference selection was instrumental during the Vikings? playoff run this season. Lackey led the conference in scoring with 18.9 points per game, including back-to-back 30-point outings against Northern Arizona University and Sacramento State to close the regular season. The Vikings forward also finished tied for first in 3-pointers per game (3.21), second in rebounding (7.40), tied for fourth in steals (1.71) and shot 49.7 percent from the floor.

BIG SKY ALL CONFERENCE TEAM

GUARD: Jermaine Boyette, Weber State University. It was business as usual for the high-scoring guard this season. Boyette, a two-time selection to the all conference team, continued to find ways to burn opposing defenses, scoring 18.4 points per game while tying for sixth in steals (1.64).

GUARD: Alvin Snow, Eastern Washington University. This sophomore guard literally did it all on both ends of the court for the Eagles. Snow was recently named the conference?s first-ever Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year for his thievery, ranking fourth in the conference in steals (1.71). Snow also finished sixth in scoring (15.2), while shooting 80 percent from the free throw line.

FORWARD: JOEL JONES, SAC STATE: Though Jones started the season on the bench for the Hornets, he quickly developed into one of the conference?s best all-around players. While electrifying crowds with his aerial attack and his 15.1 points per game, Jones quietly stalled the opposition?s offense on the defensive-side of the ball. Jones led the Big Sky in steals with 2.14 per game.

FORWARD: Chris Woods, Weber State University. A solid compliment to Boyette, Woods finished at the head of the forward class this season, scoring 12.1 points per game and tying for fourth in rebounds (6.6). For his effort, the senior forward was voted to the All Big Sky team for the first time.

CENTER: Damir Latovic, Montana State University. Latovic, who shared Newcomer of the Year honors this season with Eastern Washington?s Chris Hester, was the brightest star on the conference?s regular season championship team, Montana State. Latovic averaged 13.6 points per game, while leading the Big Sky in rebounding with 9.1 boards.

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