Throughout the season, Todd Franklin challenged his players to play to their highest potential.
And over the final nine games, the Southeastern Illinois Falcons did just that.
On Tuesday, Franklin, along with Mamadou Seck, Isaac McClure and Troy Long were honored for their hard work.
The 22-9 Falcons were honored Tuesday as Seck, McClure and Long were named to the All-Region XXIV and All-Great Rivers Athletic Conference teams. Franklin was named Region XXIV Coach of the Year.
Franklin said the team’s play down the stretch helped individuals earn their postseason awards.
“The biggest thing is that I’m happy for these guys. I don’t think that they were 13-9 that they didn’t do what it needed to become champions,” Franklin said. “Since that point, I believe that without question they have earned it. They didn’t back into it and that’s the thing I feel best about.”
Seck averaged 15.5 points and 9.5 rebounds per game as he battled to overcome early season injuries and a few slumps along the way to garner the nomination. McClure averaged 13 points and 6.8 rebounds per game and has been a key force for SIC in the paint, playing along with Seck in the front court.
Southeastern Illinois’ inside-outside game is complimented well by Long, the team’s third all-conference member. He averaged 10.2 points and 2.4 assists per game, but also extended defenses with his accuracy from the 3-point line.
Franklin said had the voting process put more emphasis on the Falcons’ late-season run, freshman point guard Charles Ashford would have likely been in the mix. Ashford took the reins of the offense midway through the season and flourished as the year progressed.
Being honored with postseason awards marks the end of one season and the beginning of another as the Falcons prepare to make their fourth trip to Hutchinson, Kansas under Franklin.
With its 79-67 win against Wabash Valley in the Region XXIV championship game in Ina being in the team’s past, SIC began preparation for a national title run.
Southeastern Illinois faces off against Howard College next Wednesday, which knocked off the nation’s former top team, Midland College, in the Region V title bout.
Franklin said the team watched its championship game performance Monday before getting back to business. It was not necessarily a smooth transition, but Franklin’s point came across to his team quickly on Tuesday.
“I thought the guys were about flat for about five minutes and then we clicked into the mode we were in over the last five weeks,” Franklin said. “We’ve got a tremendous challenge in the first round, but I believe this team has a chance to win it. We were so happy to get it done the other night, but now we turn our eyes to what can be.”
