2016-17 Men’s Basketball All-Tournament Team
Following the Empire 8 Men’s Basketball Tournament and the naming of the Most Valuable Player, the entire 2016-17 All-tournament team has been announced.
St. John Fisher – Tyler English (MVP), Jake Haight
Stevens – Spencer Cook
Utica – Carl Taylor
Nazareth – Jake Burgio
English was named the tournament MVP as he averaged 17.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, two assists and 1.5 blocks. He shot 47.8 percent from the field and 12-of-14 from the foul line. In the semifinal game English scored 14 points, including a perfect 6-6 from the foul line. In the championship game, he had 15 second half points for the Cardinals, including six foul shots in the final minute to help Fisher clinch the E8 title. He finished with a game-high 21 points as he shot 7-of-12 in the game with five rebounds and a trio of assists.
Haight averaged 11.5 points and 11.5 rebounds during the tournament. He shot 52.9 percent from the field (9-of-17) and totaled four steals. Haight was one of four Cardinals in double figures in the semifinal game as he finished with a team-high 16 points and grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds. Against Stevens in the title game he chipped in with seven points and 11 rebounds.
Cook averaged 17.5 points in the tournament as he led Stevens to its second E8 Championship game in tournament history. He scored 25 points against Utica; the second most of the season for the E8 Rookie of the Year, and finished with 10 points against Fisher in the Championship game.
Taylor was Utica’s leading scorer in the semifinal game as he finished with 22 points (10-for-15), while grabbing nine rebounds. He was one of four Utica players to finish in double-digits as the Pioneers fell to the Ducks in the semifinal. Taylor also dished out four assists and registered two steals.
Burgio was one of three Nazareth players to finish in double figures in the semifinal game. He totaled 14 points (6-for-12), marking his sixth straight game with 10 or more points. Burgio also grabbed a team-high eight rebounds and recorded two blocks.