Trio of Chiefs Receive Post-Season Honors

Trio of Chiefs Receive Post-Season Honors

The Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference (ISCC) and the NJCAA Region IV Basketball Committees recognized three members of Waubonsee Community College's men's and women's basketball programs for their outstanding play this past season. Josh McAuley headlined the trio of players honored as he was named the Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference's Player of the Year and was named to the All-Region District 4 First Team. Teammate Kriston Dixon was also selected All-ISCC Honorable Mention and was chosen to the All-Region Second Team, while women's basketball player Katie Beebe was named to the All-ISCC Second Team and the All-Region District L squad.

McAuley, a 6'8" center, finished the season averaging 26.4 points, 11.7 rebounds, three assists and nearly two blocks per game over 20 games played. He missed a third of Waubonsee's games due to a pair of injuries that sidelined him in December and in late February. Despite that he still finished in the top-50 among all NJCAA Division II players in 11 different statistical categories. The sophomore from Aurora West High School ranked first in field goals made per game (9.9), third in points per game, fourth in free throws made per contest (5.8), seventh in defensive rebounds per game (7.6), and eighth in total rebounds per game. He also finished 12th in offensive rebounds per game (4.0), 14th in blocks per game (1.9), 30th in free throws made (115), 35th in total points scored (528), 42nd in total blocked shots (39), and 50th in total rebounds (233). McAuley also shot 57.2 percent from the field (199 of 348), made 79.3 percent from the foul line (115 of 145), and even connected on 45.5 percent from three-point range (15 of 33) during the season. He is one of four players from Region IV who have been nominated for NJCAA All-American consideration.

Dixon, a freshman from Champaign's Urbana High School, averaged 13.1 points, 2.7 assists and 5.5 rebounds per game as the Chiefs' second-leading scorer. The 6'1" guard missed 12 of the Chiefs initial 15 games and appeared in 18 games total. Despite that he shot 50 percent from the floor (84 for 168) and was Waubonsee's best free throw shooter, connecting on 84.1 percent (58 of 69) from the foul line for the season.

Beebe, a 6'0" freshman from Oswego High School, averaged 11.1 points, 9.7 rebounds and three blocks per game. The Chiefs' center finished sixth nationally among all NJCAA Division II players in blocked shots (88) and blocks per game. Beebe was also in the top-50 in offensive rebounds (120), offensive rebounds per game (4.1), defensive rebounds (162), rebounds per game and total rebounds (282).  

Waubonsee's men's squad finished the season 18-13 overall, and tied for third in the ISCC standings with a 9-5 record. The third-seeded Chiefs were ousted from the 2019 Region IV Division II District 4 Tournament in the semi-finals by second-seeded Bryant & Stratton College from Wisconsin 80-73 on March 3. Jim Williams' women's team ended the season with a 17-13 mark overall, and also a 9-5 record in ISCC action to finish fourth. The fifth-seeded Chiefs were edged by fourth-seeded Triton College 79-75 in overtime to end their season on February 26 in the opening round of the Region IV Division II District L Tournament.