MBB Trio Honored by NECC

ATTLEBORO, Mass. – Three members of the Mitchell College men's basketball program were honored by the New England Collegiate Conference on Monday.

Senior forward Joshua Ford was a repeat selection as the NECC Player of the Year and earned all-conference first team status for the third straight season. Junior forward Parris Hill was named to the all-conference second team while head coach Todd Peretz was named NECC Coach of the Year. All awards were determined by a vote of the conference's head coaches.

Ford led the league in scoring, rebounding and double-doubles and also ranked among the top 10 in field goal percentage (3rd), assists (7th), blocks (T-7th) and free throw percentage (9th). The senior averaged 21.9 points and 12.5 rebounds in league play and posted a double-double in 14 of 16 NECC contests. His 22 regular season double-doubles led all of Division III, and he also ranked sixth in the country in rebounding and 10th in scoring. Ford averaged 23.0 points and 11.5 rebounds during the NECC Championship and was named most valuable player of the tournament.

Hill was also a force for the Mariners during conference play, averaging 20.0 points and 10.4 rebounds over 14 league games. He led the NECC in blocks (31) and ranked second behind Ford in scoring and third in rebounding, and he recorded eight of his 10 double-doubles in NECC play. Hill also averaged 23.0 points and 10.0 rebounds in the NECC Championship and earned a spot on the All-Tournament Team.

Peretz led the Mariners to their most successful season in the college's Division III history, posting a school record for wins (19) en route to earning the first NCAA Championship berth in program history. The team went 12-4 in NECC play and tied for first place in the league standings, Mitchell's best finish in the six-year history of the conference.

Ford was also tabbed NECC Player of the Week for a record sixth time on Monday. He has been named player of the week by the league 10 times over the past two seasons. Hill was a three-time player of the week selection this season.

Mitchell (19-7 overall) will play at Williams College (23-4 overall) in the first round of the NCAA Championship on Friday, March 7 at 8 p.m.