CENTER VALLEY, Pa. – Graduate student forward Camille McPherson and junior guard Jimmy Murray from the Moravian College basketball teams have been named to the Lehigh Valley Small College Basketball Team of the Year by the LVSCB Organization at its final luncheon of the 2017-18 season at DeSales University.
The Lehigh Valley Small College Basketball Organization is made up of the six small college schools in the Lehigh Valley including NCAA Division II schools East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania and Kutztown University of Pennsylvania and NCAA Division III schools Cedar Crest College, DeSales University, Moravian College and Muhlenberg College.
McPherson has helped lead the Blue and Grey to a 16-7 overall record and a 6-6 Landmark Conference record. This winter, McPherson tops the squad with averages of 17.0 points and 7.1 rebounds per games to go along with 44 assists, 35 three-pointers, 12 steals and seven blocked shots. She is currently eighth in school history with 1,386 points in just 76 games with the Greyhounds, and she is also 18th all-time with 536 rebounds.
"It was an honor to present Camille as our outstanding basketball player at the luncheon today," commented Head Coach Mary Beth Spirk. "She has certainly made her mark on the Moravian Women's basketball program over the past three years. Her stats are terrific and made even more incredible in the fact that she did it in three years. Her growth as a basketball player and as a person has been tremendous over that time span. Camille has worked every day over her college career to get better on and off the court. She will be successful moving forward because of this work ethic she possesses."
Joining McPherson on the Team of the Year were Sylera Weller of Cedar Crest, Morgan Birmelin of DeSales, Imani Brown of East Stroudsburg, Rylee Derr of Kutztown and Brandi Vallely of Muhlenberg. Vallely was named the Peter Nevins Women's Player of the Year for the 2017-18 season by the LVSCB Organization. McPherson was the Peter Nevins Player of the Year in 2016-17 and on the Team of the Year last winter.
Murray leads the Greyhounds, who are 17-6 overall and 8-3 in Landmark Conference action. Murray is netting 17.0 points per contest to go with 54 rebounds, 48 three-pointers, 43 assists and 36 steals. He became the 23rd player in school history to reach 1,000 career points back on February 3 and has 1,042 points, and he needs just 10 more three-pointers to break the school's career record.
"Jimmy has had a tremendous year as has Oneil Holder (East Stroudsburg, Pa./East Stroudsburg South HS)," stated Head Coach Justin Potts. "Jimmy represented the program today, but we feel both those guys have been our players of the year this season. Their leadership productivity and consistency this season has driven each other and their teammates. I am really proud of their development during their careers and look forward to watching them continue to grow as players and people. Both guys are great representations of Moravian Basketball.
Joining Murray on the Team of the Year were Kweku Dawson-Amoah of DeSales, Steve Harris of East Stroudsburg, Ethan Ridgeway of Kutztown and Nick Rindock of Muhlenberg. Ridgeway was named the Peter Nevins Men's Player of the Year for the 2017-18 season by the LVSCB Organization.
