Honors for SPSCC Clippers basketball athletes

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Several South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC) basketball student-athletes won  Northwest Athletic Conference (NWAC) All-Region awards, according to a press statement released by the school.

SPSCC athletes awarded by the NWAC are:

  • Payten Foster, NWAC 2nd Team West Region
  • Sharay Trotter, West Region’s Freshman of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year for Women’s Basketball
  • Justin Hicks, NWAC 2nd Team West Region for Men’s Basketball
  • Head Coach  Darah Vining. West Region Coach of the Year for Women’s Basketball

Foster was an all-around powerhouse this season as the team's guard/forward and was one of the leaders in terms of points, rebounds, and steals.

Trotter ranked seventh overall in  NWAC  this season with an average of 16.4 points per game,  making her career-high of 27 points during the Clippers' match against Centralia College.

Foster and Trotter are two of four SPSCC women's basketball players who averaged in double digits this season.

Hicks is considered a powerhouse for the Clippers, contributed 13 points in the team's first match against Bellingham's Whatcom Community College, building up to 21 points and ten rebounds against Lynnwood's Edmond College later in the season.

Lady Clipper Head Coach Darah Vining was recognized for her leadership, especially during the year the pandemic put the season on hold.

“There were a lot of student-athletes that could have left, but decided to stay and play for Coach Vining,” said Vernell Willingham, SPSCC’s Director of Athletics. “That speaks volumes to her and her ability to engage these young ladies and retain them.”

Many women’s players have been named to quarterly Vice President’s and President’s List between 2020 and 2021.

“She continued to prepare these young ladies to be academically successful,” Willingham added. “So when they did start playing, they learned how to balance academics with athletics.”

“I’m really proud of them,” said Willingham. “It’s exciting that, within a short amount of time, the program can be where it’s at and be competitive in this tough western region.”

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