Wells’ Newcomer Honor Highlights Trio of All-MCC Laurels
Oliver Wells
Oskaloosa–Oliver Wells (Sr., Cedar Hill, Texas, Business Management) was chosen as the best new player in the league as the all-Midwest Collegiate Conference men’s basketball teams were announced by the league office Tuesday.
Wells was named MCC Newcomer of the Year and also joined Alec Schwab (Sr., Peru, Ill., Business Management) on the league’s 10-person first squad, while Shane Bosek (Jr., Lowry, Minn., Physical Education) was one of 10 players to earn honorable-mention status.
The trio helped William Penn to a 20-12 overall mark, including 7-5 in the MCC. WPU advanced to its third-consecutive MCC Tournament Final last weekend.
Wells, who is the third MCC NOY for the Statesmen, averaged 16.5 points per game. His distribution numbers were his major contributions to the navy and gold, however, as he finished with 216 assists–good for a 6.8 average. Both marks finished second on the school’s single-season lists.
The senior also had 5.0 rebounds in addition to 40 steals and three blocks. He shot 45.8% from the field, had the team’s best three-point clip at 38.1%, and also hit 70.5% from the line. Wells tallied eight double-doubles (one triple-double) and reached double digits 27 times this winter.
Wells led the conference in assists and also ranked in the top 10 in assist/turnover ratio (2nd, 2.0), minutes played (4th, 32.7), scoring (6th), steals (10th), and three-point percentage (10th).
Last year’s MCC NOY, Schwab picked up his second first-team accolade in as many years with a high-scoring campaign. The senior led William Penn with 22.4 points per game, including five 30-point efforts (high of 37). His 717 points are second all-time in program history. He also had 5.8 rebounds per game in addition to 53 steals, 45 assists, and three blocks. Schwab scored in double figures in all of the Statesmen’s games.
The one-time MCC Player of the Week paced the league, and actually all of NAIA Division II currently, with 113 three-pointers. He also finished third in the league in free-throw percentage (81.7%), fifth in steals, sixth in minutes played (31.8), and eighth in defensive rebounds (4.2).
In just two years wearing the navy and gold, Schwab reached #11 on the career scoring list with 1,216 points. His 82.3% free-throw clip is second, while his 19.9 scoring average and 207 three-pointers are both third.
Bosek, a two-time league POW, was also a prolific scorer for WPU. Highlighted by a school-record 52 points against Grinnell in December, the junior averaged 16.6 points in addition to 6.5 rebounds. He also had 41 assists, 23 blocks, and six steals. One of the squad’s better shooters, he knocked down 54.0% of his tries and was a team-best 83.1% at the stripe. He had eight double-doubles and 23 games in double figures.
Bosek ranked fourth in the conference in defensive rebounds (5.0), fifth in scoring and field-goal percentage, sixth in rebounding, seventh in blocked shots, and 10th in three-pointers made (41). He really shined in league competition with 18.2 points and 7.6 rebounds per outing.
Mount Mercy’s Dondre Osborne claimed MCC Player of the Year honors, while MMU’s Paul Gavin was named MCC Coach of the Year in guiding the Mustangs to both the regular season and tournament titles.
