The Advocate’s MC Basketball Players of the Month
By Chase Carty
The Montgomery College basketball program has started this season out strong; both teams are projected to make a deep postseason run come March. In a combined 14 games, the Raptors are 11-3 with the men’s team currently standing at 6-1 and the women’s at 5-2. We at The Advocate have compiled some stats to recap November’s action and appoint a “Player of The Month” for each team.
Men’s Team
This year’s men’s basketball team has tons of talent in their starters and reserves, as each night they roll a 13-15 man rotation out onto the floor and almost always come out on top. The Raptors thus far are averaging an astonishing 94 points per game while only allowing 75.1, giving them an average PD (point difference) of +18.9. All but one of their wins thus far have been by double digits, their biggest win was against Paul D. Camp Community College in which they won by a ridiculous 41 points. Four of the roster’s players are currently averaging double digits in the PPG (points per game) column, those players being Christopher Levy, Ibrahim Abdulmateen-Robinson, Franklin Ayissi-Etoh, and player of the month Mateusz Szpin.
Szpin has appeared in each of the Raptors’ seven games this month; the 6 ‘8 ” forward uses his frame optimally, as he’s leading the team in stocks (steals + blocks) with 4.7 per game. He also utilizes his height to lead the team in rebounds (13.3 per game).
He shows versatility on the offensive side of the floor as well, as his solid shooting ability spaces the floor for the rest of the Raptors. Additionally, he displays advanced passing vision for a forward/big to prove to defenses that he’s more than just a scoring threat. Szpin is second amongst the Raptors’ roster in APG (assists per game) with 2.8.
Mateusz Szpin
Stats: 12.8ppg 13.3rpg 2.8apg 1.2spg 3.5bpg 51.2 / 27.8 / 75
Per 36: 19.7ppg 20.4rpg 4.5apg 1.8spg 5.4bpg
11/24/24 – *24pts, *24reb, *6blks vs Westchester Community College (*indicates season high)
Women’s Team
The women’s team has jumped out to their 5-2 exposition through their tough and gritty brand of basketball. They have eight players who average at least a steal per game with two players who average two or more. Their hounding defense plays a quintessential role in holding their opponents to under 60 points per game. On the contrary, the Raptors average more than 71 points per game to give them an average point difference of +12.1.
Referring back to the Raptors’ hustle stats, their roster contains four players who can record double digits in the rebound category as well; those players being Yaheera Williams, (13.4 per game) Kennedy Clifton, (13.1 per game) Tiana Carey, (9.0 per game) and player of the month Sanai Massenburg (7.0 per game).
Massenburg is arguably the Raptors’ best two-way player. The 5’11” forward possesses the coordination to guard ball handlers up top alongside formidable rim protection. She leads the Raptors in stocks with 3 per game. On offense, Massenburg has earned the role of MC’s sharpshooter. She’s shooting 40 percent from beyond the arc on more than three attempts per game, this ranks her first on the team amongst all players to attempt at least one three per game. When she’s not spotting up from deep, it’s likely she’s drawing a foul following an offensive rebound, and you can almost always pencil her in to make both free throws. Massenburg is converting on nearly 94 percent of her free throws this season, also ranking her first amongst the Raptors.
Sanai Massenburg
Stats: 11.8ppg 7.0rpg 1.8apg 2.0spg 1.0bpg 31.6 / 40 / 93.8
Per 36: 15.4ppg 9.2rpg 2.4apg 2.6spg 1.4bpg
11/9/24 – 13pts, *12reb, 5ast, *3stl, *1blk vs Delaware Technical Community College
With Thanksgiving break approaching, no games take place until December 7 where the women’s team is off to Petersburg to face the Richard Bland Statesmen, while the men’s team defends their home court against the CCBC Lions.
