Cougill, Beckford and Birts receive NJCAA honors
The awards continue to pile up well beyond the end of the season for the Kirkwood Community College Men’s and Women’s Basketball teams. The NJCAA announced three Eagles as Division II All-Americans for the 2010-2011 season.
Among the selections were men’s basketball player Brennan Cougill with Ashley Birts and Diamon Beckford receiving honors for the women’s team.
Cougill was phenomenal for the Eagles this season, earning many postseason honors for his hard work. He was named NJCAA Division II Third Team All-American, First Team All-Region and Region XI Tournament MVP. The former Hawkeye averaged 14.3 points and 8.8 rebounds per game this season, scoring a season high 26 points against Ellsworth. The 6’9” sophomore forward from Sioux City, Iowa towered over his competition and made an immediate impact for the Eagles this season.
Named “Mr. Basketball” as a Sioux City Heelan High School senior, Cougill was a late pickup for the Eagles after transferring from the University of Iowa. As a Hawkeye, Cougill competed in 31 games his freshman campaign, which included seven non-conference starts. He averaged four points and three rebounds per game.
On the women’s side, sophomore guard Diamon Beckford of Upper Darby, Pa. garnered NJCAA Second Team All-American and First Team All-Region honors. Beckford threw down 80 three-pointers and averaged 12.3 points per game this season with a career high 30 points in a conference matchup against NIACC.
Sophomore post Ashley Birts (Milwaukee, Wisc.) lands a spot as an NJCAA Third Team All-American, First Team All-Region and Region XI All-Tournament Team member this season. Birts averaged 11.3 points and 8.3 rebounds per game with a season high 21 points also against NIACC.
As a freshman, Birts earned Second Team All-Region honors and lead her team to a first place finish at the Division II NJCAA National Tournament, scoring 24 points and grabbing 14 rebounds at the tournament.
Head Coach Kim Muhl believes Beckford and Birts “were instrumental in the team’s success this season.”
The men’s fifth place finish at the NJCAA National Tournament marks the Eagles fourth consecutive NJCAA National Tournament appearance. The women’s fifth consecutive NJCAA National Tournament run was snapped after a loss to DMACC in the Region XI tournament. The men ended the 2010-2011 season 28-5, while the women finished 25-7.