The College of Staten Island men’s and women’s basketball programs collected some valued hardware before action tipped off for the 46th Annual CUNYAC/Con Edison Postseason Championship, as three Dolphins garnered first team all-star nods while men’s basketball head coach Tony Petosa notched Coach of the Year honors by his peers.  T.J. Tibbs and Jordan Young were cited from the men’s division, while senior Allie Shanahan was awarded with a first team honor as well on the women’s side.
The men’s basketball dynamic duo have been terrific this season for the Dolphins.  Young, who became CSI’s 27th all-time 1,000-point scorer this year, and now stands 20th all-time at CSI with 1,160 markers.  The junior has posted 500+ career rebounds as well, becoming only the 14th player to achieve the 1,000-point, 500-rebound plateau as well.  For the year, Young is donating 16.2 points per game, a team-high, while also pacing the team in rebounds (174, 7.3 rpg.) and blocked shots (17).  The 2008-09 CUNYAC Rookie of the Year and 2nd-team All-Star a year ago, the dynamic two-way threat is also third on the squad in assists (69) and steals (39).
Newcomer T.J. Tibbs, an academic junior playing his first organized college basketball, has raced on to the CUNYAC basketball scene this season, starting all 24 regular season contests this year while running point for the Dolphins.  He stands third on the squad with a 14.6 point clip per game while also distributing 126 assists for the season, ranked 45th nationally in NCAA Division III.  His 42.2% shooting from beyond the arc ranks 6th all-time in a single season at CSI, ranking 36th nationally.  The hot-shooting junior has helped win or force overtime four times this season inside the final minute of play, and is also third on the squad in rebounds (114, 4.8 rpg.), and steals (40).
CSI Head Coach Tony Petosa was cited for Coach of the Year honors for the third time in his distinguished career.  Selected to finish fourth in the South Division and seventh overall in the CUNYAC Preseason Coaches Poll, the Dolphins bucked the odds in 2010-11, finishing as the top overall seed via a 10-3 CUNYAC finish (15-9 overall).  The Dolphins won their first 9 games in the conference for the first time since 1988, and the Dolphins more than doubled their win total from two seasons ago when they suffered through a program-worst 6-20 campaign.
Over on the women’s side of the hardwood the Dolphins celebrated the honor of 1st-team All-Star Allie Shanahan.  A four year dynamo for the Dolphins, Shanahan has made 74 starts in 90 career games.  Leading the squad with 428 points, the senior is averaging 17.8 points per contest, spreading out 63 three-pointers, good for 6th all-time in a single-season at CSI.  Shanhan is also second on the squad in rebounds, averaging a healthy 9.4 per game, totaling 226 this season.  She also leads the team in blocked shots with 23, while posting second with 67 assists.  CSI’s 16th 1,000-point scorer, she is currently tied for 7th all-time at CSI with 1,237 career markers, while her 533 career caroms place 10th all-time.
The laurels come on the heels of the quarterfinal round of the 46th Annual CUNYAC/Con Edison Postseason Championship that kick off this weekend.  The CSI women (8-16, 6-7 CUNYAC) are seeded seventh, and will travel to No. 2 Brooklyn College on Saturday to take on the Bulldogs in a 1pm matinee.  The CSI men (15-9, 10-3 CUNYAC), the tourney’s No. 1 seed, will follow suit on Sunday, hosting No. 8 John Jay College, at 1pm for their quarterfinal showdown.
For a complete rundown on CUNYAC award winners, check out www.cunyathletics.com.