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Here’s which FLC basketball players rank in top 10 in RMAC in key categories

Published

5 days ago

December 31, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Skyhawks will resume play on Jan. 8 at home

Chuol Deng of Fort Lewis College looks to pass the ball while playing Western New Mexico University on Nov. 21 at FLC. (Jerry McBride/Herald file)

Jerry McBride

It’s almost 2026, which means it’s nearly time for Fort Lewis College’s basketball teams to resume their seasons.

The men’s and women’s teams will continue Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play on Jan. 8 at home against Western Colorado. Before that, now is a good time to look at which FLC basketball players have been excelling in key statistical categories. Both teams are well-rounded with multiple players excelling in different roles.

Both teams are having quality starts to their seasons, with the women at 9-3 overall and the men at 6-5 overall. Here are the FLC basketball players who rank in the top 10 in the RMAC in key categories:

FLC men’s basketball:

Chuol Deng in rebounds, steals

The FLC men’s basketball team has had multiple players in and out of the rotation due to injuries, but Deng, the fifth-year forward, hasn’t been one of them.

He’s been a consistent double-double threat with his scoring and rebounding. Deng has a great all-around scorer with his outside shooting stroke and added strength inside as a fifth-year player.

With Massal Diouf guarding centers this year, it’s allowed Deng to rebound against players his size and smaller. Therefore, it’s not surprising to see he’s second in the RMAC in rebounding at 8.6 rebounds per game, only behind Colorado Mesa’s Ty Allred at 9.4 RPG. Deng has had at least six rebounds in all 11 games this season, including 10+ in three games.

Deng was an impactful defender last season in his first year playing for head coach Jordan Mast at FLC, with his length and athleticism blocking and stealing. Deng has continued his strong work on the defensive end, ranking seventh in the RMAC with 1.6 steals per game.

As the season goes on and the games get more important, Deng will be relied upon even more, so don’t expect him to go anywhere on these lists.

Jaxon Smith in 3-point field goal percentage, 3-point field goals per game, free-throw percentage

A first-year player for FLC, Smith has made an immediate impact with his sweet shooting stroke, so it’s not hard to believe that Smith is in the top 10 in categories that require quality touch.

The redshirt sophomore guard transfer from Division I Utah State, Smith has spaced the floor for the Skyhawks and, at times, has shown finishing ability inside the arc.

Smith is sixth in the RMAC with a 3-point field goal percentage of 40.5; he’s second with 2.7 3-pointers per game, and he’s third in the RMAC with a 91.3 free-throw percentage.

FLC has dealt with plenty of injuries, so it’ll need Smith’s quality shooting more than ever down the stretch. He’s had four games with at least four 3-pointers.

Yorgio Golesis in assists per game, assist-to-turnover ratio

Yorgio Golesis of Fort Lewis College drives to the basket while playing Western New Mexico University on Nov. 21 at FLC. (Jerry McBride/Herald file)

Jerry McBride

Another first-year player for FLC, Golesis, a junior guard, has had a quality start to the year for the Skyhawks, starting at point guard.

Golesis has great speed and driving ability, which has drawn defenders and opened up his teammates for easy looks. He’s fifth in the RMAC with 4.2 assists per game, and Golesis is fifth in the RMAC with a 1.9 assist-to-turnover ratio.

Unfortunately for Golesis and the Skyhawks, he suffered a season-ending ACL tear in FLC’s win over St. Mary’s on Dec. 17. It’s a huge blow for the Skyhawks, who will need other guards to step up to replace Golesis’ playmaking.

Stewart Erhart in steals per game

Anyone who’s watched the Skyhawks over the past two seasons knew this was coming. Erhart, a redshirt sophomore, is a pest on the defensive side of the ball. He’s a big reason FLC’s pressing style works so well, since he catches opposing guards off guard with his steals.

Erhart leads the RMAC with 3.0 steals per game. He’s also increased his offensive capabilities this season, which makes his defensive efforts even more impressive since he has more on his plate this year.

Cassius Carmichael in steals per game

Another player who’s in his second year for the Skyhawks, Carmichael is a worker for the FLC defense with his motor, length and athleticism. The senior forward is eighth in the RMAC with 1.5 steals per game.

Like Deng, Carmichael has been helped by FLC having more size and bodies in its front court. His defense and experience in the RMAC tournament last season will be paramount for FLC.

FLC women’s basketball:

Katie Lamb in 3-point field goal percentage, 3-point field goals per game

Lamb impressed as a freshman last year on a bad team, and she’s shown this season she can still put up good stats on a winning team.

The sophomore guard is seventh in the RMAC with a 29.9 3-point field goal percentage, and Lamb is sixth with 2.2 3-pointers per game. She has a quick and compact release that makes it tough for defenders to cover. Lamb has made at least two 3-pointers in 10 of 12 games this season.

Makaya Porter in blocks per game, steals per game

Deniece Ryan, left, and Makaya Porter of Fort Lewis College play defense against St. Edward’s University on Nov. 18 at FLC. (Jerry McBride/Herald file)

Jerry McBride

Head coach Lauren Zuniga knew she needed to make some adjustments to her roster after finishing 6-22 overall last season. The Skyhawks needed more size, length and athleticism, so Zuniga brought in Porter to help. It’s paid off so far.

Porter has been a weapon on both sides of the floor with her height and length at 6-feet tall at the forward position. The junior is second in the conference with 1.3 blocks per game, and she’s tied-ninth in the conference with 2.1 steals per game.

She is one of two players to be in the top 10 in both blocks and steals per game in the RMAC. FLC will need her to keep up her defensive prowess as the Skyhawks play tougher competition in conference play.

Josie Davis in steals per game

Josie Davis of Fort Lewis College guards the inbound pass while playing St. Edward’s University on Nov. 18 at FLC. (Jerry McBride/Herald file)

Jerry McBride

Talking to Zuniga last season, she held Davis in high regard as a senior in high school. Now a freshman for the Skyhawks, it’s easy to see why.

Davis is third in the conference with 2.4 steals per game. She has great length for a guard and is active for the Skyhawks’ defense. On offense, Davis is efficient for any player, but especially for a freshman.

Her development over the rest of her freshman season will be fun to watch.

Natalie Guanella in steals per game

Guanella is one of the most experienced players at FLC, with it being her third year at the school and the second year with Zuniga as her coach. Therefore, the junior knows what to do on the defensive end, tied-ninth with Porter with 2.1 steals per game in the conference.

bkelly@durangoherald.com

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Young athletes compete in Northwest Ohio Elks Hoop Shoot | Allen County

Published

26 minutes ago

January 4, 2026

Your Sports Nation

LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) — Young athletes showed they could perform under pressure as they competed in the Elks Hoop Shoot competition.

The Northwest Ohio District brought winners from 10 different Elks lodge Hoop Shoot competitions to Ohio State Lima for the next step in the national contest.

The Elks have hosted the Hoop Shoot program for 52 years. Boys and girls ages 8 through 13 were divided into three age groups to see who could sink the most baskets.

While organizers hope the event is fun for the participants, they also emphasize the importance of developing skills through practice.

“They’re our future, and you don’t know who’s going to be able to benefit from all the practice that they put in, and further their careers in basketball, not only in the high school level, but in college and perhaps the professionals. We want them to increase their skill level and also show the sportsmanship and the camaraderie with the other shooters and enjoy the time that they have with this program,” says Jean Zink, Northwest Ohio District Elks Hoop Shoot Competition.

The top boys and girls from each age group in the Northwest Ohio District will advance to the state competition in February.

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Jake Kielb Hockey foundation launches effort to expand youth sports access in Las Vegas

Published

34 minutes ago

January 4, 2026

Your Sports Nation

Alexa Belcastro

Since the Vegas Golden Knights arrived in 2017, youth hockey participation in Southern Nevada has more than doubled, according to USA Hockey and local youth programs. While that growth has created new opportunities, it has also strained existing facilities.

Usufzy said programs like learn-to-skate and youth leagues are reaching capacity, and without additional infrastructure, families may be forced to look elsewhere for competitive opportunities.

“We’ve seen incredible growth, but without places to support it, that growth can stall,” she said. “We want kids to be able to play and develop right here in Las Vegas.”

To meet that demand, the foundation has launched a capital campaign to build the Las Vegas Community Sports Complex, the first nonprofit community ice rink and multi-sport facility of its kind in Southern Nevada.

The proposed complex would feature two NHL-sized ice rinks and a versatile indoor turf field designed for sports like soccer and lacrosse, . The goal is to create affordable programming and expand scholarship opportunities for families across the valley.

The Jake Kielb Hockey Foundation’s capital campaign is entirely community-driven. Those interested in learning more or supporting the project can find additional information at HelpVegasPlay.com.

Usufzy hopes the project will ultimately give every child — regardless of background a place to play, grow, and belong.

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NBC5 In Depth: Nordic skiing gaining traction

Published

57 minutes ago

January 4, 2026

Your Sports Nation

The organization that governs Nordic ski events in New England said it is seeing considerable growth in interest in the sport. The executive director of NENSA, the New England Nordic Ski Association, was a guest on this week’s episode of NBC5 In Depth.”The sport of cross-country skiing is much younger than alpine skiing in America, I think it’s fair to say,” said Heidi Lange of NENSA. “But we are seeing incredible growth and success at all levels.”On the Jan. 4 episode of NBC5 In Depth, Lange said the fame and success of Jessie Diggins, who won three Olympic medals in cross-country skiing and an array of other championships, has helped attract young athletes to the sport.”We see a lot of glitter at our races,” Lange said, referring to how Diggins popularized wearing glitter on her face during competitions. “We see kids embracing that joy and the sportsmanship that she emulates. And it goes deeper than that, of course. Jessie is an incredible mentor and role model in so many ways. She’s so willing to be open and vulnerable and very transparent about her journey, not just celebrating the successes, but sharing what she’s experiencing through challenges and struggles. And I think that has had a very powerful influence on skiers as they’re developing and navigating what are hopefully long journeys in the sport.”Lange told NBC5 In Depth that over the past two Olympic cycles, 50% of U.S. Olympic team members in Nordic skiing had an affiliation with a New England program. She went on to say that a closer examination of the numbers revealed that 30% of that population grew up in NENSA’s youth and junior programming in New England. “We’re incredibly proud of that,” Lange said. “It’s early to say yet for this year, but trends are tracking in a similar fashion.”Lange provided other encouraging signs for the future of the sport in the NBC5 In Depth interview. She also discussed advancements in snowmaking technology for Nordic ski areas, and offered recommendations of what fans of the Olympics should watch for in the Nordic competitions at the upcoming Winter Games.The video atop this article has the full interview with NENSA’s Heidi Lange that aired on the Jan. 4 episode of NBC5 In Depth.Previous coverage: Olympic gold medalist Jessie Diggins discusses climate activism

LYME, N.H. —

“The sport of cross-country skiing is much younger than alpine skiing in America, I think it’s fair to say,” said Heidi Lange of NENSA. “But we are seeing incredible growth and success at all levels.”

On the Jan. 4 episode of NBC5 In Depth, Lange said the fame and success of Jessie Diggins, who won three Olympic medals in cross-country skiing and an array of other championships, has helped attract young athletes to the sport.

“We see a lot of glitter at our races,” Lange said, referring to how Diggins popularized wearing glitter on her face during competitions. “We see kids embracing that joy and the sportsmanship that she emulates. And it goes deeper than that, of course. Jessie is an incredible mentor and role model in so many ways. She’s so willing to be open and vulnerable and very transparent about her journey, not just celebrating the successes, but sharing what she’s experiencing through challenges and struggles. And I think that has had a very powerful influence on skiers as they’re developing and navigating what are hopefully long journeys in the sport.”

Lange told NBC5 In Depth that over the past two Olympic cycles, 50% of U.S. Olympic team members in Nordic skiing had an affiliation with a New England program. She went on to say that a closer examination of the numbers revealed that 30% of that population grew up in NENSA’s youth and junior programming in New England.

“We’re incredibly proud of that,” Lange said. “It’s early to say yet for this year, but trends are tracking in a similar fashion.”

Lange provided other encouraging signs for the future of the sport in the NBC5 In Depth interview. She also discussed advancements in snowmaking technology for Nordic ski areas, and offered recommendations of what fans of the Olympics should watch for in the Nordic competitions at the upcoming Winter Games.

The video atop this article has the full interview with NENSA’s Heidi Lange that aired on the Jan. 4 episode of NBC5 In Depth.

Previous coverage: Olympic gold medalist Jessie Diggins discusses climate activism

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Rec Sports

Burbank Boys Basketball Wallops Upland 73-33

Published

1 hour ago

January 4, 2026

Your Sports Nation

20260103_174406 — Burbank defeated Upland 73-33 in a nonleague game. (Photo by Rick Assad)

By Rick Assad

Employing a smothering defense and a smoldering shooting display proved a perfect recipe for the Burbank High boys’ basketball team on Saturday night.

Facing a good Upland team that had height and length but was short on shooting played into the hosts’ favor as the Bulldogs routed the Highlanders 73-33 in a nonleague game.

Burbank scored 20 points or more in the second and third periods and nailed 19 of 28 shots for 67.8 percent in those two frames.

Burbank drained 10 three-pointers with six treys coming in the second half.

Three players scored in double figures and were paced by junior shooting guard Avo Papikyan with a game-high 20 points and was followed by senior point guard Cris Ong with 13 points and junior point guard Jon Ong with 12.

Burbank sank 29 of 52 from the field for 55.2 percent during the game while holding Upland to 11 of 61 for 18 percent.

The Bulldogs made 14 of 28 for 50 percent in the first half and led 36-17 and the Highlanders shot 25 percent after converting six of 24.

Burbank dashed in front 16-9 after the first period and then were off to the races.

Steve Eshleman is Burbank’s head coach and believes this was his team’s finest hour to date.

“That might be our best offensive game that we have had all year and we shot the ball really well, but really what spurred us was our defensive strength that we had throughout the game,” he said.

Eshleman also liked another important aspect of the game.

“We rebounded and got the ball out and when we ran, and then created offense to our defense and getting the ball out and going tonight was probably our best 32 minutes that we put together and that’s great for the kids,” he stated.

The Bulldogs (10-4) outrebounded Upland (8-9) 44-33 including 19-13 in the second half.

Imani Smith-Young, a junior small forward, scored all of his seven points in the opening period.

Papikyan tallied 12 points in the second quarter and that included three of his four from three-point range.

Cris Ong, after scoring five points that included a trey in the opening frame, added six points in the second period as the Bulldogs converted eight of 14 for 57.1 percent from the floor.

Ong’s basket with 5:15 remaining in the second period made it 22-9, Papikyan’s three-pointer increased the cushion to 25-9 with 4:52 on the clock and Ong’s bucket saw the Bulldogs pull ahead 29-9 with 3:25 left.

Senior small forward Anthony Jawiche found his range in the third quarter with nine points and also drilled a three-pointer as Burbank dashed ahead 62-29 heading to the fourth period.

Jon Ong dropped eight points in the same quarter, Papikyan added five points and Ong’s hoop with 6:35 left saw the Bulldogs march ahead 43-17.

In the fourth period, Blake Finnigan, a senior wing, scored five of his seven points and added a three-pointer.

Junior wing Jason Campos canned a three-pointer in the fourth quarter and senior small forward Giordan Lewis dropped two points in the second period for the Bulldogs.

Senior wing Collin Heard paced the Highlanders with nine points and they all came on three-pointers and Cooper Omness, a senior wing for Upland scored five points.

Assistant coach Tighe Eshelman is in agreement with his father’s assessment of the team.

“We’ve been lacking a full 32-minute effort so far this year. We’ve had good wins by getting ahead of people and holding on for dear life,” he said. “Tonight, we really executed the game plan throughout four quarters, which is a great step for us leading back into [Pacific] League play.”

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JAN. 4: MINNESOTA AT MONTRÉAL PRE-GAME PRIMER | PWHL

Published

1 hour ago

January 4, 2026

Your Sports Nation

Sunday, January 4, 2026 | 2 p.m. ET | Place Bell

WATCH LIVE: Sportsnet East/Ontario/Pacific, FanDuel Sports Network North, FOX 9+, ICI TÉLÉ & ICI TOU.TV, PWHL YouTube & thepwhl.com(U.S. / International), More
EN: Daniella Ponticelli (Play-by-Play), Ann-Sophie Bettez (Analyst), Julia Tocheri (Reporter);
FR: Michael Roy (Play-by-Play), Isabelle Leclaire (Analyst), Christine Roger (Reporter), Roseline Filion (Studio Host), Stéphanie Poirier (Studio Analyst)

MINNESOTA FROST
4-1-1-3 | 15 PTS | 2^ND PLACE (TIED)
Top Scorer: Britta Curl-Salemme – 9 GP, 4-7-11 PTS
Last Game: 5-2 L at OTT on Jan. 3

MONTRÉAL VICTOIRE
3-1-0-4 | 11 PTS | 8^TH PLACE
Top Scorer: Marie-Philip Poulin & Abby Roque, 3-5-8 PTS
Last Game: 4-3 L at NY on Jan. 2

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

Montréal has six regulation wins in its 11 all-time games against Minnesota (one SO win, one SO loss & three regulation losses) including a 4-1 win in the last meeting. That’s the most regulation victories by any PWHL team against the Frost. This is the first time the season series opens in Montréal with split decisions in each of the first two opening games in Minnesota.

Saturday’s 5-2 loss was just the fourth regular-season game in which the Frost have allowed at least five goals – and two of them have been at TD Place in Ottawa (lost 8-3 on Feb. 13, 2025). Minnesota had allowed a combined six goals across its first four non-Takeover Tour road games this season.

Both Mae Batherson and Kendall Cooper assisted on Minnesota’s first goal on Saturday, each skater’s fifth straight game with an assist. That ties them for the longest assist streak in the regular season in PWHL history (done six other times). Cooper’s six assists are tied for the lead among rookies.

Britta Curl-Salemme extended her point streak to five games and her goal streak to two games after scoring on Saturday. The league’s points leader scored in her first two games against Montréal last season and finished with four points against the Victoire (2G, 2A) in six games.

Kelly Pannek leads the PWHL with four multi-point games this season after scoring a goal and an assist on Saturday. The first time she produced two points in her career was against Montréal (2A) in her second game back on Jan. 6, 2024.

This is the third time the Frost are playing games on consecutive days, with both other instances occurring in the league’s inaugural season and both with split results. Minnesota had an OT loss against Boston and an OT win over New York on Jan. 27-28, 2024, and a 2-1 win in Ottawa and a 2-1 loss against Montréal on Feb. 17-18, 2024.

Minnesota wraps up its longest road trip of the season and busiest stretch in the schedule with four games in nine days. They enter Sunday’s action with two wins on the trip, having earned five of a possible nine points.

Montréal fired off 45 shots on goal in its 4-3 loss at New York on Friday. It was the most shots on goal the Victoire have attempted in a non-overtime game in team history (including playoffs), and the most by any PWHL team this season.

The Victoire have lost three straight games in regulation, all by one-goal decisions. The longest losing streak in team history is four games back in March 2024. Their only two-game losing streak at home in Montréal was last season with a pair of one-goal defeats at Place Bell on Mar. 23 and Apr. 1, 2025.

Laura Stacey attempted a game-high eight shots on goal Friday, the most by a Montréal player this season. It was Stacey’s third regular-season game with eight or more SOG while all other players in Montréal history have one such game combined (Marie-Philip Poulin). Stacey currently ranks third with 36 shots and led the league last season with 112.

Poulin is riding the longest point streak of her PWHL career at four games (2G, 3A). Before Friday, the Victoire captain had amassed five different three-game streaks in two seasons. Abby Roque also has a four-game point streak of her own with five points (2G, 3A) since Dec. 20. Both goals have been assisted by Poulin, and two of her three assists have set up goals scored by the captain.

Nicole Gosling, Montréal’s first-round pick in June, registered her first PWHL point with an assist on Friday. All four Victoire draft picks who have appeared in games this season have at least one point. Only defender Tamara Giaquinto, chosen in the sixth-round, has yet to play a game for the team.

Jade Downie-Landry, who hails from St-Jean-sur-Richelieu on the South Shore of Montréal, will get to play on home ice in front of her friends and family for the first time on Sunday. She made her long-awaited season debut on Friday against her former Sirens teammates following activation from LTIR.

Hayley Scamurra was named to Team USA on Friday and will compete in her second Olympics. There are also six members of the Frost on the American squad, most in the PWHL.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING

“Excited to finish off our road trip on a good note. We have played some really good games and have also learned from some times where we can be better. This is a huge opportunity to get three big points.” – Frost forward Taylor Heise

“We are looking forward to returning to Place Bell in front of our fans for the first time in the New Year. The team has been creating many opportunities and will continue to do so and hopefully take full advantage of them as we move forward.” – Victoire Head Coach Kori Cheverie

SUNDAY’S GAME: The Victoire return to Place Bell for the first time since Dec. 7 and take on the Frost for the first of four meetings this season. Today’s game is a Black History Celebration, part of the PWHL’s Unity Game series, honouring the legacy, impact, and ongoing contributions of Black leaders, athletes, artists, and community-builders within hockey and across Montréal. Through music, dance, community storytelling, and in-arena recognition, the game creates space for celebration, education, and meaningful connection with local Black communities. Fans in attendance will enjoy an immersive experience throughout the day as Black culture and creativity take center stage, including a performance of the national anthem by Montréal singer Jennifer Lee-Dupuy and music curated by DJ Nelles during intermissions. Jennifer Mathurin of the Mathurin Family Foundation will perform the ceremonial puck drop. Her leadership and community advocacy reflect the Foundation’s commitment to empowering Black youth and families through education, sport, and mentorship. Moments of recognition and community storytelling will also spotlight local Black organizations making a lasting impact in Montréal. Among the community partners honoured during the game are the Mathurin Family Foundation and the Montréal Steppers, whose work supports youth empowerment, inclusion, and cultural expression. The Montréal Steppers will also host an activation on the concourse, inviting fans to connect and experience cultural expression beyond the ice. Jayne-Laure Dumerjean will be recognized as the Warrior of the Game for her leadership and impact within Montreal’s youth sports community. She is the founder of Empowering Her Sports, an initiative dedicated to supporting young athletes on and off the court through mentorship and education. Click here to learn more about this season’s Black History Celebrations around the PWHL.

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