The vote is in for Heartland Conference men’s basketball and Incarnate Word senior Pierce Caldwell is the top winner for the third straight year.
The San Antonio Marshall High School product was voted player of the year for the Heartland after UIW won the regular season title and earned the number one seed in the upcoming conference championship tournament.
Caldwell won this same honor in 2008 and 2009. And this is his third straight season to be first team All-Heartland after being conference freshman of the year in 2007.
His 17.5 points a game were second in the league. He led the Heartland with his .887 free throw percentage and his 81 three-point shots made.
He will finish his career as the second all-time leading scorer in Incarnate Word history. He goes into the Heartland tournament with an even 1,800 points. He is the Incarnate Word record holder with his current 345 three’s made. And combined from the end of last season and the start of this year he set a UIW record of 61 consecutive free throws made.
Caldwell was not the only Cardinals player honored by the Heartland.
Eric Stewart is All-Heartland Conference honorable mention.
Both junior guard Eric Stewart and junior forward Tracy Robinson were named to the all-conference honorable mention list. Stewart was among the league’s top 15 players in four different statistical categories including being sixth in field goal percentage. Robinson was fourth in rebounding and was top 15 in three others.
Tracy Robinson is honorable mention All-Heartland Conference.
ALL-HEARTLAND CONFERENCE
FIRST TEAM
Pierce Caldwell, Incarnate Word
Kevin Kotzur, St. Mary’s
Reggie Shanks, St. Edward’s
Jeff Miner, St. Edward’s
Jordan McGowen, Dallas Baptist
SECOND TEAM
Curtis Mitchell, St. Mary’s
Keaton Schultz, Newman
Jaray Mathews, Newman
Marcale Marshall, Oklahoma Panhandle
Bryan Baumann, Dallas Baptist
HONORABLE MENTION
Eric Stewart, Incarnate Word
Paul Latham, Texas A&M International
Josh Simmons, Arkansas / Fort Smith
Will Faiivae, Texas A&M International
Reggie Lassiter, Oklahoma Panhandle
Braxton Adamson, Dallas Baptist
Tracy Robinson, Incarnate Word
Justin Bailey, Texas / Permian Basin
INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
Player of the Year, Pierce Caldwell, Incarnate Word
Newcomer of the Year, Kevin Kotzur, St. Mary’s
Defensive Player of the Year, Jaray Mathews, Newman, and Jeff Campbell, St. Mary’s
Freshman of the Year, Kevin Kotzur, St. Mary’s
Coach of the Year, Jim Zeleznak, St. Mary’s