General | 3/16/2021 11:57:00 AM

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – A trio of Oklahoma Panhandle State University basketball players has earned post-season honors from the Sooner Athletic Conference. Recognized on the all-SAC teams were women's basketball players Cassia McCaskill (second team) and Tateum Jones (honorable mention), as well as men's basketball standout Jalen Thomas (third team).
 
McCaskill, from Townsville, Australia, had double-figure scoring in all but one game this past season in leading the Aggies to the SAC post-season. McCaskill had a career-high of 38 points on Feb. 6 versus Southwestern Assemblies of God University, with a season average of 20.3 points per game. She ranked second on OPSU in rebounds at 5.9 per game.
 
McCaskill, a forward, shot nearly 40 percent (84-212) from the floor, also leading the Aggies in three-point shooting (33-83/39./8%). She was also strong at the free throw stripe, hitting better than 85 percent (63-74).
 
McCaskill was third in the SAC in scoring, third in three-point baskets made and third in free throw percentage.
 
Jones, a junior from Hugo, Okla., averaged 4.8 assists and 1.8 steals per game. Jones averaged 7.6 points and, despite standing just 5-foot-4, led OPSU rebounders at 7.0 caroms per game. She hit nearly 47 percent of her shot attempts (36-77).
 
Jones was No. 11 in the SAC for rebounds and second in assists per game.
 
"I am extremely proud of both Cassia and Tateum," OPSU Head Women's Basketball Coach Victor Esparza said. "They both deserve this. They did a great job this year of stepping up. This is a great accomplishment for our entire team. We are eager to get started back up and get better for next year. We have a hungry group and it starts with these two."
 
Thomas, a freshman from Amarillo, Texas, finished second in the SAC scoring at 21.4 p.p.g. and was second in field goal percentage (55.3%). Thomas did it at both ends of the court, ranking second in SAC steals at 1.82 per game. He tallied in double-figures in 10 of 11 games, with a career high of 36 points versus Central Christian on January 30.
 
Thomas was solid at the free throw line, hitting 77.3 percent (51-66). He also averaged 5.3 rebounds per game and dished off for 2.2 assists per contest.
 
"(Jalen's) numbers are made even more noticeable considering that we play 11-12 guys in every game and he averages only 25 minutes a per game." OPSU Head Men's Basketball Coach Mark Laird said. "Jalen has been a consistent defender in our system and is still growing in his understanding of the game. Jalen is very unselfish, a great teammate and an absolute competitor. In practice, he wins nearly every sprint, every drill, every lift, every day! Aside from all of this, Jalen's story is quite amazing. As a 21-year-old first-time freshman, he is extremely mature, driven and coachable. He knows his 'why' and it show in everything he does.