For Immediate Release February 19, 1999
Jason Strickland and Paris Butler Named Honorable Mention All-ODAC
Both Are Named to the Team for the First Time in Their Careers
SALEM, Va.--Sophomore forward Jason Strickland (Charlottesville, VA/Covenant) and junior guard Paris Butler (Springfield, VA/West Springfield) were both named to the Old Dominion Athletic Conference's Honorable Mention squad tonight at the league's annual banquet. Both are first time members of the team. Heading into this weekend's ODAC tournament, Strickland is leading the Maroons in scoring, averaging 12.5 points per night. He is also second on the team in rebounding, grabbing 5.8 missed shots each time out. Among Roanoke players averaging more than 5.0 points a night, Strickland is third on the team in field goal percentage, hitting an even 56 percent from the floor. He has led the team in scoring eight times this season, including a 23-point effort in a victory at Lynchburg on February 1st. He has also been the Maroons' top rebounder six times this season.
Butler has been Roanoke's main threat from the perimeter this year, knocking down a team-best 47 three-pointers. Six of those threes came in a 93-73 victory over Eastern Mennonite on February 10th. His six threes in the game tied a school record for most three-pointers in one contest. Butler led the team in scoring that night, dropping in 23 points as the Maroons cruised to the win. For the year, Butler is avering 8.5 points per game, is second on the team with 52 steals, and also rates second on the club with 38 steals, trailing only Strickland in that category.
The Maroons will be in action on Saturday night as they face Virginia Wesleyan in the Quarterfinals of the ODAC tournament in Salem, VA. The game is slated to begin at 8:00 pm. Roanoke is the sixth seed in the tournament after finishing the regular season with a 12-12 record, 9-9 in league play. The Maroons, playing in their 19th consecutive conference tournament, are in search of their 10th ODAC championship.