KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Four Evangel Valor men’s basketball standouts have earned spots on Heart of America Athletic Conference All-Conference teams with Josh Pritchett and Autry Acord highlighting the awards, being named as the Heart Player of the Year and Heart Defensive Player of the Year, respectively. Pritchett recorded first team honors while Acord garnered honorable mention honors. Manrique Alvarado and Edriel Martinborough rounded out the all-conference honorees, both earning honorable mention all-conference, the league office announced Thursday.
Pritchett has been on a tear for the Valor this season, entering the Heart Conference Tournament averaging 19.3 points per game and 3.5 assists per game and is second in the conference in scoring. Pritchett ranks among the Valor’s top 10 all-time three-point shooters (170), assists (386), and steals (167).
Acord has been a defensive nightmare for opposing offenses. Autry currently leads the nations in steals (100) and steals per game (3.6), breaking the Evangel school record for steals in a season (100) and in a career (223). Acord currently averages 6.8 points per game and 4.4 rebounds per game, helping earn honorable mention all-conference honors.
Alvarado has shown how explosive he can be on offense this season, currently averaging 10.6 points per game, with three games this season over 20 points scored. Manrique currently ranks eighth in the conference for three-pointers (56) and 19th in assists (75).
Martinborough rounds out all-conference honorees, while averaging 10.5 points per game and 4.6 rebounds per game. The graduate leader has helped guide the Valor to their 21-7 overall record and ranks in the top 10 all-time for assists (352) and recently broke 1,500 career points scored in Evangel’s win over Mount Mercy.
Evangel (21-7) opens play in the Heart Conference Tournament tonight (Feb. 23) in the Ashcroft Center against the six-seeded Central Methodist Eagles in a 7 p.m., contest.
