Sandburg’s Wendling, Martin Named 2nd-Team All-Region

  Aaron Frey
  Thursday, March 1, 2018 2:07 PM
  Athletics

Galesburg, IL

Carl Sandburg College men’s basketball leading scorers Matt Wendling (Athens, Ill./Athens) and Kourtlandt Martin (Evansville, Ind./Central) have been named to the All-Region IV Division II District 3 second-team for their play this season.

Wendling, a 6-foot-5 sophomore forward, has been one of the most efficient scorers in the country this season while leading the Chargers in field goals (210), field goal percentage (61.9 percent), 3-pointers (56), 3-point percentage (46.3 percent), rebounds (210), rebounds per game (7.0), points (540) and points per game (18.0).

Wendling’s field goal percentage and 3-point percentage are first in the district as well as tops throughout all divisions in Region IV. Those marks are also good for 12^th in all of NJCAA Division II. He ranks third in District 3 in field goals and total points, and he rates fifth in points per game and free-throw shooting (80 percent).

Wendling, who has started all 30 games this season, has scored in double figures in 28 games and has put up at least 20 points in 10 contests. He has recorded four double-doubles this season, including a Jan. 6 victory over Robert Morris-Peoria when he posted career highs of 34 points and 13 rebounds.

Martin, a 6-1 sophomore, quickly asserted himself as a do-it-all point guard for the Chargers, starting all 30 games in the regular season. He leads Sandburg in free throws (124), free throw percentage (81.6 percent), assists (178) and steals (52). His assist total is tops in all of Region IV and ninth in NJCAA Division II.

Martin is second to Wendling on the team in field goals (178), 3-point shooting (40.9 percent), total points (518) and points per game (17.3). He ranks third in the district in free throw percentage and free throws made (124), with the latter also ranking 20^th in the country.

Martin has scored at least 20 points in eight games this season, reaching double figures 28 times. He scored a season-best 28 on Dec. 9 against McHenry County. He handed out a season-high 10 assists Feb. 15 to record a double-double and has picked up five steals on two occasions.

Wendling and Martin helped lead Sandburg to a share of the Arrowhead Conference title, its first since 1990. The Chargers closed the regular season with a 22-8 record and eight straight victories entering tonight’s Region IV District 4 tournament quarterfinal against Bryant & Stratton.

2018 All-Region IV Division II District 3 Men’s Basketball

First Team — Deonta Terrell (Player of the Year, Triton)*, Jordan Matthews (South Suburban)*, Darias Oliver (Olive-Harvey)*, Connor Fuller (Black Hawk), Keymonta Johnson (Illinois Valley)

Second Team — Matt Wendling (Carl Sandburg), Kourtlandt Martin (Carl Sandburg), Kewan Smith (Wright), Courtney Carter (South Suburban), Rudy Lopez (Kishwaukee).

* NJCAA All-America nominee

Follow Sandburg Athletics on Twitter

Like Sandburg Athletics on Facebook