Former Sonora star Austin Carter named Irvine Valley College’s most valuable player

Austin Carter was named the Lasers most valuable player. (Photo courtesy IVC Athletic Communications)

Irvine Valley’s men’s basketball team finished its season in late February. 

The Lasers had an incredible season with a record of 17-13 overall and reached the California Community College Athletic Association South Regional Playoffs.

Irvine Valley coaches couldn’t host an in-person banquet due to the coronavirus pandemic, but recently announced their award winners.

IVC went in as a No. 20 seed and pulled off a 67-64 upset win at No. 13 Chaffey in the first round. The Lasers won behind 17 points behind sophomore forward Austin Carter (Sonora High), 13 points from sophomore guard Sean Murphy (Sonora High) and nine points each from freshman guard Aaron Strings (Warren High) and sophomore guard Ricky Robinson. Sophomore forward Aashad Womack (Sonora High) contributed seven points and a team-high 12 rebounds.

The Lasers snapped Chaffey’s 17-game win streak. The Panthers had gone unbeaten in winning the Inland Empire Athletic Conference.

IVC went on to challenge and Santa Monica in the second round and rally, but fall, 53-46, at West LA College.

Irvine Valley was led by sophomore guard Christian Louis and Carter with 10 points each. Carter also added six rebounds.

Strings added nine points in the defeat.

With the year end awards, head coach Jerry Hernandez and assistants Jason Garey, Kalob Hatcher, Anthony Susnjara and Anthony Hernandez announced Carter as the team’s most valuable player

Carter recently signed with NCAA Division II Holy Names in Northern California.

Carter averaged 11.1 points and 7.3 rebounds per game for the Lasers overall this past season. He ranked second on the team in scoring and first in rebounds and shot 53.6 percent from the field.

Womack (7.2 rebounds per game and eight contests with at least 10 boards) received the best rebounder award, freshman forward Colby Waite (Canyon High) was named most academic, Robinson was selected most inspirational for his hard work on and off the floor as part of the program and Strings earned the most improved award. Strings was a solid contributor on both ends of the floor and scored 68 points for IVC in the team’s final eight games.

-Courtesy IVC Athletic Communications