St. John Fisher College’s Justin Plata, a junior on the men’s basketball team, has been named the College’s Male Athlete of the Week for the week ending January 8, 2012.
In a 1-1 week for the Cardinals, Plata was crucial in the team’s 72-60 win over host Utica College. Playing without leading scorer and starting center Jason Norsen, who injured his shoulder on Friday night’s loss to Ithaca College, Plata filled the stat sheet. The junior led the team with 33 minutes played, scoring 10 points, grabbing five rebounds, stealing two passes and swatting a shot. More importantly was the forward’s effort on defense. Plata had the task of guarding the Pioneers’ leading scorer, Matt Baldwin, who is currently fourth in scoring in the Empire 8 Conference at 17.1 points per game. Baldwin shot a measly 3-for-15 from the field, with Plata’s stingy defense holding the junior guard to a mere 11 points, six points under his season average.
Against Ithaca College on Friday night, a game Fisher lost by a narrow 71-65 margin, Plata posted a similar stat line. The Wheatley native finished with 10 points, three boards, three assists, two steals and a block.
Plata and the Cardinals return to action at 8 p.m. on Friday night when they host Elmira College before playing Alfred University at 4 p.m. on Saturday for an Empire 8 Conference weekend.
