Dillon, Mont., Mar. 8, 2017— Frontier Conference Commissioner Kent Paulson announced the 2016-17 All-Conference Men's Basketball team, as well as individual award winners today after balloting by the league's coaches. Dom Robinson, Shyke Smalls, Kooper Kidgell, Zaccheus Darko-Kelly, and head coach Steve Keller were recognized.

In his tenth year on the bench guiding the Bulldogs, head coach Steve Keller just completed his most successful regular season. The Bulldogs went 24-7 (.774 winning percentage) and 14-4 in conference (.778).  "The entire Montana Western community is proud of Steve Keller and his recognition as the 2016-17 Frontier Conference Coach of the Year.  Steve has made a lasting impact not only on the basketball program at Western, but in countless lives that he has affected." Stated Director of Athletics Russ Richardson,  "Coach Keller has the reputation of being 'hard' on the court, but his passion for the game and the kids he coaches has literally changed the lives of the student athletes he serves!  This is a very well-deserved honor." 
This is the fourth time Keller has been named Frontier Coach of the Year.                                                                                                               

Shyke Smalls, a 6-1 guard from Great Falls, Mont. was named to the Frontier Conference First-Team. Smalls scored 470 points on the season, and averaged 15.2 points per game. He led the conference in steals averaging 2.35 a game, and is ranked second in the NAIA with 73. This season Smalls scored a career high 34 points in a come from behind victory over rival Carroll College, and finished his career with 1248 points. Smalls was named Frontier Conference Player of the Week three times this season and NAIA National Player of the Week in December. 

Dom Robinson, a 5-8 guard from Tacoma, Wash. was named Frontier Conference Newcomer of the Year, as well as being a First-Team All-Conference selection. Robinson averages 16.8 points a game, tied for third in the conference, scored total points. He led the conference in three-pointers made with 88(ninth in the NAIA), three-pointers made per game averaging 2.84 (tenth in the NAIA), assists with 138 (13th in the NAIA), and assists per game averaging 4.45. He also scored a conference high 39 points in a single game.

Kooper Kidgell is a 6-3 guard from Billings Mont. and was named to the Frontier All-Conference Second-Team. Kidgell had a monster sophomore season. He improved in every statistical category. Kidgell scored 372 points including a career single game high of 23. He averaged 12 points a game and grabbed 114 rebounds, and is second on the team with 71 assists. He has started the last 23 games of the season and played in over 800 minutes. 

Zaccheus Darko-Kelly is a 6-4 guard from Missoula, Mont. and was named the Frontier Conference Freshman of the Year.
Darko-Kelly played in all 31 games scoring 282 points averaging 9.1 a game. He shot 55 percent from the floor and 53 percent from beyond the arc. Darko-Kelly pulled down 102 rebounds, and scored a career high 22 points against Great Falls. 

For complete all-conference teams and award winners click here.