Both senior leaders for the Panthers’ men’s and women’s basketball teams were given all-conference honors Wednesday.

Eastern guards Megan Sparks and Josh Gomes were named to All-Ohio Valley Conference teams during media day in Nashville.

On the men’s side, Gomes was named first team all-OVC after leading Eastern in scoring with 16.8 points per game last season. This marks the first time in Gomes’ four-year career that the Indianapolis, Ind., native has been named to the first team.

“That’s pretty special to be named first team because you work so hard throughout a career to get these things,” Gomes said. “It just shows how much respect I’m getting from around the rest of the OVC.”

Last season’s OVC Freshman of the Year George Tandy was left off both the first and second team lists compiled by votes from the 11 coaches in the conference. However, no underclassmen were selected to either team.

“A lot of players could be named to those first and second teams,” Gomes said. “George Tandy is definitely one of those good players. (Tandy), Bobby (Catchings) and Bil Duany are all going to have breakout years.”

The Panther men were predicted to finish seventh in the league, which is one spot higher than they finished in 2004-2005.

“These rankings are always based on last year’s results,” Gomes said. “All we have been worried about since we hired Mike Miller is getting better every day.”

Megan Sparks managed to get named to the OVC’s second team after having a successful previous season leading Eastern in field goal percentage, assists and second in scoring.

“I’m happy with her summer right now and she’s committed to going out with a bang,” second-year Eastern head coach Brady Sallee said. “I think a year under her belt in the system and understanding what I want from her will help. More than anything I like her mindset and the way she’s going about her business.”

Sparks is only 147 points away from becoming the 18th player in program history to join the 1,000 career points club, Sparks also enters her senior year ranked among the EIU all-time Top 10 in 3-pointers made and free throws made.

The Mattoon native begins the season in the school’s all-time Top 10 in 3-point field goals (85) and free throws made (230). Sallee says she will be the go-to player early and will have to be one of the players that helps offset the loss of leading scorer Pam O’Connor, who finished her career second on the all-time scoring list, to graduation.

The Panther women will look to qualify for the OVC Tournament for the first time since 2002-2003 but are predicted to finish 10th of the 11 conference teams.