December 15, 2025

HELENA, Mont. – Montana Western and Carroll (Mont.) were listed on the eighth edition of 2025-26 Erck Hotels/Frontier Conference Men’s Basketball Players-of-the-Week, announced Monday by the conference office.

Offensive Player of the Week: Kyle Gruhler, Montana Western Gruhler, a senior guard from Vancouver, Wash., was selected as the Offensive Player-of-the-Week.

He averaged 28.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 3.5 steals per game as No. 23 ranked Montana Western went 2-0 record at home in Frontier Conference play.  He led all players in scoring against Valley City State (N.D.) (24 points) and Mayville State (N.D.) (32 points).

Gruhler was 20-of-29 from the field (69 percent) for the week.  He added 13-of-19 3-pointers (68.4 percent) and hit all three free throw attempts.

This is Gruhler’s fifth career Erck Hotels / Frontier Conference Player of the Week award.

Defensive Player of the Week: Lorence Dela Cruz, Carroll (Mont.) Dela Cruz, a senior guard from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, was selected as the Defensive Player of the Week.

He was simply phenomenal in Carroll’s (Mont.) two lopsided home victories over Bismarck State (N.D.) and Dickinson State (N.D.).  The senior came away with six steals in both games, helping spark extended runs that carried the Saints in both wins.

Dela Cruz now leads Carroll with 27 total steals this season, surpassing FC’s 3-time Defensive Player-of-the-Week Kellen Harrison.

This is Dela Cruz’s third career Erck Hotels / Frontier Conference Player of the Week award.
 

WEEK	OFFENSE	DEFENSE
8	Kyle Gruhler, Montana Western	Lorence Dela Cruz, Carroll (Mont.)
7	Isaiah Crane, Carroll (Mont.)	Kellen Harrison, Carroll (Mont.)
6	Emanuel Steward, Montana Western	David Young, Montana Western
5	Kyle Gruhler, Montana Western	Kellen Harrison, Carroll (Mont.)
4	Leon Sayers IV, MSU-Northern	Liam Thompson, Bellevue (Neb.)
3	JR Cison, Valley City State (N.D.)	Jaden Phillips, Bellevue (Neb.)
2	Kyle Gruhler, Montana Western	Hayden Diekhans, Montana Tech
1	Kyle Gruhler, Montana Western	Kellen Harrison, Carroll (Mont.)

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