*** NJCAA ***
REGION NINE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The last two teams standing in this Regional Tourney were the GILLETTE COLLEGE PRONGHORNS and the LARAMIE COUNTY COLLEGE GOLDEN EAGLES.
The Pronghorns built up a 47-38 lead by Halftime and from there both teams intensified their offensive efforts. In the end Gillette College won this game for the ages by a Century Club-level score of 101-97. Ted McCree tossed in 25 points to lead the Pronghorns. Continue reading
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NJCAA Division Two – 1. CUYAHOGA COLLEGE CHALLENGERS ### 2. SOUTHWESTERN (IA) COLLEGE SPARTANS ### 3. RICHARD BLAND COLLEGE STATESMEN ### 4. NIAGARA COUNTY COLLEGE PURPLE WOLVES ### 5. LOUISBURG COLLEGE HURRICANES ###
6. MOTLOW COLLEGE BUCKS ### 7. PARKLAND COLLEGE COBRAS ### 8. ANCILLA COLLEGE CHARGERS ### 9. METROPOLITAN COLLEGE AT PENN VALLEY SCOUTS ### 10. KIRKWOOD COLLEGE EAGLES (Defending National Champions) ### Continue reading
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Balladeer’s Blog offers one last round of congratulations to the 2016 college basketball champions in the FOURTEEN divisions covered here.
NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) DIVISION ONE
National Champions – MID-AMERICA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY EVANGELS
Runners-Up – Georgetown (KY) College Tigers
2015 Champions – Dalton State Roadrunners
NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) DIVISION TWO
National Champions – INDIANA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY WILDCATS
Runners-Up – University of Saint Francis (IN) Cougars
2015 Champions – Cornerstone University Golden Eagles Continue reading
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*** NCCAA DIVISION ONE ***
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The last two teams standing in this tourney were the top seeded EMMANUEL COLLEGE LIONS and the 2nd seeded SOUTHWESTERN CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY EAGLES. The Lions calmly went about gaining control of the game, building up a 39-29 lead over the Eagles by Halftime. Southwestern Christian University eroded that advantage a little during the 2nd Half but ultimately Emmanuel College retained just enough distance for a 75-68 victory. Kurtis Robinson led the Lions with 16 points. * THE LIONS ARE NCCAA TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS *
*** NJCAA DIVISION ONE ***
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – It was virtually all Cinderellas left in this tournament for the past couple rounds. The title game pitted the 13th seeded SALT LAKE CITY COLLEGE BRUINS against the 7 seeds – the HUTCHINSON COLLEGE BLUE DRAGONS. True to form for this year the underdog Bruins contained the Blue Dragons and led 42-27 by the break. From there Salt Lake City stayed on top for a 74-64 triumph. Connor Toolson tossed in 28 points to lead the victors. * THE BRUINS ARE NJCAA DIVISION ONE CHAMPIONS * Continue reading
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*** NJCAA DIVISION ONE ***
FINAL FOUR – FIRST BERTH – The 8 seeds – the GILLETTE COLLEGE PRONGHORNS – stunned the nation yesterday with their upset win over the top seeded TRINITY VALLEY COLLEGE CARDINALS. The Pronghorns led the Cardinals in this Battle Royal by a slender margin of 36-34 at Halftime. After the break the action was just as fierce, but in the end Gillette College walked away with an 87-83 victory. Kavell Bigby- Williams led the Pronghorns into the Final Four with a Double- Double of 19 points and 20 rebounds.
FINAL FOUR – SECOND BERTH – This game pitted the 7 seeds – the HUTCHINSON COLLEGE BLUE DRAGONS – against the 2nd seeded NORTHWEST FLORIDA STATE RAIDERS, the defending national champions. The Blue Dragons set the hardcourt on fire with an upset of their own, clubbing the Raiders into submission by a score of 55-28 at the midpoint. In the 2nd Half both teams scored in the 60s as Hutchinson College advanced to the Final Four with a Century Club level tally of 116-90. Samajae Haynes-Jones tossed in 33 points for the Blue Dragons. Continue reading
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*** NAIA ***
DAY ONE – GAME ONE – This Region’s 4 seeds – the MID-AMERICA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY EVANGELS – played the 5th seeded PARK UNIVERSITY PIRATES. It would be tough to beat this game for tip-off to final buzzer intensity. The game was tied 13 times and the lead was exchanged 8 times as the Evangels eked out a 42-40 lead at Halftime and then went on to win by a final score of 88-86. Bryon Miller led Mid-America Christian in scoring with 26 points.
DAY ONE – GAME TWO – The TALLADEGA COLLEGE TORNADOES came in as the 2 seed and faced the 7th seeded WESTMONT COLLEGE WARRIORS. The Tornadoes got almost more than they could handle from the Warriors, who actually led Talladega College 33-31 at the break. In the 2nd Half the Tornadoes came from behind for a tight 63-61 victory led by Nigel Jones’ Double- Double of 20 points and 11 rebounds. Continue reading
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*** NAIA DIVISION TWO ***
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The lone remaining 2 seeds – the INDIANA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY WILDCATS – fought for the championship against the lone remaining 1 seeds – the UNIVERSITY OF SAINT FRANCIS (IN) COUGARS. Yes, it was an all Crossroads League title tilt as these two familiar foes fought it out. The Wildcats held a 32-26 lead at Halftime but had to hold off a furious 2nd Half rally by the Cougars for a 69-66 triumph! Bob Peters tossed in 20 points to lead Indiana Wesleyan to its second title in three years. * THE WILDCATS ARE CHAMPIONS OF NAIA DIVISION TWO * Continue reading
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*** NAIA DIVISION TWO ***
FINAL FOUR: FIRST SEMIFINAL – This was a tale of two Halves as the 2 seeds – the INDIANA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY WILDCATS – took on their Region’s 1 seeds – the DAVENPORT UNIVERSITY PANTHERS.
The first 20 minutes were all Wildcats as they charged out to a 40-25 lead over the Panthers. After the break Indiana Wesleyan University had to hold on by their fingertips against a Davenport University rally. The Wildcats won the game 66-65 and moved on to the title match. Bob Peters led the scoring for IWU with 17 points. Continue reading
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*** NCCAA DIVISION TWO ***
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The top seeded HILLSDALE FREE WILL BAPTIST COLLEGE SAINTS did battle with the 3 seeds – the GRACE BIBLE COLLEGE TIGERS – for the NCCAA title. The 1st Half ended with the Saints holding a 43-35 lead but the Tigers came roaring back to force Overtime through a 77-77 tie to end Regulation. In the extra session Hillsdale thoroughly outperformed Grace and won the game 97-84. Trey Sneed led the Saints with 27 points and 9 rebounds and his teammate Antonio Wilson contributed 26 points of his own. * THE SAINTS ARE NCCAA2 CHAMPIONS *
*** NJCAA DIVISION THREE ***
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The top two seeds in this Tournament faced each other for the 2016 Championship. The 1 seeds – the ROCK VALLEY COLLEGE GOLDEN EAGLES – managed a slender 41-39 Halftime lead over the 2nd seeded ROCHESTER TECHNICAL COLLEGE YELLOW JACKETS. After the break the Golden Eagles steadily put more distance between themselves and the Yellow Jackets, ultimately winning by a score of 88-75. Rock Valley College was led to their second title in three years by L.T. Davis with 25 points. * THE GOLDEN EAGLES ARE NJCAA3 CHAMPIONS * Continue reading
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*** NAIA DIVISION TWO ***
ELITE EIGHT – FIRST BERTH – There was a mild upset in this game as the 7 seeds – the INDIANA UNIVERSITY- EAST RED WOLVES surprised the 6th seeded VALLEY CITY STATE VIKINGS. By Halftime the Red Wolves had Vikings fans nervous as they held a 41-35 advantage. After the break IU-East slowly but surely managed a bit more separation and ultimately defeated Valley City State 81-69. Vasha Davis led the Red Wolves with his 19 points. Continue reading
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