Coffeyville CC Captures Plains District Title
Coffeyville CC (KS) is the second team to punch their ticket to the Big Dance in Hutchinson as they capture the Region 6/Plains District Championship, 83-81, over Butler CC. Earlier today, Columbia State CC beat Jackson State for the Appalachian District Championship (see related story).
In a game which had 8 ties and 11 lead changes, between the #5 seed Coffeyville CC, and #3 Butler CC, it all came down to the last possession in the game held at Dodge City CC (KS). Coffeyville led by 2 when Javaunte Hawkins of Butler drove the left baseline and scored on a reverse layup, tying the score at 81 with :23 seconds remaining. With the clock running down, Coffeyville’s Tylor Perry was dribbling near half court when he drove toward the top of the key with under 10 seconds left. Perry stumbled and almost lost total possession of the ball, but was able to regain control while on the floor and was able to call a timeout before being tied up by the Grizzlies.
Ravens Hall of Fame Head Coach Jay Herkelman, in his 25th season at CCC, called up “the” play on the sideline that proved to be the game winner. Tony Hutson was inbounding the ball right in front of Herkelman and faked a throw towards Meikel Murray standing close to the center jump circle. Somehow, Murray was then able to get enough separation as he raced down the left side of the lane, leaped to make an acrobatic two handed catch over the Grizzly defender, and gently kissed the 2-footer off the glass through the cords. “The” play put Coffeyville up two, but Butler still had a chance. but only .8 seconds disappeared as the clock stops after a made basket n the final minute of the game and each overtime period. The Grizzlies still had a chance.
Butler actually had two chances in the final 1.3 seconds to tie or win, but had to go the full length of the court to do so. The first inbound pass was deflected out of bounds near the Grizzly bench. Giving Butler another throw-in, but this time from a much closer spot than the first one. With .9 seconds of regulation time left, the throw-in went to Grehlon Easter coming off a baseline screen, moving directly toward the throw-in spot. Grehlon caught the ball and all in one motion, turned and fired a shot from about 23 feet. Had it gone in, the 3 pointer would’ve sent the Grizzlies Hutch bound. Instead, the shot glanced off the heel of the rim, touched high on the glass, falling harmlessly to the floor, giving the Red Ravens the title and automatic berth in the National Tourament.
Coffeyville, now 26-8, will be making their 14th appearance in the National Tournament, and fourth in the last 8 years. The Raven’s last trip to Hutch was back to back in 2017-18. They now await to see what seed they receive and who and when they will play. The DI Men’s Selection show will be available on NJCAATV.com and will air live, Monday, March 9 at 1:00 ET. The National Tournament runs March 16-21.
Butler CC finishes at 25-8. Sixteen District Champions and 8 At-Large selections comprise the tournament field, but it is unlikely the Grizzlies will be in-line for one of those at-large bids.
Note: Both top seeds in the Region 6 Championship were defeated in the semifinals, #2 Colby CC lost to Butler in OT, and #1 Cowley College fell to Coffeyville by four. Both of those teams are candidates to receive At-Large bids after spending most of the year ranked high in the top 20. Colby who went 27-5, probably has the best chance. Cowley ended at 26-6, winning only one of their last four however.
