Despite all of the issues, Postseason play begins tonight
Last season ended just before the start of the NJCAA National Championship in Hutchinson, KS. Twenty-four teams (16 qualifiers plus 8 at-large selections) were just days away from beginning their final journey, to South-central Kansas, to pursue a dream. A national championship. Unfortunately, they never stepped on the court. For the first time in its history, the NJCAA canceled “The Tournament,” with no champion crowned.
Fast forward to 2021…after starting the season late, with a reduced schedule, and many schools implementing attendance and travel/competition restrictions, we’ve made it to the post-season. I, for one, can’t wait to get that bitter taste removed from last years disappointing finish.
Two Regions (13 & 16) start their tournaments tonight. Region 23 (Gulf District) with all 19 teams competing, will open first round play tomorrow, March 31. Region 5 (Southwest District), with two divisions, has the North Texas Junior College Athletic Conference also beginning tournament play on Wednesday the 31st.
Region 13, with six teams from ND and Eastern Montana, kicks things off with quarterfinal games tonight. The tournament runs 3/30-4/5. All game to be played at the higher seed sites. #6 Seed Bismarck State College (8-13) travels to Devils Lake, ND to play #3 Lake Region State College (14-8) at 7:00 CDT. The other quarterfinal pits #5 Williston State College ND (11-10) at #4 Miles CC (MT) (13-9) schedule to tip at 7:00 (MDT). #1 Seed Dawson CC (20-2) of Glendive, MT, and #2 Seed North Dakota State College of Science (15-9), Wahpeton, ND, both received byes. Semifinals are Thursday, April 1 and championship slated for Monday, April 5.
The Region 13 champion will host the Region 11 (Iowa/NE Nebraska) winner on Saturday, April 10 for the right to advance to the National Tournament, April 19-24, in Hutchinson, KS. Region 11 starts postseason play Saturday, April 3.
Region 16 (half of the Midwest District), with 5 teams all in Missouri, has their quarterfinal game tonight. #5 Seed State Fair CC (8-14) is on the road to #4 Seed Three Rivers College (10-11) in Poplar Bluff for a 7:00 toss.
Semifinals and Final are Friday and Saturday, April 2 & 3. The Region 16 Champion will have to play at the Region 4 (Northern Illinois) winner for the Midwest District Championship on Saturday, April 10. The winner receiving the automatic birth at Hutch. Region 4, due to several schools opting out of the current season, has only three teams in the running for their championship. The semifinal is set for Thursday, April 1.
Region 23 (Gulf District), which includes all of Mississippi and Eastern Louisiana, begins play tonight with first round action. Their Championship game is scheduled for Friday, April 9. Due to covid, the regular tournament format has been altered and all 19 teams were invited to participate. All first round, second round and quarterfinal games will be played at site of higher seed. Semifinals and final will be held at the Coliseum at Mississippi College in Clinton, MS.
Here are Tuesday’s first round match-ups: #18 Baton Rouge CC (6-8) at #15 Copiah-Lincoln CC (3-9) at 7:00; #19 Southern University-Shreveport (3-11) at #14 East Central CC (3-11) at 7:00; #17 Mississippi Delta CC (5-11) at #16 Coahoma CC (2-12) at 7:00.
Second round starts on Thursday, April 1. Quarterfinals, semifinals and championship will be Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, April 6, 8 and 9 respectively.
Follow all postseason action under the District Championship header on the front page.
