Dawson CC Headed to Nationals for First Time Ever
Reposted in part with updates from Dawson sports information
For the first time in the 63 history of Buccaneer basketball, they have qualified for Nationals.
On Saturday night in Glendive, in a rematch of last years District Championship game against Indian Hills CC (Ottuwa, IA), the Dawson Community College Buccaneers punched their ticket to the NJCAA Division I National Tournament in Hutchinson, Kansas with a 68-67 win over the 6th ranked team in the country.
With 12 minutes remaining, Dawson had a 17 point advantage, but the visiting Warriors fought all the way back and had a couple of chances in the final three seconds to win it. In the end, just like all season, it was DCC’s defense that won the game and the North Central District Championship.
It was the Bucs 13th win in a row and capped off a perfect 12-0 home court campaign in 2021. Dawson led from start to finish and snapped the Warriors 13 game win streak. With the loss, IHCC finishes at 21-3 and their season is over. The Warriors, despite being ranked high for most of the season, did not receive an at-large bid.
Dawson had three guys in double figures, led by Kennedy Brown’s 15 points, 7 rebounds and 4 blocks. Michael Jok added 14 points and 9 rebounds while Cordell Stinson tallied 10 points and 8 rebounds. Tyem Freeman led Indian Hills with 20 points and 7 rebounds.
Dawson stands at 23-2 overall this season with hopes to improve on that record as they open play at the National Tournament as the #19 seed and a date with #14 seed Indian River State College (FL) on Tuesday, April 20, at 10:00 am CDT. Indian River was the runner-up in the South Atlantic District, losing to #6 seed Chipola, 88-75, and made the tournament as one of the 8 at-large teams.
