Mineral Area completes unbeaten run to Hutch
reposted from daily journal sports editor Matt King with update
RIVER GROVE, Ill. – The road to Hutch has been paved with good intentions and even better defense by the Mineral Area men’s basketball program.
A crew that was snubbed from the eventually canceled NJCAA Tournament last year despite 30 wins will not be sweating any decision by the selection committee this time.
The second-ranked Cardinals delivered another shutdown second half on Saturday night, and secured the No. 1 overall national seed as announced on Sunday.
Region 16 Player of the Year Malevy Leons emerged from a slow offensive start to compile 16 points, 11 rebounds and five assists in a 73-56 victory over No. 18 Triton.
Mineral Area (23-0) earned its fourth NJCAA appearance in school history and first since 2015, and will head to Hutchinson, Kan. next week as the last unbeaten squad standing.
Already boasting the best junior college scoring defense at 60 points per game, the Cardinals embarked on a pivotal 12-0 run while handcuffing the opposition for a five-minute stretch.
“It was the same story, right? Our defense carries us,” Mineral Area coach Luke Strege said. “If we can get to halftime, we’re a pretty darn good team, because Coach [Tim] Walsh will see some things and make adjustments, and offensively, it just takes me some time. Great job by our guys.”
Keonte Jones added 12 points with four thunderous dunks, Terrion Murdix finished with nine points and six assists, and Kevin Stone made a team-high five steals for Mineral Area.
Teonta McKeithen was tremendous off the bench before fouling out with a game-high 20 points for Triton (20-4), which sought its first NJCAA bid since establishing Division I status a few years ago.
The Trojans could not overcome 16 turnovers plus a meager 2-of-10 performance from the line on their home court. They were outscored 40-26 after intermission.
The Cardinals enter the 2021 National Tournament as the No. 1 seed, and await the winner of the opening game of the tournament. #16 seed host Hutchinson CC (18-6) and #17 Kilgore College (TX) (18-5) square off in the first game of the tourney on Monday, April 19, at 10:00 am CDT. Kilgore beat Trinity Valley CC for the Mid-South District Championship, while Hutchinson was runner-up in the Plains District final and made the tournament as one of the eight at-large teams.
MAC will meet up with the winner Tuesday, April 20 at 2:00. All tournament games will be live streamed (for a small fee) on NJCAATV http://njcaa.org/network
