No Cake Walk For #10 Seed Northwest Florida State
Hutchinson, KS – #10 Seed Northwest Florida State started out the season 20-1, quickly solidifying their position in the top ten of the NJCAA poll. Then the calendar flipped to February. In one of the nations toughest regions (8) every year, and undoubtedly the best in 2022, NWF lost three of their last seven entering the Florida State Tournament (Elite Eight).
Trinidad State, making their third trip to the big dance, and Northwest Plains District Champions, found themselves with the #23 seed. And there opponent, was probably a truly higher seed had the NW Raiders not faltered toward the end of the regular season.
Deshawndre Washington fired in 15 frist half points to secure a ten point halftime lead for NW, 49-39. Although the Trojans from Region 9 wouldn’t go away. The Raiders built a 16 point advantage 7 minutes into the last half, but saw it dwindle to 7 with a 1:30 left in the game.
That’s as close as Trinidad State would get. Northwest took the margin back to 11 in the last 30 seconds, before settling for a ten point 87-77 triumph.
Northwest Florida advances to meet #7 Seed Indian Hills CC (IA) at 8:30 on Tuesday, March 15, in the round of sixteen.
First year Raider Coach Greg Heiar had this to say, “They (Trinidad) played hard and made some tough shots. I told our guys, they are a good team and don’t think about it (being a #23 seed). They will have a lot to prove and nothing to lose. Give our guys credit for gutting it out.”
Leading scorer for the Raiders,(27-5) was Deshawndre Washington, who added 6 more to his fisrt half 15 point to finish with 21. He also grabbed tam high 9 rebounds. Next up for NWF was Tre Clark with 20, and Brennen Rigsby who drained 19.
NW shot 50% from the floor, including 43% from long distance. The Trojans made 42% of their FGs and out-rebounded the winners 38-36, but only hit 29% from three.
Trinidad sees their District Championship season end at 18-13, were led by Dylan West with a game high 24 points and 14 rebounds for the double-double. Jaeion Tolliver and Jailen Beford topped off at 15 each, while Robel Desta carded ten.
