2019 Champions

March 23, 2019

Vincennes is Cream of the Crop……..Again!

Vincennes University (IN) captured the 2019 Division I Men’s Basketball Championship, and in doing so, became the third team in NJCAA history to win a fourth national title in DI men’s basketball. They join San Jacinto-Central (TX) and Moberly Area CC (MO) as the only teams to accomplish this feat in the 72 year history of the tournament. San Jacinto dissolved their basketball program after their run to the quarterfinals in 2017. Six teams have claimed three national titles, including: host Hutchinson CC, South Plains College (TX), College of Southern Idaho, Indian Hills CC (IA), Southeastern CC (IA), and Independence CC (KS).

The Blazers 87-77 triumph over Ranger College (TX) ended a lengthy drought, of sorts, for one of the top Junior College Basketball programs of all times. Their last Championship was in 1972. The Trailblazers, who are planted securely among the nations top ten overall programs, are currently ranked second behind Hutchinson CC in total wins. The Blazers other championships were in 1965 and 1970, all three previous titles were orchestrated by legendary Hall Of Fame coach Allen Bradfield.

Enter Todd Franklin, another legendary HOF coach (NJCAA class of 2018), who took over the reigns of this powerhouse program in 2010-11. And…….guess what? Nothing changed. The tradition continued. Franklin’s team’s have amassed a record of 272-41 during his tenure (heading into the 2019-20 season), and are a perennial top 10 performer. Under Franklin, the Trailblazers have made 7 straight appearances to the National Tournament in Hutch (a nation leading 34th overall) and have an averaged over 32.2 wins against 3.5 losses over that same stretch, including three previous trips to the final four (2013, 2014, and 2018).

Amazing accomplishments on their own, but when combined with the 330 wins and a final four appearance in 2004 while directing Southeastern Illinois College, Franklin ranks as one of the all time greats. The Blazers quarterfinal win over South Plains was Franklin’s 600th career victory. Be that as it may, VU’s record tying 4th national title (Todd’s first) had somehow alluded them. That is……until now.

Led by four players in double figures, Vincennes overcame a second half charge by Ranger College to outlast their opponents in route to the ten point victory. MVP Kevin Osawe tossed in a game high 22 points, 17 in the first half when Vincennes all but knocked out the Rangers. Keith Clemons had 17, Kevin Kangu added 14, and Lony Francis, Jr. finished with ten.

VU blazed the nets at 65% during that first twenty minutes and threatened to turn the first ever nationally televised game in NJCAA history (CBSSN) into a laugher. Their largest lead of 22 (39-17) came on a long range jumper by Osawe with just over 7 minutes left. Ranger (31-4), coached by Billy Gillispie (Texas A&M and Kentucky), playing in their first ever championship game, were able to reduce the deficit to 13 right before the end of the half, but a late three by Osawe put the Blazers up by 16, 50-34, at the intermission.

Things were a little different in the second half, much to the delight of the NJCAA braintrust, and the decent, but primarily neutral, early afternoon crowd assembled at the Sports Arena. The Ranger Rangers from Ranger, TX avoided the lopsided defeat with a slow climb out of the gates following the break. Ranger’s run of 30-15 over the next fourteen minutes denied Vincennes of any premature celebration, and made things very interesting. Two free throws and a short jumper by Rangers Jaren English (13 points) cut the deficit to one at 65-64 with six minutes remaining. Unfortunately for the Region/District 5 At-large representative, they were never able to flip the score. Vincennes never relinquished the lead, shutting the door on any Ranger comeback. The margin was eventually extended back to double digits by the final horn. VU connected on 9-12 FT’s in the last 1:08 to help seal the deal.

Ranger, who toppled #24 Seed Cleveland State (TN), #1 Northwest Florida by three in quarterfinals, and #4 Seed Coffeyville CC (KS) in the semis along their way to the finals, also had four players contribute double figures. Jonathan Jackson came off the bench to garner team high 21, single-handedly keeping Ranger hopeful with 15 of those coming in the first half . Coryon Mason tallied 16, followed by English’s bakers dozen, while Brayan Au netted 12, all coming in the 2nd half, going 3 for 5 from three point land.

For the game, despite VU’s early dominance, the final stats were fairly close. Vincennes had plus 7 rebounding advantage, both teams turned the ball over 12 times, RC was whistled for 23 fouls to VU’s 21. Ranger went 21-27 from the line while Vincennes was good on 15 of their 25 attempts. VU shot 52.5% on FG’s (31-59) with RC going 26-51 for 51%. But the glaring difference in the final outcome was 3-point shooting. Vincennes nailed 10 of their 16 tries (62.5%) and Ranger was a mere 34.6% going 4 for 11. Ranger outscored the Champs by six from the line, and two on standard FG’s, but were outscored by 18 from distance. Osawe lead that assault for the Blazers on 4 of 5 shooting from behind the arc.

Vincennes entered the tournament as the #3 seed and received a first round bye. Their first opponent was an old rival from the midwest, #14 Seed Moberly Area CC (MO), a 82-73 first round winner over Northeastern Oklahoma A&M (NEO). The Greyhounds provided some resistance for the Blazers and actually took a four point lead on the eventual national champs with about six minutes to go, the only time they trailed in the second half during the tournament. However, Vincennes made the plays they needed down the stretch and put the game away with clutch free throw shooting to gain the 81-74 final. That seven point conquest happened to be the slimmest margin of victory for the Trailblazers in any of their tournament games.

In route to the crown, the Blazers pulled of the District 5 trifecta in beating their next three opponents. This would’ve never been possible under the old tournament format, as Odessa, South Plains and Ranger are all members of the NJCAA’s Region/District 5 (Western Texas and NM). Only the District Champs were allowed to compete at Hutch under the old format. In 2013 four national at-large entries and four zone rotation qualifiers were combined with the 16 District qualifiers to field the 24 team, single elimination event. The zone qualifier selections were phased out beginning with the 2017 tournament and replaced by four more national at-large selections.

Vincennes beat #6 Odessa 72-60 in the quarterfinals, took down the defending National Champs and reigning District 5 Champs #2 Seed South Plains, 85-67 in the semifinals, before besting #8 Ranger in the finals. South Plains, by virtue of their District Championship, received the District’s automatic birth, while Odessa and Ranger, were invited as at-large entries. The maximum teams any District can field under the current format is three. Vincennes, who was also extended an at-large bid, was defeated by Kaskaskia College in the semifinals of the District 16 Championships. Kaskaskia went on to win that District title and received an automatic birth and a #20 Seed at Hutch.

2019 TOURNAMENT AWARDS:

WILLIAM FRENCH MOST VALUABLE PLAYER

Kevin Osawe – Vincennes University – 6’6″ FR Forward, Brampton, ON, CA

BUD OBEE OUTSTANDING SMALL PLAYER AWARD (6’2″ and under)

Keyshaad Dixon – Ranger College – 6’0″ FR Guard, Boston, MA

CHARLES SESHER SPORTMANSHIP AWARD

Marvin Johnson – Coffeyville CC – 6’6″ SO Guard, Ardmore, OK

COACH OF THE TOURNAMENT

Todd Franklin – Vincennes University

ALL TOURNAMENT TEAM

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