Cowley College Tigers returning to national tournament, this time as District Champs
reposted in part from Cowley sports information
The wait is over! After 64 years since its previous Region VI title, the No. 2-seed Cowley College men’s basketball team defeated top-seeded Hutchinson 116-107 in the championship game of the Region VI Tournament played Saturday at Friends University in Wichita, KS. With the win, the Tigers qualify to compete at the NJCAA Division I National Tournament April 19-24 in Hutchinson, KS.
The Tigers rallied from a three-point halftime deficit to win its 12th game in a row and capture its first ever Plains District Championship. The trip to Hutch will be the sixth all time for the program. The Tigers made the tournament four times in the 50’s. They were an at-large selection for last years event, which eventually was cancelled due to covid. But this time they earned it.
“The moment was big for us in the first half, but we tightened some things up in the second half,” Cowley head coach Tommy DeSalme said. “The one thing I challenged them with at halftime was how bad do you want that (region) championship ring? We are getting a big fat ring after not having been region champions since 1957.”
Tiger sophomore Dalen Ridgnal led all scorers with 28 points and 10 rebounds as six Cowley players scored in double figures. Henderson had 23 points and eight assists and Shemarri Allen added 16 points, five rebounds and five assists.
Hutchinson (18-6) was led by Josh Baker’s 24 points, 10 rebounds and five assist. The Blue Dragons had five players with 10+ points. Chris Robinson had 22, followed by Jaden Okon with 18, Majok Kuath added 16, and Matt Mayers tossed in 12.
Cowley made 20 three-point attempts (out of 41 attempts- 49%) to Hutchinson’s two as the Tigers improved to 21-4 on the season. Hutchinson was a measly 2-10 from beyond the arc. With the loss, Hutch falls to 18-6, and will wait to see if they are extended an at-large bid to The Tournament.
