Region 11 Championship Claimed By #6 Indian Hills In Convincing Fashion
(Feb. 26, 2022) Ottumwa, IA – In a rivalry that many consider one of the best in Junior College basketball, the Warriors and the #13 ranked Southestern CC Blackhawks squared off for the umpteenth time to see who would claim the R11 crown. Both teams have a lot of history, and just a smidgen of hate with each other. Plus, the two cities are only separated by about 75 miles.
Both teams have rabid fan bases (just kidding, but they are very spirited), outstanding young coaches (alhough SCC’s Lorenzo Watkins tips the scales as the elder statesman), and amusingly, both teams have three national championships, having won those six titles over an eight year period. Want more…both head coaches had ties to IHCC prior to their current positions.
Current Hills HC Hank Plona was an assistant for the Warriors during the 2010-11 season. Watkins was hired as Indian Hills head man back in 2001, right after The Hills had won back-to-back-to-back championships at Hutch.
Wasting little time, the Warriors set the tone by holding a six to ten point advantage throughout the first twenty minutes, although SCC only trailed by two at the break.
The second half was all Indian Hills, although leading by as much as 18 in the final period, they never could totally put the Hawks away. SCC was able to cut it to seven late in the game, before IHCC extended back to double digits winning 85-72. The win is the Warriors 26th win of the season to go with five losses.
The Warriors advance to the North Plains District Title game, in which they will host the Region 13 champion next Saturday, March 3 at the Hellyer. Region 13 is playing their semifinals today (Sunday) and the finals on Monday.
Indian Hills had six in double figures led by Ahren Freeman’s 18, followed by Enoch Kalambay with 17 points and 7 rebounds. Rounding out the top producers for the winners were; Davin Zeigler – 13, Braxton Bayless – 11, and ten a piece for Taj Anderson and J’Vonne Hadley.
Jesiah West poured in 18 points for the Hawks (10-15 from the FT line) and doubled down claiming 17 missed shots. But that wasn’t enough as SCC falls to 24-5. Davion Bailey and Kennedy Milton added 14 and 12 in what may be the Hawks last game this year.
Southestern, like Indian Hills, has been ranked in the top 20 most of the season, and have a decent shot at an At-large bid. However, with only eight slots available, it all comes down to how the other regions top teams do in their respective post seasons. If there are a lot of upsets, those 8 extra spots disappear quickly.
