By Peter Briguglio
Campus News
Basketball season is officially over, and one Region XV team managed to bring home the hardware as National Champions while a slew of others made noise in their respective NJCAA tournaments. Before we shift focus to the upcoming spring sports, we’ll take a look back at the highlights from the winter season.
DIII Women’s Basketball
After being ranked #1 in the country most of the season, the Hostos Caimans entered the NJCAA DIII Women’s Basketball tournament as the #2 seed. The team from the Bronx proved that ranking was incorrect as they topped #1 seed Rock Valley 58-52 in the NJCAA title game, earning the team’s first ever National Championship. It’s the second national title in Hostos history after the men achieved the feat back in 2005.
Kayla Wilson was named tournament MVP and led the charge for the Caimans over the defending NJCAA champions after scoring 22 points while grabbing 13 rebounds. With the performance, Wilson ended the 2017-18 season with 20 straight double-doubles. In the three-day tournament, the freshman averaged 27.3 points and 17.0 rebounds.
Rock Valley led by eight at the end of the first quarter, but Hostos bounced back and outscored the Golden Eagles 18-8 to go into intermission with a 31-29 edge. The teams played to a virtual tie after three quarters, but in the final stanza, Hostos regained its composure and outscored Rock Valley 15-8 on the Golden Eagles’ home floor to win the Championship
Hostos’ free-throw shooting was the determining factor, as the Caimans drained 19 free-throws compared to Rock Valley’s 8.
The Caimans ended their season on a 23-game winning streak.
DIII Men’s Basketball
The #2 seeded Nassau Lions began their title quest with a win over Massasoit to continue their 10-game win streak. In the Semi-Finals, they took on #6 ranked Montgomery. Nassau was hot right off the bat and cruised to a 95-81 victory.
The Championship game featured a showdown between Nassau and #1 seed Brookdale. The Paul Gerry Fieldhouse at host Sullivan Community College was electric as both teams took the court. Brookdale was undefeated the entire season and came out with brute force. The Lions gave up a fair fight, but weren’t able to keep up with the Jersey Blues. They fell 70-57.
The Lions finished the season 28-5, one of the best seasons they have had in the past few years during Head Coach AJ Wynder’s 20-year career.
DII Men’s Basketball
Ulster qualified for the National tournament, winning the Districts in thrilling fashion, but drew the toughest first-round matchup of the year as the #16 when they faced #1 seed and eventual National Champion Triton. The Senators suffered a 107-59 defeat to end their season.
DI Women’s Basketball
ASA Brooklyn earned a berth into the NJCAA tournament after an undefeated regular season. The team suffered its first defeat of the year in the District C championship game, losing a 75-65 decision to Harford, but the team still qualified for a bid to Nationals.
In the 24-team tournament, #24 seeded Avengers only had one upset in them. They knocked off #9 seed Salt Lake 60-59 in the opening round before falling in heartbreaking fashion to #8 New Mexico in the second round, dropping a 62-59 contest in overtime and ending their miraculous 22-2 season.
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