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Highland Women Win NJCAA Region VI Championship

published March 11, 2013Highland Women Win NJCAA Region VI Championship

Video streaming of the National Tournament games is available at www.icc.edu/njcaa2013.  On that page, click on the Webcast link at the top right portion of the page.  On the Webcast page, there is a blue and green iHigh logo on the lower left portion of the page.  Click on that logo to get the Webcast.

The Scotties won their first game in the National Tournament 69-56 over Chesapeake College (MD).  They now play the host college, Illinois Central, at 6:00 pm tonight (Wednesday).  Illinois Central is ranked third for the Tournament, the Scotties sixth.   If/when the Scotties win tonight, they will face the winner of the Rhode Island/Louisburg game on Friday at 6:00.  If the Scotties do not get by tonight, they will play at 3:00 pm on Thursday.

Highland Women Win the NJCAA Region VI Championship

The Highland Community College women's basketball team won the rubber match with Johnson County Community College on Saturday in the NJCAA RegionVI Championship by a single point, 76-75, to advance to the NJCAA Division II National Tournament in East Peoria, IL, March 19-24.  The Scotties and the Cavaliers had each won their home game against the other in the regular season, and both held down the top spot in the nation, with Johnson County finishing the regular season on top and Highland at number 10.  

fter a back and forth game early, Highland appeared to take control, going up by as much as 12 in the second half.  Johnson fought back and took the lead, when, with the game tied, what will live in the history of Highland basketball as the "Phantom Foul" was called on Ryann Bowser (Holton) -- her fifth of the game, and the Johnson player made the first free throw.  The Johnson player then missed the second free throw and Highland called time out.  The Scotties were down 74-75 with 2.4 seconds left.  Rylie Bowser (Holton) inbounded the ball with a long pass to Ashley Torres (Puerto Rico) who drove to the lane and hit a runner for the win. That win qualifies the Scotties for the national tournament..

Scottie head coach BJ Smith, who has coached on the NCAA Division I level and was named NJCAA Division II Coach of the Year last year for his improvement of the Scotties, noted, "This was one of the best moments I have ever been part of." Smith went on to credit the hard work of his players who continued to battle after mid-season setbacks and the loss of key players.  "These women continued to battle, to buy in to our system, and to become the team they are because of strong sophomore leadership and a continuing belief in themselves, regardless of the circumstances.  I am so proud of how this team has rallied, fought, and improved to get where we are now.  And now we are looking forward to what is yet to come on the national level.  This is what this team has worked so hard to accomplish, so it is such a joy to see them get here."

Highland’s first game will be on Tuesday, March 19, at 8:00 pm against Chesapeake College in Maryland.  The National Tournament is being held in East Peoria, IL.  The Scotties are seeded number 6; Chesapeake is number 11.

 

 

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