NJCAA Basketball prepares for the postseason
Charlotte, NC – As NJCAA's men's and women's basketball programs prepare for the postseason, the top DI and DII teams continued to hold the No. 1 spot in the rankings and prove their programs are powerhouses in the NJCAA pool of competition.
Johnson County (KS) possessed the No. 1 spot in the NJCAA DII Women's Basketball poll for the third consecutive week, while Kirkwood (IA), Lake Land (IL), Macomb (MI), and Kansas City Kansas closes out the 2020-21 regular season rankings in the top-five.
The Cavaliers dominance has lifted the squad to a 17-0 overall record averaging 79.7 overall points per game. With an average of 80.9 points per game this season, the Eagles have won seven women's national titles, winning the school's first-ever in 1997 and most recently in 2017. These items considered, Johnson County is a strong contender for this year's national title in Port Huron, MI.
Labette (KS), named NJCAA DII Women's Preseason No. 1 selection, has been in close competition with Kirkwood and Johnson City throughout the season, maintaining positions on the polls.
The top-five rankings in the NJCAA DII Men's Basketball poll saw shake-ups over the past few weeks, Des Moines Area (IA) was passed by Ancilla (IN). Now in the No. 1 spot, the Chargers hold a record of 13-0 and a 101.2 point average per game.
Des Moines Area remains competitive and is averaging 77.9 points per game with a strong 15-4 overall record. Sophomore Christian Haffner leads the team with 12.7 points per game. The men's basketball squad is no stranger to the championships, holding the title for ICCAC Champion in 2001, 2002, 2014, 2015 and 2020. The Bears have also claimed five NJCAA Region 11 titles.
Prior to week 8 of 10, Chipola (FL) was the defending No. 1 team in the NJCAA DI Women's Basketball poll. Jones (MS) surpassed the Indians in the rankings, holding the No. 1 spot for three consecutive weeks with an unblemished 16-0 record at the time.
Jones' women's team has pressed-on holding strong in the final three weeks of the regular season rankings. Currently averaging 71.6 points per game, The Bobcats are led by Daisha Bradford, boasting 16.3 points per game. Jones' dominance and competitive spirit is evident as the Bobcats make their way towards the program's fifth national tournament appearance with the hopes of a national title.
In NJCAA DI Men's Basketball, South Plains (TX) upheld the top spot in the final ranking of the regular season followed by Mineral Area (MO), Odessa (TX), Shelton State (AL), and Coffeyville (KS). Mineral Area entered the top-five of the rankings for the first time this season during week 7.
The Texans maintained a perfect record of 17-0 and have averaged 85.5 points per game. Sophomore Myron Gardner is leading the Texans with an average of 14.4 points per game, assisting South Plains to an impressive position leading up to the NJCAA national title.
For a full list of championships, visit: 2020-21 NJCAA Championship Dates and Locations
