HERKIMER, N.Y. – The final game of an historic year went down to the wire and the Salem CC prevailed to bring a joyous end to the winningest season in the history of the men's basketball program.  The tenth-seeded Mighty Oaks knocked off the seventh, sixth and, finally, fourth seeds in their first-ever national tournament appearance, beating Sandhills Community College 77-75. 

The Mighty Oaks checked a lot of boxes this season. They had their winningest season in school history with a mark of 26-8 on the season.  They made their first region tournament appearance since 2022. They won their first district title to make their first national tournament appearance. They picked up their first national tournament win. They also had the district MVP in Akeem Taylor; Region 19/Northeast District Coach of the Year in Head Coach Mike Green.

With the win the Mighty Oaks finish the season as the fifth best team in the country, "At the end of the year there are only a couple of teams that leave a winner," Mighty Oaks coach Mike Green said. "We had an opportunity to leave a winner, so we won out. Everybody here who is leaving, they won their last junior college game, so that's good. That feels really good."

"Amazing year, amazing, big time year," Green said. "The guys came together and made it happen. I think we have a pretty good team coming in next year, but this is uncharted territory. It'll be a disservice to the kids who come in next year to try to do the same thing. That was amazing."

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News