BASKETBALL: Chaparrals Advance to Region 5 Basketball Semifinals

By Forrest Allen
Midland College Athletics Director

Midland College Basketball
NJCAA Region 5 Basketball Tournament
Thurday, March 10 @ 3:00 p.m.
Frenship HS Tiger Pit
Wolforth, Texas

WOLFFORTH, TEXAS - The Midland Chaparrals jumped out to a torrid pace on offense to seize early control of their first round game of the 2023 NJCAA Region 5 Basketball Tournament; a 77-40 win for the Chaps.  MC, 26-5 on the season, entered the tournament as the #3 seed from the WJCAC.  McLennan Community College went into the tournament as the #2 seed from the North Texas Junior College Athletic Conference and with a 24-6 record.  The Highlanders were also ranked #25 nationally in the final NJCAA Men's Division I Basketball poll.    

Midland College freshman Xavier White provided the juice for the Chaps shooting a blistering 6 of 8 from the three-point line for a game-high 18 points.  White also hauled in 10 rebounds to lead both teams in that category.  MC will now move on to Friday's Region 5 Semifinal game versus conference nemesis Odessa College.  WJCAC champion Odessa College, 29-2 this season, advance to the semifinal game in a decisive 80-40 blowout versus NTJCAC #4 seeded Hill College.  The Wranglers finished the regular season as the #3 team in NJCAA Men's Division I basketball. 

The match up between the Chaparrals and Wranglers will be the third of the year with OC taking the previous two contest by scores of 70-67 and 63-58.  Odessa College is a team of overwhelming offensive balance led by Kiree Huie's 10.8 ppg.  OC's Dontrell Hewlett, Anthony Marshall and Marcus Banks chip in with 10.2, 9.9 and 7.9 points per contest this season.  The Wranglers typically wear down their opposition with waves of fresh bodies coming off the bench with each team member playing in a minimum 25 of 31 games over the 2022-23 season. 

In the McLennan CC game, Midland College received strong contributions from Doug Young and Trent Johnson's 15 points (each) followed by Keonte Jones' 14 points and nine rebounds and Brison Waller's 11 points.  The Chaparrals shot a blistering 55% from the floor, including 50% from the three-point line. 

Defensively the Chaps held the Highlanders to 26% from the floor and 11% from the three-point line.  McLennan was led by Nick Shogbonyo's 12 points and CJ Hall's 11 points.  No other MCC player scored more than five points in the game. 

The other Region 5 semifinal game will see a matchup between 2023 NTJCAC champion Ranger College and #3 seeded Weatherford College.  Ranger College narrowly defeated South Plains College 76-73 in OT while Weatherford scored a win over WJCAC runner-up Clarendon College 65-62. 

NJCAA Region 5 Basketball Tournament Bracket (Men's):
https://njcaaregion5.com/sports/mbkb/2022-23/releases/20230305u13urr

Watch The Region 5 Tournament Live:
https://tsbnsports.com/2023-region-5-mens-basketball-tournament/

 GO CHAPS!

Doug Young	Keonte Jones	Brison Waller	Xavier White