The Cleveland State Cougars got to .500 and were awarded a trip to Hutchinson, Kansas, as a result.
The Walters State Lady Senators stayed unbeaten against TCCAA teams this basketball season and are making a virtually annual appearance in the NJCAA Division I women’s tournament. They’re going to Lubbock, Texas, after topping third-seeded Chattanooga State 58-51 in the TCCAA/Region VII championship game Tuesday afternoon at Cleveland State, where the seventh-seeded Cougars then beat eighth seed Roane State 70-58 in the men’s final.
Both national tournaments run March 18-23, and brackets will be revealed Monday.
Cleveland State started the tournament 11-15, but four games later the Cougars are 15-15 with a 7-6 home record. And they won Tuesday despite only 1-of-14 shooting and three points from All-TCCAA and previous tournament hero Delaino Walker. He did grab nine rebounds.
With a team-high 16 points, Kerry Pratt was 5-for-5 on 3-point shots and added a free throw on one that gave the hosts a 12-point lead with 7:44 to go. Jonathon King scored 12 points in 13 minutes and Domont’a Wright and Darius Turman had 11 and eight rebounds to help in the win.
James Jordan had 21 points, nine rebounds and five assists and DeMierre Black and Kenden Reaves scored 14 and 10 points for Roane State (14-20), which had knocked off top seed Walters in the quarterfinals when Cleveland State upset second-seeded Motlow State.
The Walters women will take a 28-4 overall record to Lubbock after overcoming Chattanooga State’s 14-9 lead after a quarter. Zacharyia Esmon scored 22 points with three 3s to lead the Lady Senators, and Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu and Jalayah Manning added 12 and 11 points.
Rachel Sanders, Ashlyan Baker and Mackenzie Trouten scored 12, 11 and 10 for the Lady Tigers (21-9), and Jazmin Allen had eight rebounds with eight points.