For the third time since the 2020-2021 season, the Lady Raiders are the champions of the JUCO Division One basketball world! Coach Bart Walker ’s team beating Shelton, a team out of Alabama, in the National Championship game Tuesday night 62-53 in Casper, Wyoming. Northwest, led by sophomore Nevaeh Scott (5'6''-G), took control of the game early on, building an 20-14 lead by the end of the first quarter. And from there they pretty much “held serve” if you will, building the lead to as many as ten points by halftime, 48-38. And the Raiders able to hold off every Bucs rally in the second half, though Shelton would eventually cut the lead to just three he Bucs, making a late run to cut the deficit to 56-53 with just under two minutes to play. From there though Northwet plays shutout defense while hitting all six free throws, on the way to a 62-53 win. Scott leading the way with 25, Mekhia Chase (5'8''-G) adding 11. Those two a group of six sophomores who had the chance to leave for D1 programs after last year’s title game loss but instead chose to come back for this kind of championship finish. ” I am so unbelievably proud of these young women with how they persevered.” coach Walker told me a few hours after the game, and before he and his team were able to get dinner in Casper. “We talk about perseverance and things that we’ve had to get through. Man, it’s just so rewarding to see those young ladies that came back and sacrificed going to D1 because and wanted to finish this business. And they got in the game and they achieved the ultimate. This is a unique team that deserved every bit of it. You know I’m so honored to be a part of Northwest Florida. You know we’ve got a great A.D., we’ve got a new president, and we’ve had some great ones. It’s just the overwhelming resolve that we did it! This is one of those, to be honest, I didn’t know if we could do it? You know they just kind of grinded through it. And they love each other. So I’m just so proud of this team and my staff and the due diligence that we’ve done to get this done. " The team will travel Wednesday starting with a bus trip to Denver, then flights to Houston and Pensacola, before a final bus ride back to campus in Niceville. It should arrive sometime before midnight Wednesday night. An on-campus celebration is already being planned for the near future.

Courtesy of: wjhg.com

Joplin, MO - No. 4 Johnson County (KS) defeats No. 6 Pima (AZ) 75-67 to win its third NJCAA DII national championship in program history, with its last coming in 2015.
Cavaliers’ Layla Scott (5'6''-G) was named the Most Valuable Player. Scott had 25 points in the championship game to go along with 4 rebounds and a steal. Layla finished this years tournament with 16.8 points per game, 4.5 rebounds per game, and 7 total steals.

Tale of the Title
The Championship game featured the number four and number six ranked teams, with both teams upsetting the top-two seeds in the semifinals of the tournament.
Pima came out scoring the first points of the game to take the lead, and both teams traded points the entire 1st quarter, with the Aztecs holding a 20-19 lead.
The second quarter was much of the same with neither team able to take much of a lead. Johnson County went into the locker room at half with a 36-33 lead.
The 3rd quarter had the same theme as the second with both teams trading baskets and neither able to take a large lead. The Cavaliers were able to enter the 4th quarter with a 55-53 advantage.
Johnson County was able to take their largest lead of the game at the 6:03 mark of the 4th quarter with a nine point advantage.
The Aztecs were able to reduce Johnson County’s lead by four with 2:11 left in the game but the Cavaliers were able to make clutch shots to hang on to a 75-67 victory.
Johnson County wins its second championship in program history and first since 2015.

Cavs win 2nd championship
The Cavaliers where able to claim a national championship after finishing as runner-ups in last year’s tournament.
The Cavaliers finish the season with a 34-1 record.
The Aztecs entered the national tournament as the No. 6 seed and a 26-5 record. The path for Pima’s national championship game appearance was a tough one.

Pima’s incredible runner-up finish
The Aztecs’ opening game was against No. 11 North Central Missouri who they defeated 74-65 to set up a match against the No. 3 seed Lincoln Land. Pima came out against the Loggers and played well for a 82-56 victory. The next match-up for the Aztecs was No. 2 CCBC Essex, which as an instant classic that finished with a 115-112 overtime victory.

Tournament Records Broken
This year’s tournament saw multiple tournament records broken:
Pima and CCBC Essex 227 combined points set a new combined score record.
CCBC Essex’s Gigi Gamble broke three tournament records:
Most 3 pointers made in a game (10 vs. Pima)
Most 2 point baskets made in a 3 games (39)
Most points in a tournament (117)
CCBC Essex’s Paige Smith (6'0''-G/F-1991) broke two tournament records:
Most 3 pointers made in 3 games (17)
Most 3 pointers made in 4 games (22)

Johnson County’s Layla Scott was named MVP of the Tournament. Fellow Cavaliers Yar Manyiel (6'0''-F) and Aa'Mya Stacker (6'0''-C) were named to the All-Tournament Team while Head Coach Ben Conard was named the Lorene M. Ramsey Coach of the Tournament.
9 teams were featured on the All-Tournament Team. Mesa Community College received the B.J. Graber Team Sportsmanship Award.

Tournament Awards
Rori Hoffmeyer of Pima (AZ)
Yar Manyiel of Johnson County (KS)
Kiley Sours-Miller (6'4''-C) of Pima (AZ)
Aa'Mya Stacker of Johnson County (KS)
Gigi Gamble of CCBC Essex (MD)
Jenna Twedt (5'8''-G) of Kirkwood (IA)
Paige Smith of CCBC Essex (MD)
Savannah Orgeron of Illinois Central
Chloe Watson of Mid Michigan
Megan Harrell (F) of Lincoln Land (IL
Charleece Davis (5'3''-G) of Lake Land (IL)
Destiny Bynum-Johnson (G) of Union County (NJ)

Courtesy of njcaa.org

Minnesota West claimed the 2024 NJCAA Division III Women’s Basketball Championship title on Saturday at the Rochester Regional Sports Center. Last year, Rochester (MN) defeated Minnesota West to earn the 2023 NJCAA Division III Women’s Basketball Championship title. In a rematch of the 2023 title game, the No. 1 Ladyjays got their revenge and defeated two-seed Rochester (MN) 76-60 to win the 2024 NJCAA Division III Women’s Basketball National Championship. Minnesota West concluded the season with a 26-7 record and a 12-game win streak. This was the first national title in program history for Minnesota West Women’s Basketball. Minnesota West entered the national tournament with a first-round bye before putting up 37 points on Prince George’s in the quarterfinals. The Ladyjays then defeated Northland 68-55 to advance to the national title game. Minnesota West had 76 points, 30 rebounds, 17 assists, 8 steals, and 3 blocks to earn their first national title in program history. Two-seed Rochester opened up the national tournament with a bye in the first round. The reigning national champions started off with a bang in a 20-point win over Jefferson (NY). The Yellowjackets flew through the semifinals with a 65-48 win over Dallas-Cedar Valley but fell short in the title game to Minnesota West. The Yellowjackets closed out the season with a 23-5 record and their fifth trip to the national tournament. Northland (MN) entered the national tournament as the No. 5 seed. The Pioneers opened the tournament with a 84-49 win over Nassau in the first round and a 54-53 win over Anoka-Ramsey in the Quarterfinals. No.1 seed Minnesota West defeated Northland in the Semifinals to send the Pioneers to the consolation bracket. The Pioneers defeated Dallas-Cedar Valley 79-64 in their final game in Rochester to earn third place at the 2024 NJCAA DIII Women’s Basketball Championship. Northland finished the season with a record of 25-6. Rosalie Hayenga-Hostikka, Minnesota West head coach, was named the Coach of the Tournament. Head Coach Shannon Nelson and the Northland Pioneers were awarded the Rosmarie Battaglia Sportsmanship Award. Minnesota West’s Olivia Hayenga (5'10''-G) was named the Most Valuable Player at the 2024 NJCAA DIII Women’s Basketball Championship. The guard had 58 points, 32 rebounds, and 12 assists, throughout the national tournament. Ten student-athletes from five participating teams earned All-Tournament honors. Anoka-Ramsey, Northland, Dallas-Cedar Valley, Minnesota West, and Rochester (MN) each had at least one player recognized.
Courtesy of: njcaa.org