Northwest Florida wins JUCO Women's Basketball National Championship for the third time in five seasons

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