Howard Community College Men’s Basketball Advances to NJCAA Division II Championship For Second Straight Year
The Dragons are going dancing again in Danville!
The Springtime Spark is back in full force in Dragon Country as Howard Community College’s Men’s Basketball Team received a bid to the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II National Tournament in Danville, Illinois. The No. 12 seed Dragons will face the No. 5 seed Des Moines Area Community College Bears in their first match of the tournament.
During a recent campus watch party of the tournament selection show, the team was joined by fellow students, athletes, and members of the campus community to celebrate the season and get hyped for the tournament ahead.
“This team continues to embody the spirit and excellence of Dragon Country,” said Dr. Daria J. Willis, president of Howard Community College. “Our coaches and athletes have made us so proud, and I look forward to cheering on our students as they compete once again on the national stage.”
This season was the first played in the college’s new Kahlert Foundation Complex, which houses the college's mathematics and athletics programs. Last season, the team’s games were all played on the road as the complex remained under construction. The cutting-edge facility will host high-profile national tournaments later this year, and served as the venue for the NJCAA Region 20 Tournaments.
The Dragons secured their place in the tournament after defeating the Chesapeake College Skipjacks in the exciting final of the regional championship. The Dragons held a commanding lead throughout the match, securing a 61-50 victory. The team won their last five games by an average margin of over 13 points.
The win marks the team’s third regional championship title in five years, and the second-consecutive appearance at the national championship..
The Dragons face off against the Des Moines Area Community College Bears on Monday, March 17 at 6 p.m. CT in the Mary Miller Center at Danville Area Community College.