By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information
Toledo, Ohio---The Owens Community College men's and women's basketball teams will open postseason play this weekend at Ohio Christian University in Circleville, Ohio.
On Friday, the No. 2 women's basketball team (29-1 overall) will meet No. 4 seed Sinclair Community College (19-11) in a 1 p.m. Region XII District I semifinal matchup. Owens defeated Sinclair twice this year by an average of 20 points.
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WHAT: NJCAA Region XII District I Women's Basketball Tournament
WHEN: March 6-7
WHERE: Ohio Christian University in Circleville, Ohio
WHO: No. 1 seed Owens Community College (29-1), No. 2 seed Columbus State Community College (20-4), No. 3 seed Cincinnati State Technical and Community College (19-11), No. 4 seed Sinclair Community College (19-11)
ON THE LINE: One of 16 berths in the NJCAA Division II National Tournament in Overland Park, Kan. (March 17-21)
HOW TO WATCH: All games will be livestreamed by Ohio Christian University here
HOW TO FOLLOW: Follow us on Twitter (@owensexpress) for live updates
BRACKET: here
NOTES: Parking is free for the tournament. Ticket admission is free for all students with a current college ID and $5 for everyone else. For a map and directions, visit here
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In a 76-51 win at Sinclair on Jan. 10, Owens had five players reach double figures, led by Ashley Tunstall's (Huber Heights Wayne/Dayton, Ohio) 13 points and 13 rebounds. In the game, Owens scored the game's first 17 points and held 25-2 and 34-6 leads. In a 67-52 win at home on Feb. 7, Owens was led by Courizma Williams (Hughes/Cincinnati, Ohio), who had 16 points, and Sierra Harley (Africentric/Columbus, Ohio), who had 14 points. Tunstall added 11 rebounds, and she is averaging 12 rebounds per game against Sinclair this year.
In the other semifinal, No. 2 seed Columbus State Community College (20-4) will take on No. 3 seed Cincinnati State Technical and Community College (19-11) at 3 p.m.
The two winners will face each other at 1 p.m. in the championship game on Saturday. The winner of the tournament gets one of 16 berths in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II National Tournament in Overland Park, Kan. March 17-21.
Owens enters the tournament as winners of 29 straight. They recently captured the program's third straight Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) title with the program's first perfect conference season (14-0).
The team has three players averaging double figures including Harley (15.7 PPG). Tunstall (12.4 PPG, 9.2 RPG) and Demy Whitaker (Notre Dame Academy/Toledo, Ohio) at 10.9 PPG. In conference play, Owens has four players in double figures including Harley (15.6 PPG, 6.2 APG, 3.3 SPG), Tunstall (11.9 PPG, 9.9 RPG (2.6 PPG), Williams (11.1 PPG, 1.7 SPG, 1.5 BPG)) and Whitaker (10.1 PPG, 1.9 SPG).
On the men's side, Owens (24-6 overall) enters as the No. 2 seed and will take on No. 3 seed Cincinnati State Technical and Community College (25-6 overall) on Friday at 8 p.m. in the semifinals of the Region XII District 11 tournament.
The two teams each met to close the regular season with Owens coming out on top, 107-102 in overtime, to capture a share of their second straight OCCAC championship. Cincinnati State defeated Columbus State Community College 77-62 in a quarterfinal matchup on Tuesday to earn a rematch with Owens.
On Jan. 31, Cincinnati State defeated Owens 86-73. In that game, Owens was without two key players and was led in scoring by Pete Firlik (Catholic Central/Grand Rapids, Mich.). In the team's win over Cincinnati State on Feb. 28, Owens was led by John Murry (North Central/Indianapolis, Ind.) with 29 points, while Kenny Jones (Clay/South Bend, Ind.) had 15 points, 17 rebounds and five blocks.
In the loss Jan. 31 loss, Owens was without Edmond Early Jr. (Thurgood Marshall/Dayton, Ohio) and Darren Groves (Thurgood Marshall/Dayton, Ohio). In the win, those two played and combined for 23 points, 18 rebounds, eight assists and four blocks.
In the other semifinal, No. 1 seed Lakeland Community College (22-6 overall) will meet No. 5 seed Sinclair Community College (16-13). Sinclair defeated Cuyahoga Community College 74-73 in a quarterfinal game on Tuesday.
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WHAT: NJCAA Region XII District 11 Men's Basketball Tournament
WHEN: March 6-7
WHERE: Ohio Christian University in Circleville, Ohio
WHO: No. 1 seed Lakeland Community College (22-6), No. 2 seed Owens Community College (24-6), No. 3 seed Cincinnati State Technical and Community College (25-6) and No. 5 seed Sinclair Community College (16-13)
ON THE LINE: One of 16 berths in the NJCAA Division II National Tournament in Danville, Ill. (March 17-21)
HOW TO WATCH: All games will be livestreamed by Ohio Christian University here
HOW TO FOLLOW: Follow us on Twitter (@owensexpress) for live updates
BRACKET: here
NOTES: Parking is free for the tournament. Ticket admission is free for all students with a current college ID and $5 for everyone else. For a map and directions, visit here
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Owens will enter the game riding a seven game winning streak. During its past six games, the team has scored 100 or more points, and they averaged 100.1 PPG during conference play.
With one of the most prolific offenses in school history, Owens has six players averaging double figures overall this year including Murry at 18.1 PPG, Shaakir Lindsey (Teaneck/Teaneck, N.J.) at 15.2 PPG and 6.0 APG, Jones at 11.8 PPG, 7.4 RPG and 1.6 BPG, Groves at 11.0 PPG and 8.8 RPG, Firlik at 10.7 PPG and Early Jr. at 10.6 PPG.
In conference play, Murry (17.1 PPG), Jones (13.1 PPG), Lindsey (12.4 PPG), Firlik (11.0 PPG), and Groves (10.9 PPG) all average double figures. Additionally, Early Jr. is at 9.8 PPG and Austin Somerfield (Greenville/Greenville, Mich.) is at 9.2 PPG.