Sending ’em off

Salem CC basketball team leaves out for JUCO Division III national tournament to cowbells, cheers

JUCO DIVISION III TOURNAMENT
Wednesday’s Game
Salem CC vs. Riverland CC, 4 p.m.
Thursday’s Game
Salem-Riverland winner vs. Mohawk Valley, 6 p.m.
Salem-Riverland loser vs. Genesee-Union loser, 11 a.m.

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

CARNEYS POINT –  With the sound of clanging green cowbells and cheers as a backdrop, the Salem CC basketball team received a rousing sendoff for the greatest adventure in the modern era of the school’s athletics program.

The Mighty Oaks pulled out of the parking lot a little after 1 o’clock Monday headed to Utica, N.Y., for their first-ever appearance in the NJCAA Division III national tournament at nearby Herkimer College.

They open their run towards a national championship Wednesday at 4 p.m. against seventh-seeded Riverland (Minn.) CC. The Mighty Oaks (23-7) are one of two unranked teams in the 12-team field and seeded tenth, in itself a source of motivation for the North Atlantic District B champions.

“There are only 12 teams there, we’re the tenth seed; I don’t feel we’re the tenth seed,” sophomore guard A.J. Jones said. “We’ve got dawgs on our team. We’re gonna bark.”

The team practiced in Dupont Fieldhouse before embarking on the trip and will see the tournament site for the first time when they practice Tuesday at 9 a.m. Riverland works out at 11.

The Blue Devils had a similar sendoff when they left Austin, Minn., Saturday and made a pit stop at Youngstown State to practice.

When the Mighty Oaks players wrapped up practice Monday they were welcomed back to the locker room with a spirit line comprised of faculty and friends.

“I think the whole campus community is exceptionally proud of what Coach (Mike) Green and the whole team has been able to accomplish in such a short time period,” athletics director Bob Hughes said. “And we’re standing behind them 100 percent as they hopefully make a run over these next couple days and we look forward to what it means for the future of not just the men’s basketball program but the whole athletic department.”

Hughes knows exactly what the Mighty Oaks are feeling as they embark on the trip. He had the same emotions when he took Rosemont to its first trip to the NCAA Division III national tournament as its head coach in 2019.

“I would say it’s about the same thing,” Hughes said as unwrapped the cowbells from their packaging. “Interesting, too, because Rosemont was historically all women (and then went co-ed and added men’s sports). 

“Similar situation, I guess, you could compare it to the fact they canceled athletics and Bob (Bunnell) brought it back. I really think all of this is a testament to Bob Bunnell and the efforts he put towards raising this department back up. The fact that we’re here is directly related to the efforts he put in over his time here. I’m reaping the benefits.”

GOOD VIBES: Josh Ramos says he’s confident going into the national tournament and that makes the Mighty Oaks feel good all the way down to their roots.

Ramos is Salem’s designated sniper and he’s one of the top 3-point makers in the country. But lately his shot has been a little off.

He has 72 treys this season, ninth-most in JUCO Division III and 12 more than he had last season when he was 27th in 3s made and shooting percentage. He hit six in a late-season win over Luzerne, but has made only 7 of 27 in the six games since.

“I haven’t really been hitting as much as I want to, but I keep getting shots up and I’m still going to have high confidence going to nationals,” the sophomore said. “I feel really confident going into the game. Me not hitting shots is definitely a big thing, but I stay ready. My team is getting it done, I’ve gotta show up.”

Salem coach Mike Green knows how valuable Ramos is to the Mighty Oaks’ success. His skill set will be especially in demand if they win Wednesday’s opener. The winner meets No. 2 seed Mohawk Valley, who’ve build the No. 1 scoring defense in the division by demanding teams shoot over or get inside its zone defense.

“He’s the one,” Green said of Ramos. “He’s going to determine how far we go. His shot-making opens the game up.”

No pressure, right?