Top-ranked Salem CC upset in North Atlantic District finals, still confident of at-large bid; selection show Wednesday
JUCO D-III DISTRICT FINALS
Saturday’s Games for AQ berths
North Atlantic A
Montgomery 58, Salem CC 55
North Atlantic B
Northampton 96, Brookdale 86
South Central
Dallas North Lake 101, Dallas Brookhaven 79
Sunday’s Games for AQ berths
East
Northern Essex vs. Quincy
Mid-Atlantic
Joliet vs. Virginia Peninsula
North
Genesee vs. North Country
Northeast
Dutchess vs. Monroe-Bronx
North Plains
Ridgewater vs. Riverland
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – It was supposed to be the crowning moment of a dominant Region XIX basketball season. It turned out to be one of the biggest disappointments.
Just how big of one is a matter for a bunch of basketball guys zoomed together from some far-flung places deciding who gets the four coveted at-large bids to the national tournament.
Top-ranked Salem CC came to Northampton as the favorite in the Region XIX/North Atlantic District A finals Saturday, but overlooked a Montgomery County team playing with a chip on their shoulder and a lot to prove.
The Mighty Oaks played their poorest game of the season, maybe the poorest in Mike Green’s 2 1/2-year tenure as head coach, and were stunned by the Mustangs 58-55.
The win sends the eighth-ranked Mustangs (21-4) to the JUCO Division III national tournament in Herkimer, N.Y., March 11-14 as an automatic qualifier.
The Mighty Oaks (30-2) were hoping to be going back to better their fifth-place showing of a year ago but now must wait for the selection show Wednesday at 6 p.m. to see if a return trip becomes a reality.
It wasn’t one of the Mighty Oaks’ best or average games. They seemed out of it from the start, although they seemed to shake out of it midway through the second half to get back in it and even take a brief lead.
But it was all a fight for survival. They couldn’t get it inside and they couldn’t hit from the outside against the Mustangs’ zone.
They shot 7-for-27 from the field in each half, ended up with 18 turnovers and were outrebounded by 14. They had just 13 offensive boards and nine second-chance points. Where they normally put four or more scorers in double figures, Jarrell Little was the only one (17 points). The bench, one of the keys to their success all year, was outscored 18-9.
The Mustangs had something different for them than first time they played and the Mighty Oaks may have overlooked them because of it.
Montco was being coached by assistant Jerome Monroe because its head coach and point guard were suspended for the game after being ejected from the Mustangs’ semifinal win over Camden. Ironically, Monroe accepted Koran Prince’s Region XIX Coach of the Year award along with the rest of the winners’ hardware after the game.
Monroe was on Green’s Salem staff last year. He said he didn’t use any of the secrets he picked up with the way the Mighty Oaks did things on their way to the national tournament last year because that would be too easy and he knew Green would be ready for that.
For all the shortcomings, the Mighty Oaks did rally from 11 down with 12:12 to play and took a 41-40 lead on Little’s 3 from the left corner with 9:13 to go. Saaid Lee put two free throws behind it to make it a three-point lead.
Zyaire Gibson hit a 3 to put Salem up 51-50 with 3:08 left, and later hit three free throws to give them a 55-52 lead with 1:38 to go.
Montco led 56-55 with 20 seconds left. The Mighty Oaks were working to retake the lead, but Lee had the ball knocked away by Qudire Bennett in lane traffic with nine seconds to go. Idris Rines fouled Bennett immediately and he hit two free throws to bring the final margin.
It was a tough day for the usually steady point guard. He was 0-for-8 from the field, scoring all nine of his points from the free throw line, and was charged with six turnovers. It was that kind of day for the Mighty Oaks.
This story will be updated.
MONTGOMERY 58, SALEM CC 55
MONTGOMERY (21-4): Brandon Bush 1-4 2-3 4, Quire Bennett 5-9 2-2 13, Tariq Jennings 3-7 6-7 13, Issac Cole 4-14 2-5 10, Julius Marshall 0-1 0-0 0, Matthew Williams 1-5 0-2 2, Steven Hill 4-7 0-0 9, Kevin Addison 3-11 1-2 7, Ryan Holmburg 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 21-59 13-21 58.
SALEM CC (30-2): Jarrell Little 6-17 2-3 17, Saaid Lee 0-8 9-10 9, Zyaire Gibson 2-7 3-3 9, Nasseem Wright 1-9 2-2 4, Stefan Phillips 2-4 3-5 2, Jahseir Sayles 0-1 0-0 0, Qua Smith 0-1 1-2 1, Nayeem Johnson 1-3 1-3 3, Idris Rines 2-4 1-3 5. Totals 14-54 22-31 55.
| Montgomery | 26 | 32- | 58 |
| Salem CC | 22 | 33- | 55 |
Riverview Sports News 