North Central Missouri College delivered a dominant offensive performance, securing a convincing 95-73 victory over Metropolitan Community College to claim the NJCAA Region 16 Championship on Saturday. The Pirates showcased their efficiency, shooting an impressive 61.3% from the field while demonstrating unselfish ball movement with 20 assists as a team.
Giovanni Mack spearheaded the attack, putting up a game-high 21 points on an efficient 9-of-15 shooting. He was also a key facilitator, dishing out eight assists and tallying four steals to disrupt the opposition. Jon Carroll was a force in the paint, nearly posting a double-double with 19 points and 12 rebounds, controlling the glass on both ends. Camden Bennett and Tyler King added to the scoring barrage, each contributing 19 points. Bennett was perfect from the free-throw line, sinking all six of his attempts, while King connected on two three-pointers and showcased his versatility with three assists and a steal.
Joe Clark played a crucial role despite a modest four points, orchestrating the offense with four assists and grabbing five rebounds while also providing defensive stability. Off the bench, Mikey Thomas chipped in six points, and Za'Corrie Kerr added five in limited minutes. Though Deng Gak struggled to find his rhythm offensively, he added two points from the free-throw line and contributed defensively.
North Central Missouri College's defense held Metropolitan Community College to 42.9% shooting and just 28% from beyond the arc. The Pirates also won the rebounding battle 32-28 and capitalized on their ball security, committing just 11 turnovers compared to their opponents' 12. Their balanced attack and efficient shooting propelled them to a comfortable victory, reinforcing their dominance on both ends of the floor.
In postgame ceremonies, Tyler King was named Region 16 Player of the Year. Earning 1st Team All-Region honors were Giovanni Mack and Jon Carroll. Second Team honors went to Camden Bennett. Head Coach Jeremy Esry was named Coach of the Year.
Next up will be the Central Plains District Championship against North Arkansas College. That will be held a the Ketcham Community Center on Saturday, March 8th with tipoff set for 3:30pm.
