Rock Valley College claims first Region IV championship in three years
PALATINE, ILL. - For the first time since the 2015-16 season, Rock Valley College can call itself the 2019 NJCAA Region IV Division III Men's Basketball Tournament champions after defeated Elgin Community College 85-68 on Monday at Harper College. The top-seeded Golden Eagles, which had lost in the title game in each of the past two years, rallied past the second-seeded Spartans to earn their first championship under new head coach Tim Sandquist.
Elgin Community College (25-7) owned the lead for most of the first half, including a 34-23 edge with 7:30 left before the break. Rock Valley College rattled off 23 of the next 28 points that included a 15-0 run to end the half and hand the Golden Eagles a 46-39 advantage. The Spartans closed to within 55-52 with 13:24 remaining in the game, however, RVC never relinquished the lead and controlled a double-digit advantage for the final seven-plus minutes
Sophomore Josh Streeter led Rock Valley with 20 points, while second-year forward Nana Kodom-Ayensu posted 19 points and ten rebounds to earn Region IV Division III Tournament Most Valuable Player accolades. Kodom-Ayensu also had a double-double in a 94-67 semifinal win over fourth-seeded Joliet Junior College (5-25). Fred Gree tallied 25 points to pace Elgin, who got by third-seeded Madison College (14-13) 90-79 to reach the finals.
Rock Valley College will host the NJCAA Division III District II Championship on Saturday, March 2 at 3:00 p.m. against Region XII winner Columbus State Community College (OH/17-9). The champion advances to the 2019 NJCAA Division III Men's Basketball Championship on March 14-16 in Rochester, Minnesota.
All-Tournament Team
Adam Anhold - Madison College
Fred Greer - Elgin Community College
Jonathan Flynn - Elgin Community College
Josiah Patton - Rock Valley College
Josh Streeter - Rock Valley College
Region IV Tournament MVP
Nana Kodom-Ayensu - Rock Valley College
Coach of the Year
Tim Sandquist - Rock Valley College