Milwaukee, South Suburban College sit atop Region IV DII thrones
PALOS HILLS, ILL. - For one it was a successful defense as reigning champs, and for the other it was a return to the top after a one-year hiatus. The 2020 Region IV Division II Men's Basketball Tournaments ended with top-seeded Milwaukee Area Technical College defeated #2 Prairie State College by a 91-79 to claim a second straight title in the NJCAA Midwest District 3 (Region 4A) bracket, and #2-seeded South Suburban College got by #4 Carl Sandburg College 74-63 to grab a second championship in three years in the NJCAA Midwest District 4 (Region 4B) bracket.
The Stormers, ranked #1 in the NJCAA Division II Poll, earned a quarterfinal bye and opened postseason play with a 114-80 dismantling of #4 Waubonsee Community College (19-13) to advance into the championship. The title game was extremely competitive throughout the first half, with neither team leading by more a couple of possessions, and MATC-Milwaukee owning a 42-39 edge at the break. After the Pioneers (23-9) tied up the score with a three-pointer, the Stormers (31-1) answered with a 13-0 run to grab control of the game and maintain a double-digit edge all the way through to the final horn. Sophomore guard Justin Briley was named Region IV Tournament Most Valuable Player after scoring a team-high 17 points, to go along with five assists, four steals, three rebounds, and a block. He was joined on the Region IV All-Tournament Team by teammates DeLano Clanton, Taejuan Johnson, and Steven Ross, Jr. as the trio combined for 33 points and 20 rebounds. Coach Randy Casey was named Region IV Coach of the Year for the second straight season.
The Bulldogs, ranked 41 in the NJCAA Division II Poll, began with an 86-45 downing of #7 Oakton Community College (5-25), and followed with a resounding 88-57 win over #6 Black Hawk College (12-20) to appear in the championship game. South Suburban (29-4) outscored the Chargers (23-10) by a 40-29 margin in the first half, and maintained the 11-point lead after both team's scored 34 second half points. Sophomore guard Courtney Carter registered a double-double of 12 points and 12 rebounds, along with eight assists and five steals to earn Region IV Tournament Most Valuable Player. Tariq Deere tallied a game-high 19 points with four 3-pointers and was selected to the Region IV All-Tournament Team, as was Malcolm Bell after a 12-point, six-rebound effort. Coach John Pigatti was awarded Region IV Coach of the Year after guiding SSC to its tenth region crown in the last 14 years.
Both teams automatically qualify for the 2020 NJCAA Division II Men's Basketball Championships in Danville, Illinois, from March 17-21, 2020.
2020 Region IV Division II Midwest District A (Region 4A) All-Tournament Team
Justin Briley - Milwaukee Area Technical College
DeLano Clanton - Milwaukee Area Technical College
Taejuan Johnson - Milwaukee Area Technical College
Steven Ross, Jr. - Milwaukee Area Technical College
Tyler Houston - Prairie State College
Jared Johnson - Prairie State College
Region IV Tournament MVP
Justin Briley - Milwaukee Area Technical College
Coach of the Year
Randy Casey - Milwaukee Area Technical College
2020 Region IV Division II District B (Region 4B) All-Tournament Team
Courtney Carter - South Suburban College
Malcolm Bell - South Suburban College
Tariq Deere - South Suburban College
Scott Gowan - Carl Sandburg College
Carter Fayhee - Carl Sandburg College
Christopher Harrison - Moraine Valley Community College
Region IV Tournament MVP
Courtney Carter - South Suburban College
Coach of the Year
John Pigatti - South Suburban College