Triton remains atop Region 4 with repeat title, earns NJCAA At-Large bid to national tournament
RIVER GROVE, ILL - Triton College successfully defended their title from a year ago and used an impressive 92-65 over Kankakee Community College to claim the 2022 NJCAA Region 4 Division I Men's Basketball Tournament Championship on February 28. The top-seeded Trojans have won back-to-back titles, and have held the crown in three of the last four seasons. Region 4 Tournament Most Valuable Player J.J. Kalakon and Region 4 Coach of the Year John Clancy led Triton College.
Triton College reached the title game with postseason wins over #8 Daley College and then #4 Sauk Valley Community College in the semifinals, while the #2 Cavaliers used wins over #7 Truman College and #3 Highland Community College to advance. The Trojans played well earlier and built their way to a 47-33 halftime lead, before expanding it with a 45-32 differential in the second half. Kalakon finished with six points, six rebounds, eight assists, two steals, and a block. Cobie Montgomery went for 24 points and seven boards, while Patrick Suemnick posted 12 points and eight rebounds as the duo joined Kalakon on the all-tournament team.
The Trojans advanced to the NJCAA Midwest District Championship against Moberly Area Community College (MO), who had won the Region 16 title. Moberly defeated the Trojans, 83-74, to earn an automatic berth in the 2022 NJCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship in Hutchinson, Kansas, from March 14-19. Triton College (27-5), ranked #10 in the final NJCAA Division I Poll, was awarded an at-large bid and given the #11 seed in The Tournament. The Trojans open against #22 Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute (NC/25-7) on Tuesday, March 15 at noon. The winner will play Wednesday, March 16 at 8pm against #6 Indian River State College (FL/28-4).
2022 Region 4 Division I All-Tournament Team
Carlos Ramsey - Highland Community College
James Franklin - Kankakee Community College
Christian Roberts - Kankakee Community College
Cobie Montgomery - Triton College
Patrick Suemnick - Triton College
J.J. Kalakon - Triton College
Region 4 Tournament MVP
J.J. Kalakon - Triton College
Region 4 Coach of the Year
John Clancy - Triton College