South Suburban, Milwaukee Tech still the class of Region 4 Division II
MILWAUKEE, WISC. & SOUTH HOLLAND, ILL. - As the 2021-22 season reached mid-January on the calendar, two teams stood at the top of the Week 8 NJCAA Division II Poll. Nearly two months later, and both South Suburban College and Milwaukee Area Technical College claimed a 2022 NJCAA Region 4 Division II (Midwest District A & B) Men's Basketball Championship. The results mirrored that of 2020, and gives the Bulldogs a third consecutive region crown and fourth in five years, while the Stormers, who did not play in 2020-21 due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, are on top for the third time in four years.
Top-seeded South Suburban College downed #5 Illinois Valley Community College by a 68-57 tally in the semifinals to set up a meeting with #2 Waubonsee Community College in the Midwest A District championship game. The Bulldogs looked as though they were going to run away with the championship after building a 40-25 halftime lead, however, the Chiefs came storming back and made three free throws with 5.9 seconds left to pull within one. Following a quick foul, SSC missed the front end of a one-and-one situation, WCC to race the length of the court and hoist up a contest 17 footer at the buzzer that only drew glass. South Suburban College held on for a 74-73 (Video) victory that gave John Pigatti the Region 4 Coach of the Year award. Damarco Minor drained five 3-pointers and tallied 29 points, to go along with eight rebounds, three assists, three steals, and a block, en route to earning Region 4 Tournament Most Valuable Player honors. Camron Donatlan posted 14 points, ten rebounds, five assists, and four blocks, while Damontae Taylor added 12 points and nine boards as the duo joined Minor on the Region 4 All-Tournament Team.
MATC-Milwaukee, the #2 seed in their bracket as the districts alternated seedings, dominated the competition with a 128-83 victory over #3 McHenry County College. The Stormers then took care of business with a 107-86 defeat against #4 Black Hawk College in the Midwest District B title game. Milwaukee Area Technical College built a ten-point lead less than eight minutes into the game, and continued to pull away to own a 57-39 advantage at halftime. The second half played more competively, however, the Braves were unable to mount a comeback. Mason Johnson went for 18 points and ten rebounds to earn Region 4 Tournament Most Valuable Player, and was joined on the Region 4 All-Tournament Team by Jaylin Scott and Karl Blanton, Jr. after the tandem combined for 43 points. Randy Casey was awarded the Region 4 Coach of the Year.
South Suburban College and Milwaukee Area Technical College, ranked #1 and #5, respectively, in the final NJCAA Division II Poll, both qualified for the NJCAA Division II Men's Basketball Championships in Danville, Illinois, from March 15-19. The Bulldogs are the tournament's #1 seed with a perfect 29-0 record and open against #16 Florida Gateway College (17-9), while MATC-Milwaukee is the #5 seed with a 27-4 record and will take on #12 Scottsdale Community College (AZ/19-11).
Region 4 All-Tournament Team
Damarco Minor - South Suburban College
Damontae Taylor - South Suburban College
Camron Donatlan - South Suburban College
Joey Niesman - Waubonsee Community College
Anthony Thompson - Waubonsee Community College
Cooper Larsen - Waubonsee Community College
Region 4 Tournament MVP
Damarco Minor - South Suburban College
Region 4 Coach of the Year
John Pigatti - South Suburban College
Region 4 All-Tournament Team
Mason Johnson - Milwaukee Area Technical College
Jaylin Scott - Milwaukee Area Technical College
Karl Blanton, Jr. - Milwaukee Area Technical College
Jacob Profit - Black Hawk College
Donyae McCaskill - Black Hawk College
Keshawn Peques - Black Hawk College
Region 4 Tournament MVP
Mason Johnson - Milwaukee Area Technical College
Region 4 Coach of the Year
Randy Casey - Milwaukee Area Technical College