Milwaukee Tech, South Suburban reign supreme with Region 4 crowns

ROCKFORD, ILL. - Milwaukee Area Technical College and South Suburban College have combined to win 15 of the 21 possible Region 4 Midwest District titles, which now includes the 2025-26 season after the school's claimed the NJCAA Region 4 Midwest District A & B Tournament championships. The Stormers won their fifth straight and seventh in the last eight years with an 84-68 victory over Bryant & Stratton College in the Midwest A finale. The Bulldogs posted a 74-70 win over host Rock Valley College in the Midwest B championship to secure their 14th crown in the last 20 years. Randy Casey of MATC and Nick Ramos of Rock Valley College were named Region 4 Coaches of the Year. (Recaps: Milwaukee Tech | South Suburban)

The region's top overall seed, Milwaukee Tech outlasted #16 Prairie State College with a 104-98 win in the quarterfinals before getting past #8 Waubonsee Community College 99-93 to reach the championship game. Taking on a crosstown rival and a fellow defending region champion in #4 Bryant & Stratton College, the Stormers quickly built a 14-3 lead, only to see the Bobcats claw back to within 25-21 before the team's went into the locker room with a 36-30 differential. A BSC three-pointer narrowed the gap to three points; however, Milwaukee Tech eventually used a 9-0 surge to gain some separation. The Bobcats made on final push to make it 59-55 before the Stormers closed the game with a 25-13 stretch. Jayden Hackett led all scorers with 21 points, followed by Turon Rivers with 18 points. QiAndre Washington added 13 points, Raydelh Boutin posted a dozen, and Jordan Jones registered ten points off the bench.

South Suburban College was the region's #3 overall seed and opened quarterfinal play against #14 College of DuPage. The Bulldogs won 108-75 to move on to the semifinals, where they would defeat #6 Morton College with an 89-79 decision. The championship game brought on #2 Rock Valley College on their home floor, but SSC made the first big move with a 16-4 run in the first half to build a double-digit lead. The Golden Eagles battled back to make it a 36-34 game at halftime. Rock Valley took the lead early in the second half to start a back-and-forth scenario that saw the teams trade 12 ties and 13 lead changes. In the final two minutes, RVC used a pair of free throws to take a 68-67 advantage, only to see South Suburban score two straight baskets for a three-point lead. Following a Golden Eagles bucket to get within one, the Bulldogs closed out the win with a free throw and a layup. AJ Abrams was tops with 25 points, followed by 21 from Tanner Fields and 17 off the bench from Isaiah Green.

Both former recent national champions earned automatic berths to the 2026 NJCAA Division II Men's Basketball Championships in Danville, Illinois, from March 16-21. Milwaukee Area Technical College  (30-3) received a #3 seed and will take on #14 Coastal Alabama-North (25-9) on Tuesday, March 17 at 3pm in the second round. South Suburban College (27-6) is the tournament's #9 seed and will square off in the second round with #8 Ellsworth Community College (25-7) on Tuesday, March 17 at 1:00 p.m.

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