Moraine Valley, Madison end Region 4 championship draughts

(Images courtesy of Moraine Valley Community College Athletics & Madison College Athletics)

ROCKFORD, ILL. - A pair of championship draughts came to an end as Moraine Valley Community College and Madison College won the 2026 Region 4 Division II Midwest District A & B Tournament titles. The Cyclones claimed their fifth region crown overall, third in the last nine years, and first since 2019. The WolfPack, meanwhile, secured their third Region 4 championships and their first since taking the Division III title in 2016. Delwyn Jones and Angel Whetstone were named Region 4 Coaches of the Year. (Recaps: Madison | Moraine Valley)

Moraine Valley Community College was the tournament's overall number one seed and handled their quarterfinal matchup with #16 Kishwaukee College with ease, winning 108-65. In the semifinals; however, the Cyclones had their hands full in a battle with #9 Carl Sandburg College. Some clutch free throws and a key defensive stop resulted in a 62-60 win to advance to the championship game. In the final against #5 Kankakee Community College, MVCC overcame an early 19-10 deficit after the first quarter to win 72-60. Alan Ross led the way with 16 points, followed by 14 points from TaLeah Turner and a double-double of 10 points and 15 rebounds by Ava Simpson.

Madison College, the #2 overall seed in the tournament, dispensed of #15 McHenry County College with an 83-49 win in the quarterfinals, and then outlasted #7 Oakton College 86-66 to reach their first Region 4 Division II title game in program history. Squaring off with an old foe on their home floor, the WolfPack went back-and-forth with #3 Rock Valley College in a game that featured seven ties and ten lead changes. The WolfPack survived with a 64-59 victory behind a game-high 25 points from Serinity Metcalfe. Maddi DeSmet added 14 points and Maia Ellis contributed ten points.

Moraine Valley Community College (29-4) and Madison College (24-4) earned automatic berths into the 2026 NJCAA Division II Women's Basketball Championships in Hickory, North Carolina, from March 16-21. The Cyclones were awarded the #16 seed and will play a first round game against #17 Cleveland Community College (24-6) on March 16 at 11am CT. The winner advances to play top-seeded Johnson County Community College (32-0) in the second round on March 17. The WolfPack are the tournament's #19 seed and play in the first round at 1pm CT on March 16 against #14 Mid Michigan College (27-4). Awaiting in the second round is #3 Harcum College (26-1) on March 17.

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