Freshman guard Tamia Smith cheers on her teammates as they soar to 66-60 win over Kirkwood Community College. (Photo by: Audrey Hook.)

During a close nail-biter game, the #4 seed JCCC women’s basketball team took down the previously undefeated #1 seed Kirkwood Community College team in the National Junior College Athletic Association semifinals round, advancing to the final championship game. The final score was 66-60. 

In the first half of the game, JCCC trailed closely behind Kirkwood. In the third quarter sophomore center Aa’Mya Stacker, who led the team with 14 points, made a free throw that tied the game up 37-37. Only three seconds later, sophomore forward Yar Manyiel made a free throw that put the team ahead of Kirkwood. The Cavaliers were ahead for less than two minutes before Kirkwood bounced back.

In the fourth quarter, three freshman guards worked together to take back the lead. After a defensive rebound by Jamya McPherson, Kara Stricklin made a three point jump shot with an assist from Heaven Smith. The Cavaliers persevered and stayed in the lead, winning the game by six points. 

Head Coach Ben Conrad talks to freshman guard Layla Scott during the game. (Photo by: Audrey Hook.)

Head Coach Ben Conrad feels good about winning the semifinal round against a previously undefeated team. 

“It feels pretty good considering the team that we beat,” Conrad said. “I mean that was an undefeated team, number one seed, have been dominant all year over everybody who played them. I don’t think anybody has played them within twelve or thirteen points. I think their average margin of victory is something like 30 so they’re pretty dang good.”

This win is extra special as it is Conrad’s 600th career win.

Conrad thinks the key to JCCC winning the semifinal game was making plays as well as baskets.

“I think the first thing we guarded them just well enough to hang around, competed on the glass, and we followed the plan,” Conrad said. “We made plays. Ultimately that’s it – kids gotta make plays. I thought we made some plays in the second half. We had some guys make some baskets, hit some shots and you gotta do that.”

Taliyah Scott signals a play to her teammates during the game. (Photo by: Audrey Hook.)

Sophomore guard Taliyah Scott believes the key to winning the game against Kirkwood was playing good defense.

“I think just knowing who scores on [their] team and kind of setting our defense to what those specific people do,” Scott explained. “So I think that was it – defense.”

Scott also thinks that the team’s defense will definitely come into play in the championship game as well.

“The key for tomorrow is defense,” Scott explained. “Our team is very focused on defense. We take pride in our defense so I think defense will win our game.”

Scott is happy to have advanced to the championship game, but she knows the battle isn’t over yet. After falling to Kirkwood in last year’s championship game, the Cavs know the work isn’t done.

“It feels good, but we have one more game to do so we gotta stay focused,” Scott said. “We [were] in this position last year.” 

Excited to be playing in the championship tomorrow, Scott answered as follows when asked what she was looking forward to most about playing in the big game:

“Just having fun with it because not a lot of people get to be in this position,” Scott said. “So just having fun out there, being in control, and fighting.”

The Cavaliers will play against Pima Community College at 7 p.m. (CT) on Saturday, March 22 for the NJCAA Championship.