Johnson County Community College
Press Release

College Information and Publications
913-469-8500
Julie Haas, Director, ext. 3120
Peggy Graham, Writer, ext. 3425
Tyler Cundith, Sports Information Director, ext. 3122

Cavaliers host Penn Valley for berth to National Tournament

March 11, 2008
Story by Tyler Cundith

The Cavaliers enter tonight’s game with Penn Valley riding a season-best seven game winning streak.  The team’s last setback was a five point loss to Cowley back on Feb. 13. ranked ninth in D-I basketball.  Among the wins JCCC had during that streak included a six point win over Coffeyville, one of the top teams in D-I the last six seasons, road wins at Fort Scott and Kansas City Kansas, and a 34-point win over a tough Hesston squad that had 23 victories.

The Johnson County Community College men’s basketball program entered the 2007-08 campaign as a program picked among the top teams in Division II.  The Cavaliers have either won or finished second in the Region VI Tournament every year since switching to Division II prior to the 1999-00 season.  JCCC won titles in 2000, 2001, 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2008.  The 2001 team went on to win the NJCAA National Championship, finishing with a program best 30-6 record. Last year, JCCC finished 16-19, but earned its second berth to the the NJCAA D-II Tournament in Danville, Ill.

The Cavaliers, 21-11 and ranked 14th in the last NJCAA poll, are led by a pair of freshman guards, Nafis Ricks of Philadelphia, Pa., and Kyle Speed of Seattle, Wash.  Ricks leads the squad in scoring (15.2 ppg), rebounding (7.5 ppg), steals (84), free throws (139) and floor crashes (countless).  Twice this season, Ricks has been selected the NJCAA Division II National Player of the Week.  He earned his first honor Nov. 28, after he led JCCC to a pair of victories over Cloud County and Hutchinson at the Hutchinson Thanksgiving Classic. Ricks scored 12 points and grabbed seven rebounds with three assists and two steals in a 60-54 win over Cloud County. He then netted 14 points with eight rebounds and five assists in a 80-68 win over Hutchinson.

His second honor came the week of Feb. 6.  Ricks averaged 28.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.5 steals in JCCC's two games that week. He shot 64 percent from the field and 70 percent from the free-throw line. He had 26 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and three steals in leading the Cavaliers to a 75-61 road victory Highland Community College on Jan. 30. He followed with a career-high 31 points, along with 11 rebounds, two assists and two steals in a near upset over Division I nationally ranked Independence Community College on Feb. 2.

Speed is averaging 13.1 points per game, 4.1 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game.  He is one of four players on the roster to hit over 40 3-point baskets this season. Speed also has earned some recognition for his play.   In last January, Speed was name as one of the KJCCC Players of the Week after he poured in a career-high 27 points against KCKCC, leading the Cavaliers to a 74-46 home win last week. He hit 11-of-17 shots, including 5-of-8 from 3-point range. He also had 11 rebounds, four assists and three steals. He followed with nine points, five boards, four assists and two steals in a two-point road loss at Coffeyville.

JCCC’s third player averaging double figures is 6-6 sophomore forward “Q” Quintin Totta.  The Overland Park native is pouring in on average 11.0 points.  He also averages 4.5 rebounds and is tied for second on the team with 44 3-pointers.  He is also shooting an impressive .431 from long range, which ranks him 18th in the NJCAA.

After these three, JCCC has four players averaging between six and eight points per game.   Sophomore Melvin Cole of Kansas City, Mo., leads that group at 8.8, but has really stepped up his game of late.  He currently leads the team with 54 3-point baskets, and is coming of a recent 20 point effort in a win at KCKCC, and a career-best and game-high 21-points in JCCC’s win over Hesston in the Region VI Championships Game. 

Jonathan “J.J” Jackson of Pensacola, Fla., is next at 8.3 per game. He also averages 3.8 rebounds per game and has 75 assists, third most on the squad.  Rounding out this group are a pair of freshman, David Yadrich of Kansas City, Kan., and Fred Patton of Kansas City, Mo.  Yadrich averages 7.1 points and has knocked down 41 3-pointers. Patton averages 6.2 points and 5.6 rebounds, second most for the Cavaliers this season.

Penn Valley brings a 25-7 record and No. 10 national ranking into this District 10 Championship tonight.  Penn Valley has reached the NJCAA D-II Championship Game three times in its history.  The Scouts won the title in 1996 in the program’s first title game appearance.  They lost the next two times, falling in the 1997 championship and the 2002 title game.  They have qualified for the tournament nine times, which is a Division II record.

Edriss Floyd leads Penn Valley averaging 17.2 points per game.  He also leads the teams with 96 3-point baskets.  Pierre De Clue is second with an average of 14.5, followed by Lauvachack Brown 1t 1.22 and Gregory Smith at 10.1.  Smith is the team’s top glass cleaner, hauling down 9.6 boards per game.

Tonight marks the 73rd meeting between these two long-time city rivals, but the team that wins this game, not only takes the lead in the series, but gets the grand prize – a trip to the Big Dance in Danville Illinois.  Both teams have won 36 games in this series, however, this is the first time these two programs have met in the postseason.  The Scouts won both games earlier this season, edging the Cavaliers
67-65 at JCCC back on Nov. 13, and and blasting JCCC 77-49 at Penn Valley Jan. 2.  In fact, Penn Valley has owned JCCC of late, winning 10 of the last 13 games dating back to Dec. 5, 2001. 

Both teams are ranked in the top 50 nationally in team defense and team offense.  JCCC is ranked 12th in team defense, allowing on average just 65.8 points per game.  Penn Valley is 33rd defensively, allowing just under 72 a contest.  Offensively Penn Valley can put up the points.  They rank 17the with an average of 82.1 per game.  JCCC is ranked 45 overall with a 75.5 per game average.

Some of the all-time great performances in team history have occurred in this series.  Former JCCC All-American Tony Harris had one of his best games against the Scouts, pouring in 43 points to lead JCCC to a 108-92 win in 1987.  His 43 points are the third highest game in team history.  Also, Ralph Setter had a career night in 1979, hauling down 20 rebounds, the fourth-best effort all-time.