JCCC's women's 2000 NJCAA national championship team had a 10-year reunion in January.. The 10 members of that team, along with head coach Debbie Carrier and assistant Liza Oakley, were honored in a ceremony during halftime of the women's game against Kansas City Kansas Community College.

Ten years ago, this team helped the JCCC women's basketball program put its stamp on the national scene, winning the 2000 NJCAA Women's Division II Championship.  JCCC went on to earn five more trips to the big dance in the decade. 

Winning a national title seemed improbable for the Lady Cavaliers entering the campaign. JCCC had lost 10 players from the 1998-99 season. But with the leadership of sophomores Angie Dinkel and Kate DeBaun, along with the talents of eight newcomers, coach Carrier was confident her team might be in the hunt.

"Many of our players came from winning programs and knew what to do," Carrier said.  "All that year our goal was to get to nationals and then win a title."

On March 18, 2000, JCCC completed its amazing postseason run with a 63-61 victory over Monroe Community College, Rochester, N.Y., in the title game in Hagerstown, Md.  Johnson County struggled from the field, just as it did in its 72-69 semifinal victory over Shelton State, but made up for it at the free throw line. JCCC made just 16 of 41 shots in the title game, but hit 19 of 24 free throws. Monroe hit just eight of 21 from the line.

Sophomore Kate DeBaun, who set two tournament records in the semifinal win, hitting 14-of-14 freethrows, hit all four attempts in the championship against Monroe, including two with seven seconds remaining. Her two freethrows gave JCCC a two-point advantage. DeBaun finished the three-game tournament going 20-for-20 from the line, setting a third tournament record for most consecutive freethrows made.

Sophomore Angie Dinkel paced JCCC with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Freshman Katie Bollegar, who was named the tournament's MVP, followed with 14 points and five rebounds. DeBaun added 10 points and four assists. DeBaun, Dinkel and Bollegar were selected to the all-tournament team.

While JCCC ended the season on the highest of highs, it wasn't like that all season.  There were moments when the team struggled, but that's when the character of this team came out, according to Dinkel.

"This group was so much more dedicated than last year," Dinkel said following the game in 2000.  "We set a goal of winning nationals our first day together, and even during our down times, we still remained focused and were determined to have a good season, no matter how hard we had to work at it."

JCCC finished its season at 22-13, and Carrier was selected the NJCAA Division II Women's Coach of the Year.