March Madness, Jr.

March Madness, Jr.

Posted on March 18th, 2011 by Jeff McDonald

I don’t need to tell you … a national college basketball tournament is well underway, and we’ve already seen some great action on the court. I’m really looking forward to one of tonight’s semi-final games, when the Chaparrals of Midland College (Texas) take on the Blackhawks of Southeastern College (Iowa).

Say, what?

I’m referring, of course, to the NJCAA (National Junior College Athletic Association) Men’s National Basketball Tournament, now underway in Hutchinson, Kansas. Sixteen teams from across the nation – each one a conference and regional champion – have brought their best game to the Sunflower State, each hoping for a shot at a national title.

We’ve already had plenty of drama … the buzzer-beaters, the comebacks, the upsets and the ‘highlight film’ plays. We’re looking forward to more in the final two rounds of the tourney.

True, it lacks the prestige/popularity of the NCAA tournament – and the money, the bracket competitions, the commercial endorsements and the promotional tie-ins, the national television broadcasts and all of that – but it DOES have every bit of the heart, the passion, the intensity and quite a bit of the skill. As a matter of fact, look for some of these young men to show up on NCAA rosters next year (if they are sophomores) or the year-after. And look for some of the COACHES, too … we lost our own coach to the NCAA just after the 2009 NJCAA tournament.

And we may see them at the next level, too. Junior college athletics offer a great opportunity for young men and women to hone their skills on the court AND in the classroom. Over the years, we have seen so many young men and women cross the stage at Midland College, associate degrees in hand, ready to take that next step to the senior colleges. And some have even taken the step after that, into professional athletics. It’s a point of pride for community colleges nationwide … our own roster of former Chaparrals include Darron “Mookie” Blaylock, Milt Palacio, Nathan Jawai and Anthony “Spud” Webb. Who knows? Maybe there are current Chaparrals on the court in Hutchinson right now, who may someday have a shot at the NBA.

Good luck to the Midland College Chaparrals!

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Jeff McDonald

There's a saying around here, something like, "I wasn't born in Texas, but I got here as fast as I could!" That's me. I'm a 'dang Yankee from back-east' who settled in the Lone Star State after some extended stays in the eastern U.S., and New Mexico. I worked as an archaeologist for a few years before dusting off my second major in English, and embarking on a 25-year career in journalism. Since then, I've embraced the dark side of the force, and now work in PR for a community college in Midland, Texas.