Lady Cardinals have a little extra motivation going for them

Coach Elena Lovato
Coach Elena Lovato

By mvhannigan

If the Trinity Valley Community College Lady Cardinals’ first win in the NJCAA national tournament Tuesday seemed a little too close for comfort, it could be because the ladies have been making things look so easy the past month.

The Lady Cardinals fell behind by double digits early before coming back to beat Weatherford yesterday, 75-70, and the difference was one possession for much of the last minute of play. It wasn’t an easy win.

But this is for a national championship and wins aren’t going to come easy.

Head Coach Elena Lovato says her team is ready for the challenge.

“We know we didn’t play great in game one,” she told me in a Facebook conversation. “Let’s chalk that up to experience and move on to the next game. I know for a fact this crew is not satisfied with just being here.”

Lovato said the team also has a little extra motivation going for it.

“We want to leave a legacy in Athens because Athens has been so good to us,” she said.

The coach said local support is reaching the team all the way in Kansas.

“It is amazing how much love and support this group of girls and I feel,” she said. “We received a few text messages and tweets from fellow coaches, athletes, and people in the community who watched the game online together.”

TVCC fans also travel well and are a force themselves in Kansas.

“The atmosphere in that gym yesterday was great,” Lovato said. “We were blessed to have a large number of Lady Card diehards that made the trip to Salina this year. Also, its pretty awesome that we have an administration that supports our athletic department so much. The cheerleaders and band were amazing.”

Next up for the Lady Cards is Blinn 1 p.m. tomorrow. This will be the fourth time the two teams have played this season, with TVCC winning all three previous meetings.

“We are going to leave it on the floor each and every night not just for each other, the school, the tradition, but for the fans – the people who have invested so much interest, care and love for this program,” Lovato said.

TVCC Sports Notes on the Road: Lady Cards have the day off

By Benny Rogers, TVCC Sports Information

After surviving a scare in their opening game at the 2013 NJCAA Women’s National Basketball Tournament, the Lady Cardinals have a day off today. They’ll use it to begin preparing for a fourth meeting this season with Blinn College in the quarterfinals Thursday at 1 p.m.

The Lady Cardinals (33-1), the tournament’s top seed and defending national champion, fell behind 20-6 to 16th-seeded Weatherford in the opening minutes Tuesday afternoon before rallying for a 75-70 win. It improved their season record to 33-1 and closed Weatherford’s season at 25-6. The Lady Cardinals were a 93-69 winner against Weatherford back in November.

Shannon Smith pumped in 20 points to lead the Lady Cardinals. Krystle Henderson added 13 and Adut Bulgak and Roddricka Patton netted 10 each. Shlonte’ Allen finished with nine.

Bulgak had a big game on the boards, grabbing 15 rebounds.

The Lady Cardinals hit 9 of 26 three-point attempts.

Blinn (32-3), the tournament’s No. 9 seed, advanced to Thursday’s quarterfinal matchup against the Lady Cardinals with a 79-72 win versus No. 8 seed Darton State.

As the 24-team, single-elimination tournament (for the first time), moves into its third day and the non-Texas side of the bracket, four teams will play their first games. Today’s games are Central Arizona vs. Crowder, 1 p.m.; Southern Idaho vs. Chipola, 3 p.m.; Hutchinson vs. ASA, 5 p.m.; Walters State vs. Northwest Florida, 7 p.m.

Here are the seeds of the teams remaining in the tournament: TVCC (1), Central Arizona (2), Hutchinson (3), Gulf Coast (4), Shelton State (5), Walters State (6), Southern Idaho (7), Blinn (9), Chipola (10), Northwest Florida (11), Crowder (15), and ASA (19). Central Arizona, Hutchinson, Shelton State and Walters State have yet to play a game.

In Tuesday’s other games, it was: ASA 74, Western Nebraska 68; Northwest Florida 57, Itawamba 46; Gulf Coast 62, Midland 57; and Shelton State 72, Williston State 57.

Tuesday’s win against Weatherford ran the Lady Cardinals’ national tournament record to 50-16.

Like they always do, Cardinal cheerleaders and the Cardinal Regiment Pep Band livened up the Bicentennial Center. With their presence and peformances, comments along press row were how much it had given the event a big-time feel.

Texas A&M head women’s basketball coach Gary Blair was in attendance at Tuesday’s games, as was Oklahoma State head women’s coach Jim Littell. Word is that Texas head women’s basketball coach Karen Aston will also be making an appearance at the event.

Also on hand for the Lady Cardinals’ game were John and Mary Margaret Budke, the parents of Kurt Budke, the former Lady Cardinal, Louisiana Tech and Oklahoma State coach, who was killed in a plane crash in November of 2011. The Budkes are regulars at the tournament, which has been played in their hometown of Salina since 1998.

All Lady Cardinal tournament games will be available for viewing online at www.njcaatv.ihigh.com. In fact, all tournament games will be webcast. Also, for audio only, you can hear the games at www.KSAL.com.

You can also keep up with the Lady Cardinals at the tournament in the Athens Daily Review. Joe Elerson is in Salina for the Review. Check it out online at www.athensreview.com.

Also, follow updates on the Lady Cardinals on Twitter at @TVCCsports.

It’s 25 and clear in Salina this morning. The high is expected to reach 52 today, which will make it the warmest day the rest of the week. Thursday’s high is forecast to be 48 with a 30 percent chance of rain. Rain/snow shower are still in the forecast for Friday and Saturday with highs in the upper 30s.

To all our family and friends back home, resume breathing. The Lady Cardinals are alive and well.

TVCC Sports Notes on the Road: Lady Cards hit the floor today

TVCC Lady Cardinals
TVCC Lady Cardinals

By Benny Rogers/TVCC Sports Information

With the first day of the 2013 NJCAA Women’s National Basketball Tournament in the books, all eyes will be on the Lady Cardinals today as they take to the floor of the Bicentennial Center for the first time.

The No. 1-seeded Lady Cardinals (32-1) are scheduled to take on Weatherford College (25-5) at 2 p.m. Weatherford, the tournament’s 16th seed, scored a 72-68 win over Northeast Nebraska in Monday’s opening round.

Today’s game will be the second meeting between Lady Cardinals and Weatherford this season. Back in November at Cardinal Gym, the Lady Cardinals were a 93-69 winner. Just over a week later, the Lady Cardinals had to forfeit the rematch in Weatherford due to a lack of healthy eligible players. The forfeit represents the lone blemish on the Lady Cardinals’ season ledger.

In Monday’s other games in the opening round, it was: Blinn 72, Kaskaskia 63; Midland 67, Volunteer State 59; Williston 67, North Idaho 63; Crowder 69, Redlands 64 and Chipola 78, Southwestern Illinois 62. The Williston-North Idaho game produced the only upset, a 21 seed over a 12 seed.

Monday was a good day for Texas teams (women’s and men’s) on the big stage. Here in Salina, Weatherford, Blinn and Midland all won. In Hutchinson (about 50 miles southwest of Salina), the Lee and Kilgore men’s teams won. That’s 5-0, if you’re keeping score.

The Lady Cardinals will be seeking a milestone national tournament win today. A win against Weatherford would represent the college’s 50th national tournament win. In 17 previous national tournament appearances, the Lady Cardinals have compiled a 49-16 record, which, of course, includes six national championships.

The Lady Cardinal-Weatherford winner advances to the quarterfinals to face the Darton State-Blinn winner at 1 p.m. Thursday. Darton State, the No. 8 seed with a 30-3 record, and Blinn (31-3), the No. 9 seed, are scheduled to square off today at 4:30 p.m.

Cardinal cheerleaders and the Cardinal Regiment Pep Band arrived Monday and will be on hand for today’s game. Both groups are always a fan favorite at the Bicentennial Center and give the event an atmospheric boost.

The Lady Cardinals bring a 21-game winning streak into today’s game. The have won 68 of their last 69 games. On the court, they have won 68 straight.

Among those with TVCC ties in attendance Monday were Danny Hughes, a former men’s basketball player and coach and a member of the Cardinal Hall of Fame, Courtney Simmons, a former Lady Cardinal player and coach, and Brandon Taylor, a former manager for the athletic program. Hughes is now at SMU as an assistant coach. Simmons is now at Louisiana Tech as an assistant coach. Taylor is now at Eastern Oklahoma State as an assistant coach.

All Lady Cardinal tournament games will be available for viewing online at www.njcaatv.ihigh.com. In fact, all tournament games will be webcast. Also, for audio only, you can hear the games at www.KSAL.com.

It’s 34 and clear in Salina this morning. Like yesterday, today’s high is expected to reach 58. Tomorrow is expected to be the last nice day of the week with a high of 52. Starting Thursday, there is a chance of snow/rain showers into the weekend.

Send all your positive vibes and thoughts the Lady Cardinals’ way today.

TVCC Sports Notes on the Road with the Lady Cardinals: Monday morning

(COURTESY PHOTO/BENNY ROGERS)
(COURTESY PHOTO/BENNY ROGERS)

By Benny Rogers, TVCC Sports Information

AT THE NJCAA TOURNAMENT: Monday morning

It’s go time!

The 2013 NJCAA Women’s National Basketball Tournament begins this morning at 10 at the Bicentennial Center here in Salina, Kan. The Lady Cardinals (32-1) are seeded No. 1 and are one of eight teams in the expanded tournament field of 24 to receive byes in the first round.

Though the Lady Cardinals don’t play today, they have a vested interest in the first game. The tournament opener features Weatherford (24-5) against Northeast Nebraska (28-4). The Lady Cardinals will face the winner of that game at 2 p.m. Tuesday.

The opening three games highlight the Texas portion of the single-elimination tournament. After the Weatherford-Northeast Nebraska game, Blinn (30-3) plays Kaskaskia, Ill. (24-8) at noon and Midland (26-7) battles Volunteer State, Tenn. (23-4) at 2 p.m.

The defending champion Lady Cardinals arrived in Salina Saturday night just after 8 p.m. Earlier in the day, on the drive up, they worked out at Oklahoma State University. Sunday, they had a shootaround at the Bicentennial Center, which was watched by four other teams. Today, a workout at a high school in Salina is scheduled.

This is the Lady Cardinals’ 18th appearance at the nation tournament and the 11th time they have been to Salina, which is hosting the tournament for a 16th time this year. The Lady Cardinals are 49-16 in their previous 17 trips to the tournament.

All Lady Cardinal tournament games will be availabe for viewing online at www.njcaatv.ihigh.com. In fact, all tournament games will be webcast.

Of course you can also keep up with the progress of the Lady Cardinals at the tournament in the Athens Daily Review. The Review is represented at the tournament by sports writer Joe Elerson. Check out the Review’s coverage online at www.athensreview.com.

The Lady Cardinals are one of six teams in the tournament this year that were here a year ago, joining Central Arizona, Hutchinson, Walters State, Shelton State and Southwestern Illinois.

Gas prices are lower this year for the 524-mile trip to Salina. Last year they were at an all-time high at $3.65. The average price this year (as of Monday) is $3.46. The lowest price spotted for regular unleaded was $3.24 and the highest was $3.59. Here are prices from the past seven trips to Salina:

  • 2004 — $1.67
  • 2006 — $2.42
  • 2008 — $3.11
  • 2009 — $1.79
  • 2010 — $2.67
  • 2011 — $3.39
  • 2012 — $3.65

It’s 38 and cloudy in Salina this morning. Today’s high is expected to reach 58. The forecast for later in the week is calling for the chance of rain/snow showers Thursday and Friday.

To all our family and friends back home, have a wonderful day.

NJCAA Region XIV All-Region, All-Tournament teams

NJCAA Region XIV announced the All-Region and All-Conference basketball teams during the Region championship games this weekend.

WOMEN

All-Region Team
Most Valuable Players: Shlonte’ Allen (TVCC) and Audrissa Harrison (Blinn)
Freshman of the Year: Khadijah Carter (Jacksonville)
Coach of the Year: Jeff Jenkins (Blinn)
Khadijah Carter – Jacksonville
Audrisa Harrison – Blinn
Shlonte’ Allen – TVCC
Adut Bulgak – TVCC
Shernise Robertson – Tyler
Fatima Adams – Blinn
Amanda Lawson – Kilgore
Shannon Smith – TVCC
Diamond Webb – Angelina
Krystle Henderson – TVCC

All-Conference Team
Khadijah Carter – Jacksonville
Audrisa Harrison – Blinn
Shlonte’ Allen – TVCC
Adut Bulgak – TVCC
Shernise Robertson – Tyler
Fatima Adams – Blinn
Amanda Lawson – Kilgore
Shannon Smith – TVCC
Diamond Webb – Angelina
Krystle Henderson – TVCC
Demteria Foreman – Angelina
Atoe Jackson – Panola
Devanyar Workman – Jacksonville
Voche’ Martin – Paris
Jazzmin Parker – Blinn

Honorable Mention
Lexi Harris – Angelina
Savannah Carter – TVCC
Kelsey Ewings – Paris
Susan Agesen – Jacksonville
Lanese Bough – Panola
Gabrielle Jackson – Kilgore
Keira Phipps – Kilgore
Jinaki Robinson – Jacksonville
Aarika Reyna – Blinn

Region XIV All-Tournament Team
Shlonte’ Allen (MVP) – TVCC
Krystle Henderson – TVCC
Shannon Smith – TVCC
Savannah Carter – TVCC
Adut Bulgak – TVCC
Fatima Adams – Blinn
Audrisa Harrison – Blinn
Jazzmin Parker – Blinn
Moe Bedford – Blinn
Devanyar Workman – Jacksonville
Khadijah Carter – Jacksonville
Demetris Foreman – Angelina

MEN

All-Region Team
Most Valuable Player: Mohammed Lee – San Jacinto
Coach of the Year – Brian Hoberecht – Kilgore
First Team
Daniel Skinner – Jacksonville
Lonnie McClanahan – Kilgore
Quinton Upshur – Kilgore
Princeton Onwas – Navarro
Jamal Jones – Lee
Second Team
Anthony Odunsi – Tyler
Zach Lofton – San Jacinto
Anthony Adams – Paris
Ty Allen – Lamar State
Jaylen Daniel – Angelina
Ta’Jon Welcome – Tyler
Third Team
Toney Foster – Navarro
Octavius Ellis – TVCC
Danny Lawhorn – San Jacinto
DeAndre Harris – Tyler
Kieran Woods – Lamar State

Regional All-Tournament Team
Lonnie McClanahan – Kilgore
Danny Lawhorn – San Jacinto
Trashon Burrell – Lee
Jamal Jones – Lee
De’Vante Wilson – Lee
Deng Deng – Lee
Toney Foster – Navarro
Janathan Benn – Navarro
Harrison Hawkins – Navarro