DMACC Bears Athletics Program
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DMACC Men to Face NIACC in Region XI Quarterfinals
February 28, 2011
The Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) men’s basketball team will face North Iowa Area Community College (NIACC) March 2 in the quarterfinals of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region XI Division II Basketball Tournament. The game will be played at 7 p.m. at the DMACC gymnasium.
DMACC takes a 22-7 record into the tournament and is the No. 4 seed. NIACC is 13-14 and is seeded fifth.
The two teams played twice during the regular season with each winning on the other’s home court. NIACC defeated the Bears 75-63 on Jan. 12 and DMACC took a 54-53 decision at Mason City on Feb. 12.
“It’s been good to have a week off and try to get everyone healthy,” DMACC men’s basketball coach B.J. McGinn said.
McGinn said he likes DMACC’s chances in the game and likes the position is team is in as the No. 4 seed.
“The guys have really gotten focused and understand what we need to get accomplished this week,” McGinn said. “Our sole attention is focused on beating NIACC and I think the guys have some things to prove with anybody we play right now, particularly at home.”
Of the Bears seven losses this season, five came at home and were against teams from the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference. Kirkwood Community College, Iowa Lakes Community College, Iowa Central Community College and Ellsworth Community College defeated the Bears at home in addition to NIACC.
“We’ve kind of got a chip on our shoulder,” McGinn said. “We need to establish that people don’t come in here and push us around.”
McGinn said one of the keys to beating NIACC is rebounding. The Bears have taken their lumps on the boards this season.
“Those guys know what they need to do,” McGinn said. “They just need to play like they can.”
Sophomores Kannon Burrage and Hal Bateman are averaging 21 and 10 points respectively to lead DMACC. Nick Stromer is averaging 15 points per game to lead NIACC.
The DMACC-NIACC game is one of four Region XI Division II quarterfinal matchups on March 2. The four winners will play in the semifinals at 1 and 3 p.m. on March 5 at the DMACC gymnasium. The championship game, scheduled for 2 p.m. on March 6, also is at the DMACC gymnasium.
The winner of the Region XI Division II championship game will advance to the NJCAA Division II National Championships March 15-19 at Danville, Ill.