The (8) Roadrunners who hail from New Jersey took on the high flying (1) Golden Eagles Thursday at 1 to kick off the NJCAA DIII National Championship Tournament. Whoever wins this match-up will play (5) Northland in the semifinal round of the tournament. Northland won against (4) Montgomery later that day 76-58.
Rock Valley shot 35% in the game compared to RG which shot 25%. Any coach would like to see shooting percentages get better, but RVC shot 60% from 3pt line in the second half versus 12.5% in the first. The game weaned in and out of the Golden Eagles having a sizable lead, but things got close in the fourth quarter. With 3 minutes left the score as 57-55, but as the Golden Eagles took foul shots, their veins were ice cold as they sank each shot to close the game out 64-59 to move onto the semifinal round!
The game had its moments where the referees were wildly inconsistent paired with multiple bad judgement calls, especially in the first half. Time will tell if they realize some their shortcomings and call the game better. Regardless of the referees the ladies did a great job holding onto the game and running the court to the finish.
Friday will showcase consolation matches in the afternoon, and then the highlight of the night will be (1) RVC versus (5) Northland, who are from Minnesota, to decide which team is heading to the “Big Game.”
The other playoff game is at 8, which features (2) Hostos vs. (3) UCONN-Avery Point. (2) Hostos, took on (7) Onondaga, interestingly both teams are representatives of New York. Hostos won 73-64.
Then (3) UCONN-Avery Point which is from Connecticut took on (6) Rochester who drove from Minnesota, lost in a high scoring affair 98-93 to UCONN-Avery Point.
The brackets are set, and the lights are on. Tonight will forge the competitors for the NJCAA Championship Game. Right in Rockford.
#RockOn #OwnIt
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