Waubonsee Community College’s men’s basketball team will have a tough challenge ahead of them at the NJCAA Division II Men’s Basketball National Championship Tournament. The Chiefs (25-8) received the ninth seed and will play eighth seeded Pima (AZ) Community College (21-11), the highest scoring Division II junior college team in the nation, in the tournament’s opening game on Tuesday, March 21, beginning at 9 a.m.
The Aztecs are averaging 100.8 points per contest and have topped the century mark 14 times this season. The winner will likely face top-ranked Southwestern (IA) Community College (32-1) on Thursday, March 23 at 1 p.m. The loser will play Wednesday, March 22 at 3 p.m. versus the loser between Southwestern and 16th seed College of Southern Maryland (14-16). The tournament in being held at downstate Danville Area Community College’s Mary Miller Center. All the tournament games can been seen ‘live’ on-line at www.NJCAAtv.com.
Waubonsee is making its sixth appearance overall and first since 2011 at the 16-team, double elimination National Tournament. The Chiefs are coming off a thrilling 89-83 overtime win against fourth-ranked Triton College (30-3) in the Region IV Division II District 4B Championship. Waubonsee was Co-Champions of the Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference (ISCC). Pima qualified for the tournament for the first time since 2009 by outlasting Phoenix (AZ) College 102-99 in the Region I Division II title game.
Waubonsee is led by sophomore Tyrone Carey, who is averaging 20.4 points per game. The Aurora West (IL) High School graduate is currently sixth in made free throws (132), ninth in total points scored (672) and 10th in field goals made (229) among all NJCAA Division II players. The 6’3” forward was named the Region IV District 4B Tournament’s Most Valuable Player. An All-ISCC First Team and All-Region IV First Team selection, Carey additionally averages 4.8 assists and 6.0 rebounds a game.
The Chiefs’ also look to sophomore Germaine Roebuck who is averaging 18.0 points per game and 9.5 rebounds. The Champaign (IL) Central High School alumnus is currently fifth nationally in offensive rebounds (137). The 6’5” 180-pound forward was also recently tabbed to the Region IV District 4B All-Tournament squad, the All-ISCC First Team and All-Region IV First Team.
St. Charles (IL) North product Alec Goetz was chosen to the All-ISCC First Team as well and was named to the All-Region IV Second Team. The 6’0” guard averages 16.8 points and leads the team with 96 three-point baskets. In addition, Waubonsee has another 6’0 guard off the bench in Deon Ward, who was an All-ISCC Second Team selection. The Champaign (IL) Centennial High School graduate averages 13.9 points and three assists per game.
Head Coach Dave Heiss, in his 32nd season at Waubonsee, was tabbed the Region IV District 4B Coach of the Year. In early February he became one of just 11 active NJCAA men’s basketball coaches to reach 600 career wins. Heiss has led Waubonsee to a dozen ISCC titles, and is the league’s all-time leader in wins with 275.
