Tri-C Men’s Basketball Poised to Take on Arch Rival
Lakeland Lakers with Confidence
By Bronson Peshlakai
Photo by Bronson Peshlakai
In a display of brute aggression, the Cuyahoga Community College Challengers fought to stay alive in first round playoff games and succeeded with a win of 81-65 against Columbus State Community College, at the Tri-C Metro Campus March 5.
Both teams brought pent-up emotions of wanting to continue playing in the tournament which showed in a technical foul, grappling and wrestling on the floor, and a referee giving a final warning of game ejection to a visiting player.
The Challengers now face the top-ranked team in the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference, often referred to as their greatest rival because of their close proximity to one another, Lakeland Community College in Kirtland, not even 20 miles away.
The OCCAC District 11 Quarterfinal game will be played in Cincinnati Friday, March 8, at 8 p.m. In other First Round of District Tournament news, Cincinnati State pulled a win over Edison 106-54. They will play second-ranking team Owens Community College in Cincinnati at 6 p.m.
The winner of the games in Cincinnati will proceed to the national championship game March 19 and 23, in Danville, Ill., situated near the Indiana State Line along I-74.
Visit the CCCVOICE.COM website shortly for more on player reaction and stats soon.
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The following was the video halftime report from the Tri-C Metro Gymnasium.
