By Beacon Sports Staff
In mid-February, the Seawolves basketball teams traveled to Concord, New Hampshire (2/18 – 21) to participate in the Yankee Small College Conference, Elite 8 tournament. Central Maine Community College, New Hampshire Technical Institute and SMCC all host the tournament on a rotating basis, as this year’s tournament fell into the trusted hands of New Hampshire Technical Institute.
Anticipating an incoming weather system, the team bus rolled away from the Hutchinson Gym around 12:45 in order for the Lady Wolves to take the floor in the 2nd game of a 4 game card for Thursday’s quarterfinal games. The Lady Wolves opened up the Elite 8 against Vermont Tech following the College of St. Joe’s/UMaine – Machias game, and before the NHTI/UMaine–Augusta and CMCC/EMCC games.
The winner of the women and men’s tournament would receive an automatic invitation to the USCAA nationals in Uniontown, PA. For both teams, the tournament tested their resolve, as they would face some of the better YSCC teams.
On both sides of the court, the women’s and men’s side, the tournament essentially followed the logical script of elimination play with no major upsets until the Vermont Tech men took the floor against CMCC on the men’s first day of play.
The game proved to be one that should go down in YSCC folklore as Vermont Tech not only held their own, but also prevailed over defending YSCC champions and USCAA runner ups CMCC. The Mustangs had not only the last shot, but the last 3 shots, all from within 7 feet, needing 2pts to send the game into overtime, only to find themselves returning to Auburn sooner than anticipated as they came up empty. The basketball powers would smile upon Vermont Tech that night, sending them to a semi-final showdown with the Seawolves.
The women’s first day of play saw the Lady Seawolves taking care of business, as the Saint’s of the College of St Joe’s, the CMCC Mustangs, and UMaine-Augusta also did.
The second day of the tournament started with the YSCC Awards Banquet, where all the teams participating in the tournament met to share a meal, share accomplishments, and be acknowledged for outstanding play and coaching.
After a hearty lunch and much laughter, the formal awards ceremony got underway with team and individual award recipients being acknowledged. Individually, SMCC’s Amira Jones and Atencio Martin were selected All YSCC 2nd Team and All YSCC 1st Team respectively. SMCC’s men’s coach Matt Richards was the recipient of the Men’s Coach of the Year Award and the men’s team was recognized as the regular season champions.
The energy and atmosphere throughout the course of the banquet was one that came across as being based in mutual respect, friendship, and camaraderie.
Later on Friday, the men Wolves opened up the tournament against Eastern Maine Community College, which was the second game of the day after UMA played St Joe’s of Vermont, and before the NHTI/UMaine – Machias, and CMCC/Vermont Tech games.
Thursday and Friday proved to be solid days for both SMCC squads as they won their quarterfinal and semi-final games, earning them a spot in the championship game. Both squads from the College of St. Joe’s would also win their games, pitting the Saints against the Seawolves in Sunday’s championship games.
In-depth coverage of the Seawolves adventure in the YSCC Elite 8 will be found on the pages of the sports section. Please look for the ISSUU version of the Beacon online, as we are planning on having an additional 4 pages highlighting all the Elite 8 games.
Sunday’s finals proved to be games of high caliber and intense play where both teams worked their hardest to get the advantage and secure themselves an automatic bid to the USCAA Nationals in Uniontown, PA. After 80 minutes of play, the Saints of St. Joe’s would stand victorious as both squads defeated defiant SMCC squads, who also had their eye on the prize of the tournament’s title holder.
It should be noted here that the Lady Seawolves fought back from a 2nd half 16point deficit to tie and take the a brief lead before falling to the Saints. It was an incredible comeback to witness as the levels of intensity, focus, drive and resolve were notched up quite a bit by the Lady Seawolves, all of which gave St. Joe’s cause for concern as they found themselves in a hard-fought battle.
On the men’s side of the court, the Seawolves found themselves in one of the more intense battles of the year as St. Joe’s fought diligently and tenaciously to erase a 10point half-time deficit, forcing overtime and earning the right to cut the nets down.
While it may sound disingenuous to say both squads have nothing to be ashamed of, the truth of the matter is that both squads have tons to be proud of, from building a stronger sense of confidence in knowing that they belong on the court with the best of the USCAA teams, to seeing a greater potential.
The Lady Seawolves open the USCAA on Thursday at 7:30 against Penn State Lehigh Valley, and the men open their USCAA adventure at 5:30 on Thursday against a team to be named.
With the help of the CeSIL Office, SMCC will be screening the games in real time in Jewett Auditorium and in the Physics Auditorium 102 of Hildreth Hall.