No. 9-ranked Mott clinches MCCAA Eastern Conference championship

No. 9-ranked Mott clinches MCCAA Eastern Conference championship

MottMott’s Devin Foster drives to the basket against Alpena Thursday night.

FLINT, Michigan — The no. 9-ranked Mott Community College Bears earned an extra game on the schedule thanks to Thursday night’s blowout win over Alpena. Mott’s 99-48 victory over the Lumberjacks clinched the Eastern Conference championships for the Bears (26-3) and the right to play in the MCCAA state championship game on Saturday at home versus Glen Oaks at 3 p.m.

It’s an unlikely outcome for Mott, as the perennial powerhouse of the MCCAA appeared to be on the outside looking in after a pair of tough road losses to Wayne and Oakland. Mott sat in second place and not in control of its destiny for over a week. Then the MCCAA stepped in and cited first place Oakland for a playing an ineligible player in the team’s last three games. The player, sophomore James Chappell, has been suspended as has Oakland’s head coach, Antoine Joubert. I have sympathy for Oakland’s players, as this was a serious oversight on the part of Joubert and his athletic director.

Perhaps it wouldn’t have mattered though, after Oakland went down to Wayne on Thursday night and got beat up, 91-68.

Mott appears primed and ready to take on Glen Oaks. The Bears toyed with Alpena Thursday night, shooting 58 percent from the field and committing only nine turnovers as a team. Mott led by 26 at the half and put five players in double figures led by sophomore Kory Billups and his 19 points. Kortez Ross and Coreontae DeBerry added 16 points apiece. The Mattison cousins, Fred and Chavis, combined for 22 points and 15 rebounds.

Freshman guard Myles Busby, the team’s best defensive player, scored eight points with eight rebounds and six assists in his second start of the season.

Logan Wickert came off the bench to lead Alpena (6-22) with 15 points.

For the first time in my memory, Mott will be the underdog (at least according to the national poll) in Saturday’s state championship game against Glen Oaks, currently ranked no. 3. It’s certainly a game both teams want to win, but the outcome has no bearing on the district tournament. Both teams have clinched no. 1 seeds in their respective districts.

2013 NJCAA District 10 Men’s Basketball Tournament

Tuesday, March 5, 2013 (Campus Sites, Higher seed)

Game 1 – 6 – St. Clair County CC at 3 – Oakland CC, 7:00 PM
Game 2 – 7 – Macomb CC at 2 – Wayne County CCD, 7:00 PM
Game 3 – 5 – Delta College at 4 – Henry Ford CC, 7:00 PM

Friday, March 8, 2013 (Delta College, University Center, MI)

Game 4 – Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2, 1:00 PM
Game 5 – Winner of Game 3 vs. 1 – Mott CC, 3:00 PM

Satruday, March 9, 2013 (Delta College, University Center, MI)

Game 6 – Winner of Game 5 vs. Winner of Game 6, 3:30 PM