Thunderducks Finish as National Runner-Up
Dallas College Richland men's basketball team fell to Northern Essex Community College 68-62 Saturday in the National Junior College Athletic Association Division III championship game at Herkimer College.
It is the first national runner-up finish for the Thunderducks in program history. Richland won the title in the three previous appearances in the championship – the most recent in 2015 under coach Jon Havens.
Andrew Huntley, an All-Tournament Team selection, had 16 points, six rebounds, two steals and a block, and Jase Tarver 14 points and 11 boards for Richland (23-10). Cedric Dent and Dre Rutledge each had nine points, with Dent adding five assists and two steals. Tyler Johnson had seven points and two steals.
The Thunderducks led by three 1:10 before halftime when Johnson scored. Richland took a two-point lead into the break.
Richland attempted just two free throws in the first half, with Joubron Bebe splitting the pair. Northern Essex (33-3) was 5 of 7 at the line in the first half.
In a game with nine ties and six lead changes, the Thunderducks recovered from two five-point deficits in the second half. Johnson's basket with 7:35 to go after he grabbed an offensive rebound pwith ut Richland ahead 45-44. Dent, who was named to the all-tournament team, scored after a steal by Rutledge to match the Thunderducks' largest lead at three 50 seconds later.
Northern Essex's Cristian Moscat hit a 3-pointer on the Knights' next possession to tie the game. Northern Essex's Jay'Von Depina traded 3s with Dent to tie the game at 50 with just over five minutes remaining. The Knights used an 8-0 run, capped on a three-point play by Depina at the 3:51 mark. Depina made a 3 with 2:04 remaining to give the Knights a 64-54 lead. Huntley's 3 with 32 seconds left cut it to six, and Rutledge sank two free throws 13 seconds later made it a five-point game. But it was too much to overcome.
Alejandro Delgado had 16 points and eight rebounds for the Knights. Alex Johnson and Depina both scored 12.
Richland went 3-1 in Herkimer, improving its overall record at the national tournament to 23-8.