Your future, our focus
There were hugs and tears during the evening of reflection after Northwest College’s season ended in the quarterfinals of the National Junior College Athletic Association championships in Hutchinson, Kan.
“I told them, ‘I’m not sad that you lost,’” coach Brian Erickson said to players at their hotel. “‘I’m just sad I won’t be coaching this group again. I want you to spend the next week or so thinking of the things we accomplished.’”
One of the greatest years in the history of Trapper men’s basketball concluded with a suspenseful 94-92 loss to Northwest Florida, the eventual national titlist. The loss came Thursday after Northwest advanced with a bye and a triumph over Cape Fear of North Carolina.
This was Northwest’s first appearance in the NJCAA in 46 years and culminated a 31-5 season and Region IX championship, special achievements that will be long-remembered by Trapper basketball fans.
“All good things must come to an end,” philosophized guard William “Nicky” Desilein. “We went out like champions. We did play well, but we didn’t go all the way.”
A national crown was the Trappers’ goal when they departed Powell on a 15-hour bus ride to Hutchison and they had a chance to reach the semifinals into the last 10 seconds of the game against Northwest Florida.
In that game Desilein scored 28 points and handed off for 10 assists. Christopher Boucher, Northwest’s 6-foot-10 center, was his usual dominating self with 24 points, 14 rebounds and four blocked shots, and guard D.J. Morgan added 21 points. It fell just short of being enough in a game that was close for all 40 minutes.
Northwest led by one point at the half and in a see-saw contest the lead fluctuated to only as much as six points by either team. The Trappers had the ball in the last 10 seconds and hoped to launch a 3-pointer for the win, but did not get off a shot.
Northwest Florida, 33-2, won the national title Saturday over South Plains, 83-80 in overtime.
Despite the defeat coming sooner than hoped for, Erickson, a third-year head coach, said being in Hutchison for the 24-team championships was memorable.
“It was unbelievable to be in that atmosphere,” he said. “I was just happy for us to have that opportunity. I’m humble and grateful for the opportunity.”
Providing an even greater sense of pride was the feedback Erickson said he received from coaches, some of them long-time Region IX observers. Another came from Tubby Smith of Texas Tech, who won an NCAA title at Kentucky. Erickson said he was told that his was the best team to ever come out of Region IX and Smith told Erickson early on the Trappers were good enough to beat anyone in the tournament.
“When they said things like that I went, ‘Really? Wow,’” Erickson said. “If it is so. You never know.”
The only Northwest team statistically better was the 1967 club that finished 32-4 and finished fourth at the NJCAA.
Disappointment was keen when the Trappers lost and players had their heads down. Erickson said he told the players, “You guys fought all of the way through that game.”
That night the team mellowed out at its hotel, playing Xbox games and eating pizza. The next day the Trappers rode their bus as far as Fort Collins, Colo., and went out for a steak dinner as a reward for their first-rate season.
Desilein, one of the Trapper sophomores out of eligibility, said he will remember this season, “Forever.” He said he might even get a tattoo to commemorate it.
Erickson had one day to rest in Powell before hitting the road to recruit more players for next season, beginning in Salt Lake City.
“We lose eight guys and they all played for us,” Erickson said.