Your future, our focus
Northwest College was voted to finish outside of the top four in the region this season, but quickly vetoed that legislation with a run most never saw coming.
“We’ve maybe had a little bit of a chip on our shoulder,” NWC head coach Brian Erickson said. “It just made us want to go out there and prove ourselves, and I think we’ve done that.”
After suffering a Region IX North-opening loss to Sheridan College on Jan. 9, the Trappers, now ranked No. 15 in the nation, steamrolled North foes with a 17-point margin of victory on their way to hosting the region tournament for the first time in school history.
NWC (27-4, 13-1 Region IX North) finished its regular season with 13 straight wins (all in the region), several of which were fueled by 6-11 sophomore transfer Chris Boucher. The Canadian forward has been on a tear during the streak, averaging 25 points (six 30-plus point games), 14 rebounds and five blocks. He posted 27 points and 12 rebounds in the Trappers’ region tourney play-in victory over Little Big Horn College.
Boucher has been helped by sophomore teammate and fellow Canadian Nicky Desilien, who has drained 20 points while dishing out five assists from his guard position during that same span. Sophomore transfer Daryle Morgan has also provided a spark in the starting lineup, registering seven double-digit scoring efforts during his team’s winning stretch and an 11.1 average overall.
Transfers have given the Trappers a shot in the arm in 2014-15, as just two returners from last season’s squad, EJ Hubbard (11.2 points) and long-distance threat Colin May (8.9), reside in the starting five.
“You never know with transfers, because kids are leaving places for a reason, and what is that reason,” Erickson pondered. “But I feel pretty lucky for the fact of getting those three kids and them fitting well into how we do things.”
How NWC seems to do things is score at a robust rate while hoping its defense can do its part. The Trappers post 98 points per game (sixth in the nation) while allowing 84. NWC has surrendered just six 100-plus points on defense this season, compared to an offense that has recorded 11 such games.
“As time has gone on, I think we’ve just grown more comfortable with each other. Each guy has done some great things,” Erickson added. “They left their egos at the door, they play well together and enjoy each other.”
If the Trappers play well enough, they could reach the NJCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship for the first time in nearly 50 years. But Erickson is ready to hit the reset button on his team’s season, stating that regular-season success will be forgotten in the region tournament.
“It doesn’t matter what you’ve done so far. We tell our guys ‘We’re 0-0 right now,’” Erickson said. “We’ve had some great accomplishments this year up to this point, but we’re 0-0. It’s postseason — you’ve got to win and advance.”