Kankakee Cavaliers block Lancers’ shot at NJCAA National Tournament

College of Lake County’s women’s basketball team’s 12-game winning streak came to an end on February 28, when they were eliminated in the second round of NJCAA regional tournament by the Kankakee Community College Cavaliers. The Cavaliers’ 91-64 victory ended the Lancers’ bid for the NJCAA National Tournament.

After defeating regional first seed Moraine Valley and the strong Waubonsee Chiefs late in the season, the Lancers looked like they could beat any team in the tournament. They finished second in the conference and were favorites in both playoff matchups.

In the first half, the Lancers kept the game within reach on the scoreboard, but Kankakee’s defense had the team struggling to put a play together. At times, it took 10 or more seconds for the Lancers to even advance the ball past half court, effectively shortening the shot clock and limiting scoring opportunities.

Lancers’ head coach Tanner Morris commented on the potency of Kankakee’s defense.

“I think Kankakee did a very good job of taking away our strengths, and it just kind of backed the girls up a little bit and threw them off their game,” Morris said. “They were just never able to recover.”

After coming out of halftime down 34-41, the Lancers did not look like the same team that beat Moraine Valley and Waubonsee late in the regular season. The team was 1 for 15 from the three-point line in the second half. Kankakee also showed dominance in the paint as the game went on, scoring more than half their points by driving to the net.

Morris addressed the team’s second-half scoring drought.

“I think we got the shots that we wanted; they just didn’t drop tonight,” Morris said. “Unfortunately, those games happen, and unfortunately, it happens in the post-season.”

Despite the disappointment, the season was far from a failure. The Lancers rode an 11-game win streak into the playoffs, ended the regular season 25-5, and claimed a convincing home playoff win. It was a strong, productive season from a team that worked hard for 32 games. According to Morris, several of the team’s sophomores are already being contacted for recruitment by four-year universities and will be moving forward in their basketball journeys.

Morris told his team that the loss was not reflective of the team’s strength and effort.

“I told them too, this does not take away the 26 wins we’ve had this year,” Morris said. “It doesn’t take away the second-place finish in the conference; it doesn’t take away the individual awards. We still had a phenomenal year. It just wasn’t our night tonight.”