Richland College’s recent two-game winning streak came to an end on Saturday when the T-Ducks lost, 82-76, to Brookhaven College.
The T-Ducks (6-17) will look to rebound from this setback when they travel to play Mountain View College. Richland lost, 91-88, to Mountain View College in the teams’ first matchup on Jan. 20.
As the Richland College basketball team enters the second half of Metro Athletic Conference action with today’s contest against Brookhaven College, T-Ducks coach Jon Felmet is stressing consistency down the stretch.
“We have 200 minutes of conference play left [not counting the tournament] and we need to play 190 solid minutes,” Felmet said. “We need to continue to play our defense that has won games for us. The biggest thing is we need the guys to know how important these next five games are. We do not need any let downs, or outside distractions.”
The T-Ducks, playing well as of late, can win their third straight game with a victory today for the first time this season.
Richland is ridding the momentum of two thrilling overtime victories against Cedar Valley College (82-80), which at the time was atop the conference standings, and North Lake College (83-80).
“We really wanted that win [against Cedar Valley] and when you have a young team, tough, hard fought wins do so much for the confidence level,” Felmet said. “On the flip side though, losses can too, so I’m glad that we came out on top. All year we have been talking to the guys about staying on course and battling. I think we just needed some proof that what we are doing is working. The win helped with that.”
It also helps that the T-Ducks are getting contributions from an array of players, including Deionta Mitchell and Thedford Simmons, who enter the game averaging 18 and nine points per game, respectively.
According to Felmet, Simmons has been more assertive on the offensive end, which gives Richland another weapon, and Mitchell continues his solid play, although it has been tougher for him because teams are now aware of how good he can be.
“Thomas Davis has been really consistent with his play. He is a strong 6-5 guard, but likes to post up, so he creates mismatch problems,” Felmet added. “Bobby Jenkins has had some good games shooting the ball and Tevin Holmes is starting to come on. Ricky Roberts and Marcus Rhodes have played well at times, but have also struggled. We need those guys to be more consistent the rest of the way out. Perry Jackson has been a pleasant surprise and has given us sparks when we need it and Matt Brown has been our defensive guy.”
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When the Richland College baseball team kicks off its season at 1 p.m. on Friday at home against Metropolitan Community College, the defending NJCAA Division III champions will be in familiar territory – ranked No. 1 in the preseason poll.
The T-Ducks, who won their fourth national championship in eight years last season, are coming off a 47-13 campaign.
Joe Wharton’s squad returns three starters and six players from last year’s team, including All-American pitcher Kirk Pritchett, shortstop Chad Kruse and first baseman Garret Henderson.
Pritchett finished last season with a 3.77 ERA while Kruse hit .420 with 40 RBIs and Henderson batted .370, hit seven home runs and had 50 RBIs.
A win is a win, no matter how it comes.
And considering the Richland College basketball team plays in a tough Metro Athletic Conference, the T-Ducks will take whatever victories come their way – even if they take a combined three overtimes get, as was the case last week when Richland played No. 8-ranked Cedar Valley College and North Lake College.
Against Cedar Valley, two overtimes were needed before the T-Ducks won 82-80, handing CVC its first conference loss.
For an encore, Richland moved to 3-2 in conference action after Marcus Rhodes broke an 80-80 tie against North Lake with less than five seconds to play in overtime. After a three-point attempt failed, Rhodes grabbed the rebound, scored a basket while being fouled. He converted the free throw for the crucial three point play as North Lake’s desperation heave from half court failed to end the game.
The T-Ducks will look to win its third straight conference game when they host Brookhaven College at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
Using a balanced scoring attack, led by Deionta Mitchell’s 25 points, the T-Ducks opened Metro Athletic Conference action with an 89-80 road victory over Brookhaven College on Jan. 16.
For the defending MAC champions, it was Richland’s second win in a row.
Joining Mitchell in double-digit scoring were Bobby Jenkins (18), Thedford Simmons (16), Marcus Rhodes (14) and Thomas Davis (12).
After holding a 46-43 halftime lead, the T-Ducks increased there lead after going on a 12-5 run. Brookhaven made several runs late in the game but the T-Ducks managed to hold off every serious scare.
Richland (5-14) will look to build on this game when they host Mountain View College at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 20.
Capping off a fitting end to a 2009 NJCAA Division III national championship season for the Richland College women’s soccer team is the fact that the T-Ducks will have three players recognized as National Soccer Coaches Association of American Division III Junior College All-Americans on Jan. 16 in Philadelphia, Pa.
Joining the women’s players in celebration will also be three players on the T-Ducks men’s squad, which lost in the 2009 national title game.
On the women’s side, freshman midfielder Chelsea Palmer, of Plano, sophomore forward Regina Martinez, of Garland, and freshman defender Letty Adame, of El Paso were each named first-team All-Americans.
Meanwhile, sophomore midfielders Victor Almendariz, of Ecuador, and Fernando Garza, of Garland were each also named to the first team while sophomore defender Brett Garrett, of Keller, was named to the second team.
Palmer, named the Offensive MVP of the 2009 NJCAA Division III National Women’s Soccer Championship tournament after scoring a goal and adding an assist in the title game, finished the season with 10 goals and eight assists.
Martinez finished the season with nine goals and nine assists while Adame, named Defensive MVP of the national championship tournament, led the defensive charge for the T-Ducks, which finished the season with an 18-3-1 record.
Garza finished the season for the men with a team-high nine goals and 22 points and he was followed by Garrett 16 points and Almendariz 13 points.
The men finished the season with a 13-6-1.
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With only one more game remaining until the Metro Athletic Conference begins, the Richland College basketball team lost, 68-48, to St. Louis Community College-Meramec on Saturday, Jan. 9.
The T-Ducks will hit to the road on Wednesday, Jan. 13 to play their final non-conference game against Weatherford College at 6 p.m. Richland is still searching for its first victory of 2010.
Dec., 17, 2009 – A month after leading the Richland College women’s soccer team to its third national NJCAA Division III championship, T-Ducks coach Scott Toups has been named the Central Region Coach of the Year by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.
Toups, who led the T-Ducks to an 18-3-1 overall record, is now a candidate for NSCAA Coach of the Year in his respective division.
He will find out of he receives this prestigious honor at an awards ceremony during the College Coaches Reception on Thursday, Jan. 14 at a ceremony during the College Coaches Reception.
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Former Richland College men’s soccer player Tito Salas from Dallas was recently named an Academic All-American and was the recipient of the NAIA Champion’s of Character Award while playing for William Carey University.
“I am extremely proud …. I hope (he) enjoys the honor but I know (he) also realizes that without the entire team doing it’s part it is very difficult to be noticed for any award,” Salas’ coach, Nigel Boulton, said. “Tito has been an example to everyone during his two years here at Carey. As a transfer player part of this honor must go to his previous school, Richland College in Dallas. They did their part in preparing him for his academics here at Carey as well as his soccer. We are proud to be associated with such a fine school and hope to maintain our long standing connection with them. It is much more difficult to combine academics at a high level as well as athletics and.. (he) thoroughly deserves this honor for all his hard work”.
On the field, Salas scored nine goals, had four assists and was named to the GCAC All-Conference team.
As the Richland College men’s basketball team prepares for the all-important Metro Athletic Conference season, the T-Ducks lost, 70-63, to Angelina College on Friday, Nov. 20 to fall to a 2-7 record.
Not shying away from stiff competition, Angelina College was seventh NJCAA Division I team that the T-Ducks, an NJCAA Division III affiliate, have played thus far.
On the season, sophomore guard Deionta Mitchell is averaging 21 points per game, which ranks No. 24 nationally among NJCAA Division III players.
Richland also ranks No. 24 in team defense, allowing 73.625 points per game and is No. 25 in team field goal percentage at 45 percent.
