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TAYLORSVILLE — At least one team in the state of Utah will go to the Tournament.
OK, so two, if you count Dixie State, which lost in the opening round of the Division II West Regional on Friday.
But for the No. 7-ranked Salt Lake Community College men’s basketball team, another trip to the National Junior College Athletic Association championship tournament in Hutchinson, Kansas — or “the road to Hutch,” for short — was shored up late Saturday night with an 89-86 win over Arizona Western in the District I championship.
“We didn’t go last year,” SLCC coach Todd Phillips told the Deseret News. “It’s a big accomplishment for these kids to get back there.”
Christian Gray scored 18 points to lead the Bruins (30-3), who are making their sixth tournament appearance in the last 11 seasons — including winning the program’s second national title in 2016.
Former Kearns High star Bushmen Ebet supplied 17 points for SLCC.
“I always told myself when I come back I’m about to get another ring, so here it goes,” said Ebet, a freshman on the 2016 title-winning team who sat out in 2017. “That was my No. 1 goal — get back and just be the best player on this team.”
Salt Lake will learn its opponent Monday at 10:30 a.m. MT via the NJCAA Selection Show on Facebook Live.
The tournament tips off March 19 in Hutchinson, Kansas.
Salt Lake CC Bruins are now 30-3 with a win over AZ Western (89-86) to secure a District Championship!
— SLCC Men's Bball (@SLCCbasketball) March 11, 2018
--Christian Gray (18 pts, 7 reb, 3 ast)
--Bushmen Ebet (17 pts)
--Josh Colon (16 pts)
--Dalven Brushier (13 pts, 6 reb) pic.twitter.com/KKJ0kBqPcj
