The Cape Fear Community College men’s and women’s basketball teams look to keep their seasons alive this week as the Sea Devils open play in the Region X Tournament March 5-7.
Following a trip to the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) DI National Tournament in 2014, veteran coach Ryan Mantlo has helped guide the Sea Devils to an 8-2 mark in conference and No. 1 seed in the upcoming league tournament at Louisburg College.
Led by sophomore Anthony Vanhook (21.5 points per game), Cape Fear is riding an eight-game winning streak and received a first-round bye into the Region X semifinals on March 6.
Demetrus Abrams (10.6 points per game) and T.J. Evans (10.8 points per game) have added alternate scoring options for the Sea Devils, who have three players averaging double figures.
Cape Fear finished the regular season 21-8 overall and take on the winner of Thursday’s matchup between No. 4 Clinton Junior College and No. 5 Spartanburg Methodist. The Sea Devils swept the season series against both teams during the regular season.
The winner of the Region 10 men’s basketball tournament advances to the NJCAA championships in Hutchinson, Kansas, March 16-21.
No. 12 CFCC women gear up for conference tournament
Coach Lori Drake and the Cape Fear women’s basketball team closed the regular season with a 90-41 rout at Wake Tech.
The Sea Devils finished the year as the No. 12 ranked team in the NJCAA DII national rankings and finished second in the Region X standings, with a 15-3 league record, 24-5 overall.
“We finished strong and that was our main goal going into our game at Wake Tech,” said CFCC Coach Lori Drake. “It’s one game at a time for us, just like it has been all season. We are prepared for what’s to come and I know that our ladies are fully focused right now.”
Cape Fear also has three players averaging double-digit scoring–Kristina Rumplasch (17.5 points per game), Eboni Gilliam (14.3 points per game) and Jasmine Brown (12 points per game).
The Sea Devils have won eight straight and 16 of their last 17 games.
“The growth that we have seen in these nine young ladies has been unbelievable,” said Drake. “I feel that the growth has helped prepare us for the Region X tournament. All records are 0-0 going into this week, so staying on top of what we have been doing, continuing to work hard in these last few days of practice, and staying focused as one unit is our goal.
“We all have the same common goal, but it will be one at a time in order for us to reach that goal together.”
Junior Colleges from North Carolina and Virginia will be competing for the conference tournament title at Brunswick Community College and a berth in the NJCAA DII National Tournament in Overland Park, Kansas.
Cape Fear faces the winner of No. 7 Brunswick Community College and No. 10 Wake Tech at 6 p.m. March 5 in Bolivia.
Joe Catenacci is a sports reporter at Port City Daily and host of The Sports Connection on 103.7 FM. Tune in at 6 p.m. Mondays and 11 a.m. Saturdays. Reach Joe at [email protected].
