Bears headed back to National JUCO Tournament after 76-57 win
FLINT -- Now, the quest for a fourth national championship can officially begin.
Before a packed house at Ballenger Field House on Saturday afternoon, the Mott Bears overcame an unlikely District 9 championship game foe in the Delta Pioneers for a 76-57 victory, and earned a return trip to the NJCAA National Tournament in Danville, Illinois. The Bears will meet a yet-to-be determined opponent on Tuesday, March 15th in the 16-team field.
Holding only a one-point edge in the closing seconds of the first half, 36-35, the Bears received a huge lift when sophomore guard Demetrius Miller drilled a two-thirds court three-pointer just before the buzzer to increase the lead to four. From there, the Bears stretched their lead into double-figures in the early stages of the second half, and never looked back. The nearby Pioneers were looking to pull off another stunner just one day after shocking Henry Ford in the semi-finals on Friday night. But Delta, like so many other opponents before them, ran out of gas against the relentless Mott attack, and were unable to mount a comeback.
The Bears (30-2) were paced by Mike Brigham, with 17 points and 16 rebounds. Doug Anderson fell just shy of a double-double, with 12 points and nine rebounds. Miller added 13, while Marshawn Norris and Sam Burton added ten points apiece. Brigham, Anderson and Norris were all named to the District 9 All-Tournament team.
