Tiger basketball team enters season with unfinished business

The 2019-2020 season was a memorable one for the Cowley College men's basketball team. After having played the toughest schedule in the country the Tigers earned earn its first bid to the NJCAA National Tournament in more than 60 years. Cowley (26-6) led the nation in scoring at 109.8 points per game and captured the Jayhawk Conference Eastern Division title for the first time since the 2009-2010 season.

However, the Tigers never got the chance to compete at the national tournament due to the post-season being shut down due to Covid-19.

"The guys have been going with the flow and have kept the hunger from the ending of last season," Cowley head coach Tommy DeSalme said. "They still have a bad taste from the loss to Coffeyville in the Region Tournament and not getting a chance to go to the national tournament. These guys really want to win a region title and leave their mark at Cowley."

The Tigers return seven sophomores to go along with Hutchinson Community College transfer Clarence King, who averaged 6.9 points and 2.5 rebounds while appearing in 31 games for the Blue Dragons.

"Clarence fits our style perfectly," DeSalme said. "His talent level is through the roof."

Highlighting the list of returning players is forward Dalen Ridgnal. A Third Team NJCAA Division I All-American, Ridgnal became the first freshman All-American in the men's basketball program since Sonny Maynard in the 1955-56 season. Ridgnal recorded 20 double-doubles and averaged 16.4 points and 10.6 rebounds per game. Prior to being named an All-American, Ridgnal was named a First Team All-Region VI and All-Conference selection, the Jayhawk East Freshman of the Year, and was named to the Region VI All-Tournament Team.
"He's a double-double machine that I think will take a huge jump defensively," DeSalme said.

Guards Cevin Clark and Mike'l Henderson each garnered Honorable Mention All-Conference honors as freshmen. Clark averaged 15.1 points per game while making the eighth most three pointers in a season (109).

"He is one of the elite shooters I have ever been around," DeSalme said. "But, he is much more than just a shooter, he is a high-level basketball player."

Henderson averaged 14.3 points and 4.1 assists and is expected to take another step forward as a sophomore. While, Shemarri Allen averaged 11.3 points and 5.6 rebounds while shooting 56.5 percent from the floor. His versatility allows him to play any position on the floor.

"Shemarri and Kobe (Campbell) will cover up a lot of things for us defensively," DeSalme said. "They are really solid basketball players."

Campbell earned First Team All-Conference honors and was an All-State selection at Raytown South High School. He is a highly competitive guard that can score in a variety of ways.

Other sophomores on the roster are, Moun'tae Edmundson, Biar Garang, and Jacquez Yow, who provided the team with instant offense while averaging 7.2 points and 3.4 rebounds in an average of 13 minutes per game. Yow has made significant strides mentally and physically since the end of last season, and has worked hard to improve his perimeter skills.

"He has really taken his game to another level," DeSalme said. "I feel good about the leadership we have on the court to help the young guys."

DeSalme and assistant coach Eric Nitsche really had to do their research in recruiting as Covid made it difficult to attend games for out of state players.

"The relationships we made with coaches out of state helped us to find the right players for our program," DeSalme said. "These freshmen have such a strong sophomore class to look up to and to learn from that they will not have a lot of pressure on them."

Among the freshmen are Josiah Harris, a 6'7 freshman from New Caste, Delaware, who is a physical player that can defend anywhere on the court. While, Tarese Morse, a 6'6 freshman from Springfield, MO has a high basketball IQ and can also play anywhere on the floor.

Other freshmen are, Raishaun Brown from Asheville, NC, Jayden McCray from Fort Worth, TX, Titas Mikalopas from Richmond, VA, Cameron Robins from Independence, MO, and Matthew Reeves, who is a redshirt transfer from Panola College in Texas.

"We have a lot of versatility," DeSalme said. "Hopefully, our style of play will give people fits. Our depth and pace of play should be to our advantage. We want to play fast both offensively and defensively."

With the start of the season being moved from November to January, the Tigers will open with only two non-conference games prior to opening play in the Jayhawk Conference. Cowley will open the season by playing at Northern Oklahoma College-Tonkawa Wednesday, January 20 at 7:30 p.m. The teams will play a second game in Arkansas City on Saturday, January 23 prior to the Tigers finishing the season with 20 consecutive conference games.

"The league will be as good as ever," DeSalme said. "We hope to be on top of the conference at the end. It will come down to who is playing well at the right time."