After securing their spot in the National Junior College Athletic Association National Championship for a second straight year,
The John A. Logan College men's basketball team is heading to the National Junior College Athletic Association National Championship for a second straight year.
Last year, the tournament was canceled because of COVID-19.
This year, it's game on and the Vols now know who they are playing.
Kind of.
JALC (18-4) was one of eight teams that got a first round bye in the NCAA Championship that will be played in Hutchison Kanas April 19-24.
The Vols will play the winner of No. 20 Cochise vs. No. 13 Ranger, which will be played on April 19th at 6:30 p.m.
John A. Logan College head coach and Harrisburg native Kyle Smithpeters is thankful for the bye, and acknowledge his team has a chance to do something special and he wants them to take advantage of it."
"We're going to have to beat good teams regardless, so the fact that we are out there is exciting enough, but it's also important to take advantage of these situations that will be put in front of us next week. The preparation this week is going to be very important. Now, we don't play for a few days, but we need to make sure we get better and continue to get better."
The Vols have won three straight and four of their last five to end the season. After winning the last three games by an average of 25 points, Smithpeters knows how well is team is playing right now and hopes that continues as JALC will make the eight hour drive west.
"We're winning and we're winning at a high rate. I think we can still be a lot better. We have a week and a half to get better and guys that are continually getting better. Our guys understand that we are doing things the right way and we've done it that way for a little while now and we want to keep moving in that direction."
Spyder Dann covers prep and college sports for the Southern Illinois LOCAL Media Group. Follow him on Twitter: @spydieshooter.
