OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – The Johnson County men's basketball opened the 2023-24 season winning all 10 games in November, highlighted by seven wins over NJCAA D-II programs. That hot start saw the Cavaliers move from No. 11 in the preseason poll up to No. 2 nationally.
December was a different story. JCCC dropped two of three and enter the second half of the season ranked 10th, looking to get back to the brand of basketball they demonstrated to start the campaign.
The Cavaliers begin that quest on Thursday night when they host Link Year Prep in a 7:30 pm tip, then travel to Beatrice, Neb., on Saturday, January 7, to take on Southeast Community College, a team they drubbed 96-44 on November 14. JCCC will host one more non-conference game on Tuesday, January 9 against Kansas Wesleyan JV before opening conference play at home against Highland on Saturday, January 13.
Johnson County has four players averaging double figures through their first 13 games, led by sophomore guard Massi Malterer at 15.8 points per game. He is also making 54.2 percent of his shot attempts and shooting 84.8 percent at the free throw line.
Close behind is sophomore forward Kyler Mann at 15.6 points per game. He is also the team's top rebounder a 9.6 per game, which leads the conference and ranks 16th in the NJCAA. He is also averaging 3.5 assists and 3.4 steals, both top marks on the team.
Mann's younger brother, freshman forward Brandon Mann is the team's third leading scorer pouring in 14.0 per contest. He also averages 5.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists. He is connecting on 60.5 percent of his shot attempts and 71.4 of his free throw attempts.
Redshirt freshman forward Donald Bangham, Jr., is scoring at a 12.8 per game clip while connecting on 52.1 percent from the floor.
Sophomore transfer forward Traymond Willis-Shaw and sophomore transfer guard Jordan Nichols are also having solid starts to their first season for the Cavaliers, averaging 7.5 and 7.3 points respectively.
As a team the Cavaliers are shooting 50.5 percent from the field which leads the conference and ranks ninth in NJCAA Division II.