OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – Sophomore guard Nariyah Simmons led the Lady Cavaliers with 21 points and sophomore guard Mackenzie Hart followed with 15 to power the No. 4-ranked Johnson County women's basketball team (32-1) to a thrilling 71-65 triple overtime win over No. 5-ranked Labette (26-5) Saturday, March 11, in the final of the Region VI/Plains District Tournament held at the Cook Center/Bell Family Arena on the campus of MidAmerica Nazarene University.
In the longest game in program history, JCCC outscored the Cardinals 9-3 in the final period to earn a spot on the in NJCAA Division II National Tournament, March 21-24 at Port Huron, Mich. Hart made a layup with 1:30 left and hit jumper with 42 seconds to put JCCC up five, 68-63. Simmons added two free throws with 19 seconds and Thomas capped the scoring with a pair at the line.
This is the 14th time JCCC has qualified for the national tournament, and the eighth time under head coach Ben Conrad.
The game was a tight affair throughout, but with three seconds left in regulation and the Lady Cavaliers trailing 51-49, sophomore guard Aryannah Harrison hit two biggest free throws of her career to tie the game and send the game into extra time. She tallied four points in the game.
The Lady Cavaliers also got solid efforts from sophomore forward LaJahda Boyland and freshman guard Jazzy Klinge. Boyland contributed 10 points and tied for the team lead with seven rebounds. Klinge also had seven boards and contributed eight points. Simmons and Thomas also grabbed seven rebounds each.
Labette's Nisea Burrell led all scorers with 26 points followed by Ishuana Hunter with 12 points and 16 rebounds.
The seedings for the 2023 NJCAA Women's D-II National Tournament will be announced on Tuesday, March 14.
Titles under JCCC Head Coach Ben Conrad
NJCAA Tournaments (8): 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2021, 2022, 2023
NJCAA Championships (1): 2015
NJCAA Runner-up Finishes (2): 2017, 2021
Region VI Titles (8): 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2022, 2023
KJCCC Titles (8): 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2021, 2022, 2023