Senatobia, Miss. — The Northwest Mississippi Community College women’s basketball team won the Region 23 Tournament title Friday night with a 60-55 victory over Pearl River Community College in Poplarville. The team placed three players on the All-Tournament team, including tournament MVP Takera Bland.
Bland, a sophomore from Memphis, Tennessee, was instrumental throughout the tournament. She averaged 12.3 points over three games, scoring 17 points in both the semifinal and championship match. Bland also totaled 31 rebounds, including a 17-point, 12-rebound double-double in the final.
Fellow sophomores Alorian Story and Layla Hampton also earned All-Tournament honors. Story, from Ripley, Mississippi, led the MACCC in rebounds and posted two double-doubles during the postseason. Despite a shoulder injury, she scored 42 points in three games, including 20 points and 10 rebounds in the semifinal against Itawamba Community College. She shot at least 50% from the field in every game.
Hampton, the second-leading scorer for NWCC in the tournament, scored 44 points over three games. She poured in 15 of her 20 first-half points in the quarterfinals against Jones College. Hampton also averaged five rebounds and over four assists per game, and was efficient at the foul line, making 14 of 18 attempts during the tournament.
Another standout for the Rangers was Dekyra Mitchell, who scored 49 points in the postseason, including 21 against Itawamba and 19 versus Jones. She recorded a double-double in the quarterfinals with 10 rebounds and finished the week with 21 total rebounds and seven assists.
Northwest is awaiting the announcement of All-Conference awards and expects to have one or two potential All-Americans. The team will advance to the NJCAA National Tournament in Lake Charles, Louisiana, starting March 24 at McNeese State University. Fans can follow the team at nwccrangers.com or through social media.
