Tiger basketball team reflects on history making season
April 6, 2020
The 2019-2020 basketball season was one to remember for the Cowley College men's basketball team. The squad captured the Jayhawk Conference Eastern Division title for the first time since the 2009-2010 season, and after failing to qualify for the NJCAA Division I National Tournament since the 1956-57 season, the Tigers were one of eight teams selected to fill out the 24-team field during a selection show on March 9.
However, the Tigers were unable to compete for a title as the national tournament was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"The guys on the team got us back into national relevance," said Cowley head coach Tommy DeSalme, who has spent the past 11 seasons at Cowley and 13 seasons total as a head coach in the junior college ranks. "I have coached junior college basketball for a long time and the goal is always to get to Hutchinson for the national tournament and to finally accomplish that here and then to have it taken away from you leaves you with an empty feeling. But, it was the right decision to cancel the tournament because of what is going on in the world right now."
Cowley entered the season with only three sophomores on the roster and finished the year with just two as 2018-19 all-conference selection Isaac Nwosu suffered a season-ending injury after only 15 games of play.
Freshman Dalen Ridgnal stepped up to lead the young squad by being named a First Team All-Region VI selection. Ridgnal, who was also named the Jayhawk East Freshman of the Year, recorded 20 double-doubles and averaged 16.4 points and 10.6 rebounds per game. He was the lone freshman named to either the First or Second All-Region Team.
Tiger freshmenCevin Clark, who averaged 14.8 points per game and made the sixth most three-pointers nationally (110),Martaveon Jones(15.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.4 steals), andMike'l Henderson(14.2 points, 4.1 assists) each received Honorable Mention all-conference recognition.
"This was just the first year of college ball for most of our team," DeSalme said. "We hope going forward that the guys will have an idea of what they need to get better at because where we go next year will be because of the returners."
One season removed from averaging 78 points per contest, Cowley won 17 of its first 18 conference games and scored more than 100 points in a game a school-record 26 times.
"As a staff we decided we needed to do something different," DeSalme said. "We put a premium on shooting and recruiting players that have the ability to play at a faster pace. We wanted players to have the freedom of mind to shoot the ball when open, but we had no idea it would lead to this."
After scoring a school record 139 points in a 139-86 win over Neosho County on February 8, the Tigers surpassed that by having eight players score in double figures in a 143-110 win at Cloud County on February 10. The Tigers scored a school record 78 second half points en route to the win at Cloud County.
Sophomore Deng Bol anchored the 2019-2020 squad. Bol was namedthe Jayhawk East Defensive Player of the Year and a Third Team All-Region selection after averaging 9.8 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game.
"Deng will leave a legacy of how hard you need to work every day," DeSalme said.
Fellow sophomore Malik Coats appeared in all 33 games and provided the team with valuable minutes off the bench.
Getting contributions from each player on the roster, Cowley (26-6) led the nation in scoring at 109.8 points per game. The Tigers won the division title by two full games and DeSalme was named the Jayhawk East Coach of the Year as he guided the Tigers to the conference title and a record of 26-6.
Cowley nearly went unbeaten at home, finishing the season with a home record of 12-1.
"We really brought back the excitement to our gym," DeSalme said. "It was important for us to protect our home court, and our fans gave us a true home court advantage."
After having played the toughest schedule in the country the Tigers earned the No. 19-seed in the national tournament before having its dream season come to an unexpected halt.
"This season was an eye-opener as to needing to take advantage of the opportunity you have because you don't know about tomorrow," DeSalme said. "The cancellation of the national tournament does not take away from the great things we did. I want to thank everyone from the administration, the employees, students and the community for their support. I am glad we got to have this moment."
However, the Tigers were unable to compete for a title as the national tournament was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"The guys on the team got us back into national relevance," said Cowley head coach Tommy DeSalme, who has spent the past 11 seasons at Cowley and 13 seasons total as a head coach in the junior college ranks. "I have coached junior college basketball for a long time and the goal is always to get to Hutchinson for the national tournament and to finally accomplish that here and then to have it taken away from you leaves you with an empty feeling. But, it was the right decision to cancel the tournament because of what is going on in the world right now."
Cowley entered the season with only three sophomores on the roster and finished the year with just two as 2018-19 all-conference selection Isaac Nwosu suffered a season-ending injury after only 15 games of play.
Freshman Dalen Ridgnal stepped up to lead the young squad by being named a First Team All-Region VI selection. Ridgnal, who was also named the Jayhawk East Freshman of the Year, recorded 20 double-doubles and averaged 16.4 points and 10.6 rebounds per game. He was the lone freshman named to either the First or Second All-Region Team.
Tiger freshmenCevin Clark, who averaged 14.8 points per game and made the sixth most three-pointers nationally (110),Martaveon Jones(15.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.4 steals), andMike'l Henderson(14.2 points, 4.1 assists) each received Honorable Mention all-conference recognition.
"This was just the first year of college ball for most of our team," DeSalme said. "We hope going forward that the guys will have an idea of what they need to get better at because where we go next year will be because of the returners."
One season removed from averaging 78 points per contest, Cowley won 17 of its first 18 conference games and scored more than 100 points in a game a school-record 26 times.
"As a staff we decided we needed to do something different," DeSalme said. "We put a premium on shooting and recruiting players that have the ability to play at a faster pace. We wanted players to have the freedom of mind to shoot the ball when open, but we had no idea it would lead to this."
After scoring a school record 139 points in a 139-86 win over Neosho County on February 8, the Tigers surpassed that by having eight players score in double figures in a 143-110 win at Cloud County on February 10. The Tigers scored a school record 78 second half points en route to the win at Cloud County.
Sophomore Deng Bol anchored the 2019-2020 squad. Bol was namedthe Jayhawk East Defensive Player of the Year and a Third Team All-Region selection after averaging 9.8 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game.
"Deng will leave a legacy of how hard you need to work every day," DeSalme said.
Fellow sophomore Malik Coats appeared in all 33 games and provided the team with valuable minutes off the bench.
Getting contributions from each player on the roster, Cowley (26-6) led the nation in scoring at 109.8 points per game. The Tigers won the division title by two full games and DeSalme was named the Jayhawk East Coach of the Year as he guided the Tigers to the conference title and a record of 26-6.
Cowley nearly went unbeaten at home, finishing the season with a home record of 12-1.
"We really brought back the excitement to our gym," DeSalme said. "It was important for us to protect our home court, and our fans gave us a true home court advantage."
After having played the toughest schedule in the country the Tigers earned the No. 19-seed in the national tournament before having its dream season come to an unexpected halt.
"This season was an eye-opener as to needing to take advantage of the opportunity you have because you don't know about tomorrow," DeSalme said. "The cancellation of the national tournament does not take away from the great things we did. I want to thank everyone from the administration, the employees, students and the community for their support. I am glad we got to have this moment."