Thunderducks Overcome Harvester Bees, Advance to District Title Game Saturday

NJCAA DIII SOUTH CENTRAL DISTRICT TOURNAMENT PAGE

IRVING, Texas – In what has become the norm with these two teams this season, the Dallas College Richland-Dallas College Eastfield matchup didn't disappoint.

Eleventh-ranked Richland won Round 3, beating ninth-ranked Eastfield, 96-92, Friday night in the National Junior College Athletic Association Division III South Central District semifinals at Dallas College North Lake. The two teams split the regular season Dallas Athletic Conference matchups, each winning on the other's home floor.

This time, on a neutral site, with a district championship game appearance at stake, the second-seeded Thunderducks (15-10) overcame a 15-point halftime deficit to win the rubber match between the two teams. The win sends Richland on to Saturday's 5 p.m. championship game against host North Lake. The game will be broadcast by The Sports Broadcasting Network and live streamed on Hudl TV.

"First of all, I'd like to say, I respect all those guys over there," Richland sophomore forward Ed Trahan said, following a 24-point, 10-rebound performance. "Every time we play those guys, it's always a challenge. That brings the fun into basketball, so I really appreciate those guys, and all their hard work and effort when they play against us."

�� @RichlandTducks' Ed Trahan discusses the battle with Dallas College Eastfield in the Thunderducks' 96-92 win in the @NJCAABasketball Division III South Central District semifinals Friday night. pic.twitter.com/9LmeuDLka0

— Dallas College Athletics (@DallasCollAth) March 4, 2023

With the game in the balance in the closing seconds, after Eastfield (21-8) made it a one-possession game, Trahan sank a pair of free throws with 0.5 seconds on the clock to seal it. He was 8-for-10 from the line in a game the Thunderducks sank 25 of 30 at the stripe.

"I know if I knock those free throws down, it would seal the game, and we can go home, go back to the locker room and celebrate," said Trahan after recording his 13^th double-double of the season. "What motivated me was seeing my guys down, so I needed to find a way to uplift 'em, so I carried the traits, I like to bring energy. It seemed like my energy boost, it filled my guys up, and it got them to fill their tanks."

Richland outscored Eastfield, 61-42, in the second half.

Richland's Devin Teague had 19 points, going 8-for-8 from the free throw line, and grabbed five rebounds and two steals. Coco Rose had 15 points, five rebounds, four assists, two steals and a block. Bryce Harris had 12 points, 10 boards, two steals and two blocks. Tre Shivers had 10 points and five rebounds.

Eastfield's Jacore Williams scored 21 points, going 13-for-17 from the free throw line. Dwayne Reliford had 16 points, Tylan Harris 14, and Torian Harris 11.

The Thunderducks, which overcame a 3-for-20 night beyond the 3-point arc and 19 turnovers, shot 44.7 percent from the field. They grabbed 13 of their 45 rebounds on the offensive glass.

Richland will see second-ranked North Lake for the third time this season – this time with more at stake.

"It's going to be a fight," Trahan said. "It's going to be a fight about toughness. Whichever team brings the most toughness is going to steal the game tomorrow."