Region XIV Basketball Media Day: Jags, Lady Jags picked near the bottom in coaches poll
Oct. 11—ATHENS — The annual NJCAA Region XIV Basketball Media Day took place Wednesday morning on the campus of Trinity Valley Community College in Athens.
One of the highlights of the gathering was the release of the coaches preseason poll, both for the men and women.
In the men's South Division, Lee College picked up 11 of the 12 first place nods and raked in 89 points to come in first place.
Next was Blinn followed by Angelina College.
Blinn and Angelina had one first place vote apiece. Blinn collected 78 points to Angelina's 60.
Rounding out the predicted order of finish were: Lamar State-Port Arthur (51), Coastal Bend (39), Jacksonville College (34) and Victoria College (13).
Things were a bit closer in the East Division where Panola, with six first place votes and 79 points, found itself at the top of the pack. Next was Trinity Valley Community College with five first place nods and 77 points.
Navarro College charted third after picking up one first place nod and 65 points.
The remaining first place vote went to Tyler Junior College, who tallied 59 points.
Kilgore College (38), Paris Junior College (27) and Bossier Parish (La.) Community College with 19 points rounded out the projected pecking order in the East.
Perennial national powers Trinity Valley and Tyler were the coaches' top choices in the women's rankings. The Lady Cardinals received six first place votes and 75 points compared to the Apache Ladies' two first place nods and 71 points.
In third place was Angelina with 62 points, followed by Blinn and Kilgore, who collected 49 points each.
Panola was next with the last first place vote and 40 points.
Rounding things out for the women was the Fillies from Panola in sixth place with 40 points and a lone first place vote.
Completing the order of finish for the women were: Paris Junior College (32); 8. Jacksonville College (15) and Coastal Bend College (12).
The Jaguars and Lady Jaguars will both open their seasons on Thur., Nov. 2. The JC men will travel to the Metroplex to face Brookhaven College at 6 p.m. while the ladies will host Weatherford College at 5:30 p.m.
