MCC MOVES ON TO NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT

MCC MOVES ON TO NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT
Tambling, Duncan-Clarke Throw 1-2 Punch in Region 21 Tourney Cougars Pull Away in Second Half to Beat Roxbury CC 79-61 In Final

BROCKTON, MA – Shenielle Duncan-Clarke (Bloomfield, CT) had 30 points to lead Manchester CC to a 79-61 victory over Roxbury CC in the National Junior College Athletic Association, Division III Region 21 Championship game Sunday afternoon.
Manchester moves on to the eight-team, double elimination, NJCAA Division III National Championship Tournament March 11 – 13 at the University Center in Rochester, MN.

Manchester held a 34-26 lead at the half following 20 minutes of intense physical action at both ends of the court. Duncan-Clarke also had eight steals, six assists, six rebounds and made 13 of 15 shots from the foul line.
“I know she is the type of player who can score, but is also the type of player who likes to get everybody involved,” Robert C. Turner Jr said of Duncan-Clarke after winning his first Region 21 title as MCC’s head coach. “She did a good job of doing that today. And when she had an open opportunity, she got those too.”
Callie Tambling (Manchester, CT) had 19 points for MCC (22-3) while Sharika Murphy (Bridgeport, CT) led Roxbury (26-4) with 16 points. MCC team captain Erika Murphy (Torrington, CT) had 14 points and 14 rebounds while teammate Ericka Sagay (Bloomfield, CT) had six points, 12 rebounds and eight blocks.
In Saturday’s semi final victory over host Massasoit CC, Tambling had 32 points, including ten three-point field goals to lead MCC over host Massasoit CC 82-61. On Sunday, Roxbury kept Tambling in check in the first half, but Duncan-Clarke found her open often in the second when she scored 14 of her 19 and two of her three, three-pointers.
“Coach kept telling me to take it to the hole, so that is what I kept doing,” Duncan-Clarke said. “And they were trying to collapse on me, so Callie was wide open.”
Turner felt Roxbury overplayed the point-guard known as “Shorty” and advised her to take advantage of her quickness and drive to the net, which also produced 15 foul shots.
“She saw the whole court today, but you know what?” Turner asked rhetorically while reflecting on Duncan-Clarke’s effort with the season on the line. “She always sees the whole court.”
Roxbury received outstanding efforts from Providence, RI natives Cristalee Lynch (12 points) and Willeen Capeheart (eight points) but Manchester proved too strong in the second half. MCC converted 23 of 32 foul shots ( 78 %) while Roxbury was 9 for 23 (39 %) from the line.
“They (Manchester) outplayed us in almost every aspect o the game,” Roxbury Head Coach Mark Leszczyk after the game. “They did a great job of taking away our post game, which is our strength. They were very well prepared and I give all the credit to Coach Turner and Coach (Peter) Harris. “Their strategy was perfect.”
Leszczyk feels MCC will represent New England well in their first trip to the national tournament since 2002 when Harris was the head coach and Turner was his assistant..
“You need three things – a solid point guard, a solid center and defense,” Leszczyk said. “And they have all three, so I think they could do some damage out there.”