Basketball Program Highlights

Year

Record

Season Highlights
2019-2020 10 - 21 The 2019-2020 season ended with the play in game for post season.  Two players received First Team All Region Honors: Sardaar Calhoun and Alex Peterson.  Sardaar Calhoun was selected has NJCAA All American honorable mention.  Grizzly athletics had a change in leadership as Coach Popp resigned in March 2020. 
2018-2019 20-12 Runner up for NJCAA Region 16.  Four Grizzly players received All-Region honors: Eric Lovett (1st Team), Sardaar Calhoun (1st Team), Dravon Clayborn (2nd Team) and Burone Edwards (2nd Team).  Eric Lovett was selected Third Team All-American.
2017-2018 25-9 Champions of NJCAA Region 16.  Sophomore point guard Ricky Torres named Player of the Year for Region XVI and was selected as First Team All-American.
2016-2017 13-16 The 2016-2017 season was a time of rebuilding and establishing the program new head coach Chris Popp desired for Grizzly Basketball. 
2015-2016 19-10 The 2015-2016 season ended early for the Grizzlies. The team fell short of the Region 16 playoff games ending the season 19-10 overall and 2-6 in NJCAA Region 16 play. However, four Grizzly players were awarded All Region honors: Ngor Barnaba (1st Team), Devonte Campbell (2nd Team), Terrell Martin-Garcia (2nd Team) and Vonny Irvin (2nd Team). Barnaba, Campbell, and Irvin also received MCCAC honors. The end of the 2015-2016 saw a change in leadership for the Grizzly Basketball program. Coach Christopher Popp became the new head coach for the program with an expectation of fast play and focus on excellence.
2014-2015 21-11 The 2014-2015 basketball season began with only two Grizzlies returning that saw any playing time from the previous season and a schedule that featured 26 NJCAA Division I opponents. Of those 26 Division I teams Missouri State University-West Plains played seven teams throughout the season that were either receiving Top 25 votes or were ranked in the NJCAA Top 25 at the time of the game. This group of young men won six of those games and beat the #10 ranked team in the nation at the time and #7 ranked team in the nation along the way. In addition, they defeated three teams that finished first or second in their conferences.
Overall the Grizzlies finished the season 21-11 overall and 4-4 in NJCAA Region XVI play. For their efforts, Jameel Moore, Craig Eubanks and Terrel Martin-Garcia were named 1st Team All-Region XVI and Dazhonetae Bennett was named to the 2nd Team.
2013-2014 18-13 The 2013-2014 season saw the Grizzlies experience more than their share of adversity. That began when two sophomores who figured to play prominent starting roles endured season ending knee surgeries, one before the season began and the other only nine games in. Two more Grizzlies who were putting in quality minutes of playing time left the team for personal reasons. Still, the Grizzlies continued fighting through one of the most challenging schedules in program history. Throughout the year, they played eight games against teams that spent time in the NJCAA Top 25 polls and played seven games against teams that qualified for the NJCAA National Tournament.
Even though there were challenges to overcome, the Grizzlies still finished 18-13 overall and finished third in the Region 16 regular season. Over the course of the season, they played in front of over 100 NCAA Division I coaches from over 70 different universities. For their exceptional athletic efforts, Devaugntah Williams, Justin Jamison and Arroyo Edwards were named to the NJCAA All-Region 16 team.
2012-2013 21-10 In a season that began with only one returning sophomore and included eight games against teams that were ranked at one time in the NJCAA Top 25 or were receiving votes for the Top 25, the 2012-2013 Grizzles finished the year as the NJCAA Region 16 regular season champions. After enduring some growing pains early in the season, the Grizzlies finished second in the Coffeyville (KS) Resources Juco Elite 8 Tournament and picked up some key late season road victories at Three Rivers College, Moberly Area Community College, and State Fair Community College. The Grizzlies finished the regular season on an eight game winning streak before falling to Moberly Area Community College in the Region 16 Tournament Semifinals. Keaton Jackson and Devaugntah Williams were selected to the NJCAA All-Region 16 Team for their efforts throughout the season.
2011-2012 21-10 Coming off of the best season in the history of the program, and having to replace over 80 points-per-game from the previous year, the Grizzlies finished arguably the toughest schedule in program history with a 21-10 record overall and a 5-3 record in NJCAA Region 16 play. When the dust settled, the Grizzlies finished in second place in the Region 16 regular season. The season was highlighted with consecutive wins over Iowa Western Community College, Mineral Area College, Indian Hills Community College, Three Rivers College, State Fair Community College, and then Mineral Area again, all in little over a three week period.
The Grizzlies were ranked as high as #8 nationally in Team Defensive Average and finished the year ranked #9 nationally. They set a record for the Fewest Points Allowed in a season (1,087). Gage Wooten and Nathane Simniok were named to the All-Region Team. Combined with the previous two years, the Grizzlies won 72 games in three years under Coach Yancey Walker.
2010-2011 31-4 The Grizzlies marched steadily over a three-year period "from the cellar to the castle." The 2008-2009 record of 14-17 was the worst in Grizzly history. The record of 20-10 the following year was better, but still lacked strength, particularly in Region 16 competition. It all came together in 2010-2011 with a record of 28-2, the best in Grizzly history. Other major accomplishments for the year included: •Held the NJCAA Poll #1 ranking for five consecutive weeks and finished #1 unanimously in the final two polls. The Grizzlies are, in fact, #1 in the nation in the regular season, an accomplishment that will never be relinquished.
  • The Grizzlies had the best record (28-2) of any team in the NJCAA's Top 25 teams.
  • Completed the regular season with a record of 28-2, the best record in the history of Grizzly Basketball. Previously, the most wins in a TOTAL season (including postseason) was 27.
  • With a perfect record of 8-0, finished the regular season in first place in NJCAA Region 16 and earned the #1 Seed in the postseason tournament. This is the first time the Grizzlies accomplished this perfect record in region play.
  • Brought the all-time total number of Grizzly wins to 401.
  • Raised the all-time winning percentage of the program to 70%.
  • Increased fan attendance (overall and per-game average) by 22%. Final home game was a 109% increase with a capacity crowd.
  • Lonnie Hays was the unanimous choice of the Region 16 head coaches for Player of the Year. Other Grizzlies named to the All-Region Team were Quinton Pippen, Travis Wilkins, and Teddy Simniok.
  • Won the NJCAA Region 16 Postseason Tournament by defeating Three Rivers Community College and State Fair Community College, each for the third time during the athletic year.
  • With postseason included, made a 10-0 sweep of NJCAA Region 16 competition.
  • Advanced to the NJCAA District 4 Championship and defeated Kankakee Community College on their home court in Kankakee, Illinois.
  • Head Coach Yancey Walker named NJCAA Region 16 "Coach of the Year" and NJCAA District 4 "Coach of the Year."
  • Advanced to the NJCAA National Tournament in Hutchinson, Kansas, for the first time in Grizzly Athletics history.
  • Lonnie Hayes was named NJCAA All American First Team and Quinton Pippen was named NJCAA All American Honorable Mention.
2009-2010 20-10 A young team with only one sophomore started out on an 11 game win streak and was ranked as high as #14 in the nation. For several weeks during the season they were ranked #1 in scoring defense. After two key injuries, they finished fourth in the Region 16 regular season, but were able to sweep Mineral Area in the regular season for the first time since 2003-2004. They advanced to the post-season tournament, losing the quarterfinal game to Mineral Area College. Grizzly Gage Wooten was named to the NJCAA Region 16 All-Region Team.
2008-2009 14-17 Finished fifth in the Region 16 regular season and advanced to the post-season tournament, losing the quarterfinal game to Moberly Area Community College. Grizzlies Devon Peltier and Anthony Allison named to the NJCAA Region 16 All-Region Team.
2007-2008 27-5 Finished second in Region 16 regular season and post-season tournament. Season record of 27-5 tied the all-time best for the Grizzlies set in the 1999-2000 season. Morris Smith IV and Paul Carter named to the All-Region Team. The Grizzlies ranked 18th in the nation in the final NJCAA poll.
2006-2007 20-12 Placed fourth in Region 16 regular season and post-season tournament. Sophomore Johnnie McLawhorn was the leading scorer in NJCAA Region 16 during the regular season and was named to the All-Region Team.
2005-2006 20-13 Finished second in the Region 16 regular season and advanced to the three-game championship series of the NJCAA Region 16 post-season tournament. In the third game of the season, the Grizzlies defeated eventual NJCAA Division I national champion University of Arkansas-Fort Smith, 99 - 86. They also defeated Kirkwood, Iowa, a team that was runner-up in the NJCAA Division II National Tournament and North Lake, Texas, a team that won the NJCAA Division III National Tournament. The Grizzlies won against five teams once ranked in the top ten and seven teams that were ranked in the NJCAA top 15 during the year. They defeated ten teams that won 20 or more games and had seven wins and seven losses against teams that had won one or more national championships. Tyrone Brazelton was named Player of the Year in NJCAA Region 16 and NJCAA First Team All-American.
2004-2005 16-16 Record on the road included three victories against teams led by Hall of Fame coaches with more than 2,200 combined career victories (Barton County Community College - Great Bend, Kansas; Vincennes University - Vincennes, Indiana; and Three Rivers Community College - Poplar Bluff, Missouri). Tyrone Brazelton and Andrais Thornton named to NJCAA All-Region 16 Team.
2003-2004 24-8 Tied for first place at 7-1 in Region 16 regular season. Runner-up in Region 16 tournament. Terrell Everett named Region 16 Player of the Year and NJCAA Second Team All-American. Travis Parker also named to All-Region Team.
2002-2003 18-13 Placed third in Region 16 tournament. Zione White named to Region 16 All-Region Team and NJCAA Honorable Mention All-American.
2001-2002 25-7 Placed third in NJCAA Region 16. Tevoris Thompson voted "Player of the Year" in Region 16. Tevoris Thompson tied NJCAA all-time record with 14 three point shots in February 9, 2002, game against Lindenwood JV and broke the all-time record with 15 three point shots in February 26, 2002, game against State Fair.
2000-2001 27-5 Runner-up in NJCAA Region 16. Ranked 8th in the nation in the final NJCAA poll. Sophomore Jason Detrick voted "Player of the Year" in Region 16 and NJCAA First Team All-American. Sophomore Josh Daniel named NJCAA Distinguished Academic All-American.
1999-2000 27-5 Runner-up in NJCAA Region 16. Ranked 8th in the nation in the final NJCAA poll. Mike Wallace voted "Player of the Year" in Region 16. Sophomores Robert Yanders and Mike Wallace named NJCAA All-American.
1998-1999 27-6 Champions of NJCAA Region 16. Ranked 7th in the nation in the final NJCAA poll. Coach Tom Barr named NJCAA Region 16 Coach of the Year. Freshman Robert Yanders named NJCAA All-American.
1997-1998 25-8 Champions of NJCAA Region 16. Five graduating athletes accepted scholarships to attend NCAA Division I universities. Coach Tom Barr named NJCAA Region 16 Coach of the Year. Sophomore Chuck Campbell named Distinguished Academic All-American.
1996-1997 20-12 Runner-up in NJCAA Region 16. Grizzlies Chris Rollins and Jerome Jackson named NJCAA All-Americans.
1995-1996 19-14 Runner-up in NJCAA Region 16.
1994-1995 26-7 Runner-up in NJCAA Region 16.
1993-1994 18-13 First year of Grizzly Basketball program.