Blazers Fall to Thunderducks in National Semifinal

HERKIMER, N.Y. – Dallas College North Lake men's basketball team fell to Dallas College Richland 67-59 in the National Junior College Athletic Association Division III semifinals Friday at Herkimer College.

The sixth-ranked Blazers (23-11) will meet No. 1 Salem Community College (31-3) in the third place game 1 p.m. CT Saturday. Fourth-ranked Richland (23-9) will play No. 2 Northern Essex Community College (32-3) in the championship at 4 p.m.

North Lake's Zach Thompson had 18 points to lead all scorers, and grabbed eight rebounds to go along with a block and a steal. He was 8 of 12 from the field. Romiel Carter had 10 points, seven rebounds, two blocks and two steals. Zaedyn Owens had eight points, five rebounds and a steal. Rutledge scored 14 points in the second half, knocking down 6 of 12 field goals.

Richland's Andrew Huntley had 15 points, 12 rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block. Dre Rutledge had 16 points, seven rebounds, two blocks and a steal. Joubron Bebe shot 5 of 8 from the floor for 12 points, and Tyler Johnson had nine points, four rebounds and two steals.

It was a game that featured 16 ties and 14 lead changes where neither side ever had a double-digit lead. The Thunderducks' largest lead of eight came in the closing seconds, while the Blazers led by six with 16:23 to play.

Jordan Edwards' offensive putback with 5:37 to play gave the Blazers a 51-49 lead. Huntley hit a three-pointer on Richland's next possession to swing the lead back to the Thunderducks. Huntley's 3 started a 9-0 run, highlighted by back-to-back buckets by Bebe over a 16-second span, that gave Richland a seven-point lead with 2:59 to play.

Thompson scored with 1:17 to play as the Blazers cut it to 59-57. But Rutledge answered on the next possession, Tyler Johnson sank two free throws and Bebe threw down a dunk on a pass from Cedric Dent to put the Thunderducks up eight with 19 seconds left to send Richland to the title game.

North Lake outscored Richland 42-26 in the paint, and had a 20-10 advantage in points off turnovers. The Thunderducks outrebounded the Blazers 46-38.

The Blazers are competing in their third national tournament in the last four years.