WELLESLEY HILLS (March 6, 2013) – For the third time in five years the MassBay Community College men’s basketball team has captured the NJCAA New England Region XXI Championship and an automatic berth in the National Championship tournament. The fourth time was the charm for the Buccaneers as they avenged three losses during the season to the fifth ranked Roxbury Community College Tigers in the Championship game on Sunday, March 3rd on the campus of Holyoke Community College. Despite being down at halftime by thirteen points, The Bucs came back to win by a final score of 57-55.
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The Buccaneers enter the NJCAA Division III Men’s Basketball National Championship ranked sixth in the nation. MassBay faces the Rock Valley (IL) College Golden Eagles in the first round at 2:00 pm on Thursday March 14th in Loch Sheldrake, NY. The winner of that game goes to the Final Four on Friday.
“It’s a gratifying win – a big win for the program,” said head coach Bill Raynor. “I’m proud of our team for all they’ve done on the court and in the classroom this season. We don’t have one superstar, but we have 11 players who work together and contribute. It’s been a pleasure coaching them this year, and they’ve earned the right to play in the next tournament.” Every member of the MassBay men’s basketball team carries at least a 3.0 GPA.
MassBay’s success this year has not gone unnoticed by the NJCAA. Coach Raynor took home District 8 National Coach of the Year and Region XXI New England Coach of the Year honors. Guard Roger Paul was a 1st Team All New England region selection; forwards Boris Fodoup and Givaughn Jones, and guard Christopher Ewing earned 2nd Team All New England region selections; and guard Eric Alleyne was an All New England region Honorable Mention.
The team is 26-6 on the year including postseason play, which includes a 87-72 loss to Roxbury C.C. in the final of the Massachusetts state community college tournament just a week before the New England tournament final.
This win is another notch in New England Basketball Hall of Fame Coach Bill Raynor’s belt. He is now 160-67 (.705 winning percentage) in seven years at the helm of the MassBay men’s basketball team. That record includes three Region XXI titles and two State Titles. He has also produced a host of All-New England players and two NABC State Farm All-Americans.
MassBay awards associate degrees and certificates in over 60 academic programs in a wide range of career-driven subjects ranging from accounting and automotive technology to forensic DNA science and early childhood education. The College’s facilities in Wellesley Hills, Framingham and Ashland offer day, evening and weekend classes to meet the needs of degree-seeking students and career minded life-long learners. Online options provide convenience and allow faculty to facilitate the learning process. Since its founding in 1961, MassBay has been accredited by several governing bodies and strives to meet the needs of the diverse population it serves.