photo by Bob DeHart

MCAC Co-Champions!

Panthers secure No. 1 seed in conference tournament

It has taken 20 years, but YC has finally realized a major goal. The York men’s basketball team has secured the regular season conference championship, sharing the MCAC title with Bellevue University.

Since transitioning to a four-year college in 1992-93, Panther Basketball has had some shining stars and celebrative moments, but none bigger than this year's title as MCAC champions.

In his third year as head coach, Delton Deal has transformed the team into a nationally ranked squad, with the highest ranking in the Coaches’ Poll last week at No. 15 in NAIA Div. II.

At 22-7 on the season, 12-4 in the MCAC, York is the #1 seed in the conference tournament and will host the north division games this weekend. With recent additions to the conference of Waldorf College (IA), Central Baptist (AR), and Southwestern Christian (OK), the MCAC has adopted a north and south division for tournament play. In the north tournament, #2 Bellevue University plays #3 Waldorf College at 5:30 p.m.

In the second game of the night, #1 seed York College will face #4 Haskell Indian Nations University, with tipoff at 7:30 p.m. The winners of these games will meet on Saturday for the north tournament crown.

Games in the Freeman Center (10th & Delaware Ave) will be available for free via live Webcast.

In the south division, #2 seed Central Christian College will take on #3 College of the Ozarks at 6 p.m. In the second game starting at 8 p.m., #1 Oklahoma Wesleyan University will face #4 Southwestern Christian.

The winners of those games will meet on Saturday for the south tournament crown.

The winners of the north and south tournaments will meet on Tuesday, Feb. 26, in the MCAC Tournament Championship Game at 7 p.m. Should the Panthers win out over the weekend, York College will host the championship game on Tuesday as well. It will be a tough stretch as the north division has 3 of the top 4 teams in the conference. However, York is 11-1 at home (7-0 in the MCAC) this year, and will have the Freeman Center primed for the home court advantage.

The winner of the the championship game will represent the conference in the NAIA Div. II National Tournament, March 6-12 in Point Lookout, Mo.

An important note to anyone with a York College athletics season pass: Though York College is the host of the conference tournament in men's basketball, this is a conference run event. That means York College athletics passes cannot be accepted.  Every person attending will be required to pay the normal admissions rates for post-season contests, which are set by the conference: $8 per adult and $5 per student. Kids12 and under will be admitted for free.