LUBBOCK – The South Plains College Texan and Lady Texan basketball teams will begin postseason play this week with the Region 5 basketball tournament held at Lubbock Christian University's Rip Griffin Center March 6-9.
The four-day tournament features the top four teams from the Western Junior College Athletic Conference (WJCAC) as well as the top-four teams from the North Texas Junior College Athletic Conference (NTJCAC), with the winner receiving an automatic bid to the NJCAA National Tournament.
The women's tournament will begin Wednesday with four quarterfinal games, while men's quarterfinal action will begin Thursday.
The Lady Texans (24-5) finished the season in a three-way tie for first atop the WJCAC standings with New Mexico JC and Midland, but will represent the league as the top seed due to the power point system that breaks ties. Therefore, they will face the No. 4 seed from the NTJCAC, Temple College (21-9) at 7 p.m. Wednesday.
If the Lady Texans are able to get by Temple, they will then face the winner between Midland and Collin at 2 p.m. Friday. The SPC women split their season series with Midland and lost to Collin in a 74-70 nail biter Nov. 24 at the Collin County Thanksgiving Classic.
The Texans (22-7), meanwhile, will represent their league as the No. 4 seed and will put their season on the line at 5 p.m. Thursday against NTJCAC top-seed Ranger College (19-11). South Plains defeated Ranger handily in their season opener, 97-80, Nov. 2 in Odessa.
After entering league play with a record of 8-10, the Rangers turned their season around and went 11-1 in the NTJCAC to earn the conference championship and are currently on a 10 game winning streak entering the regional tournament.
Each of the 14 games can be watched live online at www.psblive.com.
Region 5 Tournament Quarterfinal Schedule
Wednesday, March 6 (Women's Games)
12 p.m.
(W3) Midland
(N2) Collin
2 p.m.
(W2) New Mexico
(N3) McLennan
5 p.m.
(W4) Odessa
(N1) Weatherford
7 p.m.
(W1) South Plains
(N4) Temple
Thursday, March 7 (Men's Games)
12 p.m.
(W3) Odessa
(N2) Hill
2 p.m.
(W2) New Mexico
(N3) McLennan
5 p.m.
(W4) South Plains
(N1) Ranger
7 p.m.
(W1) Howard
(N4) Temple