Blazers Tangle with 2 of NJCAA's Best at SPC Texans Classic Friday-Saturday
LEVELLAND, Texas – Dallas College North Lake's fourth-ranked men's basketball team will meet two of the top teams in the National Junior College Athletic Association Division I ranks Friday and Saturday at the South Plains College Texans Classic.
The Blazers, who at 5-2 are ranked fourth in NJCAA Division III, tangle with Clarendon College 5:15 p.m. Friday and host South Plains 2 p.m. Saturday. Clarendon (5-2) is receiving votes in the NJCAA DI poll, while South Plains (5-0) is the No. 2 team in the country.
North Lake is coming off an 89-68 win over Texas Wesleyan University's Developmental Team on Community Day Tuesday afternoon in front of 713 fans. The Blazers shot 57 percent in the win, including an 8-for-20 performance from three-point range. Four starters scored in double figures, with forward Anden Holmes putting up a season-best 13 points and five rebounds.
Swingman Jakob Zenon is averaging 21.7 points and six rebounds per game, while shooting 51.5 percent from the floor. Guard Randy Woolf is averaging 12.6 points and 3.4 assists. Bryson Smith, the lone starter who didn't reach double figures Tuesday, is scoring 10.3 points per game, 5.6 assists and 4.3 rebounds.
Clarendon's Jalen Bouknight is scoring 14.3 points, and averages 3.1 assists per game. Cortez Johnson is averaging 13.4 points, 9.6 rebounds and 3.1 assists. Lenard Taylor is good for 12.4 points and 4.7 boards. Daniel Sykes is scoring 10.7 points, while shooting 50 percent from three-point range.
The Bulldogs are coming off a 91-71 win over Seminole State College Tuesday.
South Plains' Jalen Hampton leads the Texans at 18.2 points and 12 boards per game, while shooting 65.4 percent from the floor. Jabori McGhee is averaging 16.8 points, 3.4 assists and 1.8 steals. Jermahri Hill is putting up 14.4 points, 3.8 assists and 1.4 steals. Malique Ewin is averaging 10.6 points, four blocks, 7.6 rebounds and 4.4 assists.
The Blazers are seeking their first win over South Plains. Last year, the Blazers went 1-1 at the Texans Classic, falling, 83-81, to South Plains. North Lake lost by four to the Texans in 2021-22 before going on to win its fourth national championship.
North Lake returns home 6 p.m. Monday to host Concordia University's Junior Varsity before taking a week off for the Thanksgiving break.