Rout leads to Region 10 title

There's a sports axiom that says it's difficult to beat a rival three times in one season. Winning all three on the road is infinitely more so. Virginia Peninsula Community College men's basketball coaches and players didn't listen.

The top-seeded Gators rolled over host No.3 Sandhills Community College 100-71 on Sunday, Feb. 22, in the NJCAA Division III Region 10 final. VPCC, ranked 11^th in the country in the  NJCAA Division III poll, had beaten the Flyers by one in January and four earlier this month, both games also at Sandhills in Pinehurst, N.C. The Gators advanced to the district tournament in Pennsylvania next weekend.

"We put our foot on the gas today," said Gators coach Chris Moore.

VPCC, 21-6 overall and on an 11-game winning streak, went 8-1 to earn its first regular-season region championship as a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). The Gators beat Patrick & Henry Community College 97-67 in the Region 10 semifinals Feb. 21.

Also at the tournament, numerous Gators were honored for their regular-season play. Jordan Watlington (Menchville High School) was voted the Region 10 player of the year. Jakobe Reed (Woodside) made first-team all-region, Jayden Sepulveda (Landstown High School) and Chris Cyrus (Hampton Christian Academy) second team, and Ky'Saan Bevier (Weldon, N.C.) the all-freshmen team. Moore was the coach of the year.

The Gators basketball program joined the NJCAA for the 2023-24 season. They won the New South Athletic Conference postseason tournament in 2022 and have won 13 VCCS titles.

For more information on VPCC, visit www.vpcc.edu.