MBK: Tops Eliminated with 106-98 loss in Regional

The Kalamazoo Valley CC Cougars came out on fire from the opening tip. They took an early 22-6 lead and never looked back. The Tops could not buy a basket in the first half.  The Tops team defense was uncharacteristically ineffective throughout the game and the Cougars got a career game from Brandon Downs who went 8 of 13 on three pointers and ended with 30 points.  The Cougars also had 6"10 John Sweeney that overpowered the Tops in the paint and was a perfect 9 for 9 from the field. 

But charateristic of an Aaron Nixon coached team, the Tops down 14 (58-44) at half, battled back in the second half.  Manny Hill ended his Tops career with 27 points, 12 rebounds, and four assists. Hill also held the nation leader in three-point makes per game to 5-15 and 10 points under his average. His defensive prowess was on full display.

Ezra McKee scored 17 points on 54%, while Devonte Green pulled down a team-high 14 boards. Marcos Vazquez added 12 points and a team-leading six assists, Howard Jeffries (11) and Devonte Demianov (10) were the other double-digit scores.

Hill began to cramp ½ through the second half after a collision with a Cougar player. This forced the Tops to play without one of their main contributors. McKee heated up after early foul trouble and helped the Tops battle and eventually get to within five points at the 4:11 mark.

A crucial turnover at the 3:13 mark sealed the fate of the Tops as the Cougars capped off a wire-to-wire win 106-98.

Similar to last year the Cougars doubled the Tops at the line (35-18). The Cougars also connected on 19 of their attempts. The hot shooting (53%) and 48% from deep was the difference as the Cougars hit early and often on their long balls.

The Tops capped off season two with a 23-8 (12-4 OCCAC) record and look to establish themselves as a legitimate National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) program moving forward. "Growing pains" as Coach Nixon says, "We lost to a good team. We just didn't execute."

In two seasons since the return of Tops Athletics from COVID, Coach Nixon has coached the team to the tune of 47-15 mark.  The Tops will look different next season as Manny Hill, Mikael Hill, Donovan Coffey, Ezra Mckee and Marcos Vazquez all depart.