March 6, 2006

For More Information, Contact: Keith Gentry (901) 333-4114/ (901) 619-1899 Kimberly Kreider (901) 333-4023

TJCCAA/NJCAA REGION VII TOURNAMENT TIPS OFF WITH FOUR FIRST ROUND GAMES
Release written by Keith Gentry

The 2006 TJCCAA/NJCAA Region VII Basketball Tournament will get under way on Tuesday, March 7 at the Verties Sails Gymnasium on Southwest’s Union Avenue Campus with four first round men’s games. Tipping off at 2 p.m. will be 8th seed Hiwassee (11-16, 8-14) taking on 9th seed Roane State (12-18, 8-14). Other first round men’s games include 5th seed Volunteer State (19-7, 16-6) vs. 12th seed Dyersburg State (3-21, 1-21) at 4 p.m., 6th seed Chattanooga State (18-11, 15-7) vs. 11th seed Cleveland State (4-26, 3-19) at 6 p.m. and 7th seed Columbia State (15-13, 9-13) vs. 10th seed Motlow State (9-17, 6-16) at 8 p.m.

Men’s teams receiving first round byes are number one seed Southwest (20-6, 17-5), 2nd seed Saint Catharine (24-5, 17-5), 3rd seed Jackson State (23-7, 16-6), and 4th seed Walters State (22-6, 16-6). Men’s quarterfinal games will be played on Thursday, March 9. Southwest will play the winner of the Hiwassee/Roane State game at 2 p.m., followed by Walters State vs. Volunteer State/Dyersburg State winner at 4 p.m., Jackson State vs. Chattanooga State/Cleveland State winner at 6 p.m., and Saint Catharine vs. Columbia State/Motlow State winner at 8 p.m. Men’s semifinal games will be played on Saturday, March 11 at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. with the championship game on Sunday, March 12 at 2 p.m.

Women’s action will begin on Wednesday, March 8 with four first round games. At 2 p.m., 8th seed Volunteer State (13-14, 8-14) will take on 9th seed Hiwassee (11-19, 8-14) , followed by 5th seed Columbia State (15-11, 13-9) vs. 12th seed Dyersburg State (2-24, 0-22) at 4 p.m., 6th seed Saint Catharine (19-11, 13-9) vs. 11th seed Roane State (11-19, 5-17) at 6 p.m., and 7th seed Cleveland State (16-14, 9-13) vs. 10th seed Jackson State (12-14, 8-14) at 8 p.m.

Receiving first round byes in the women’s tournament are number one seed Chattanooga State (23-2, 20-2), 2nd seed Motlow State (23-3, 19-3), 3rd seed Southwest (18-8, 15-7), and 4th seed Walters State (20-9, 14-8). Women’s quarterfinals will be played on Friday, March 10. Chattanooga State will play the winner of the Hiwassee/Volunteer State game at 2 p.m., followed by Walters State vs. the Columbia State/Dyersburg State winner at 4 p.m., Southwest vs. the Saint Catharine/Roane State winner at 6 p.m., and Motlow State vs. the Cleveland State/Jackson State winner at 8 p.m. Women’s semifinal games will be played on Saturday, March 11 at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. with the championship game on Sunday, March 12 at 4 p.m.


Tickets prices are $5 for adults, $3 for children and $20 for a tournament pass. In addition, play-by-play for all 22 tournament games will be broadcast on the Southwest website – athletics.southwest.tn.edu.

Tournament champions will represent the TJCCAA and Region VII in the NJCAA National Tournament March 21-25. The men’s national tournament will be held in Hutchinson, Kansas while Salina, Kansas is the site for the women’s tourney.