Considering this is the first season that Region IX has done away with the former four-subregion format and instead used volleyball’s model of North and South divisions to determine postseason tournament seeding, the powers that be simply couldn’t have picked a better year to start with. As I write these words, seven teams — keep in mind that the north half of Region IX only has nine teams — are within one game of each other in the North division standings. One game.
That, of course, will change shortly after the ink has dried on this page. The Trapper men were scheduled to be in action at Gillette on Wednesday night, meaning that two of the four teams currently sharing the Region IX North lead are facing off against one another. The winner remains ahead by a nose. The loser will have tumbled from the top of the mountain, potentially all the way down to the bottom.
Talk about your razor-thin margins for error.
There is not an easy game left on the schedule for the Northwest College men. Not a single contest can afford to be overlooked. Coming out of the locker room with anything less than maximum effort could have enormous consequences.
Because there are six other schools that are currently stressing that exact same point to their teams as we speak.
We’ve seen some exciting regional races in recent years — the Trapper men were one win away from hosting the Region IX tournament not that long ago, only to be done in by Sheridan on the final day of the regular season. As exciting and nerve wracking as that campaign may have been, the race that’s shaping up in the Region IX North this year could trump it in spades.
College football tries with all its might to create the illusion that every game matters. NJCAA basketball in Region IX is delivering that reality.
If you haven’t found your way to Cabre Gymnasium yet this season to take in the Trapper men’s team, you’re missing out. While the squad has slipped from mention for the time being in the national polls, the talent level is worthy of that sort of recognition. The team features a February calendar filled with five home dates (the Trapper women will even throw a sixth game in there) — plenty of chance to get out and see the team and add your voice to the much-needed home court advantage as a wild Region IX race comes down the stretch.
There might not be much distance between No. 1 and No. 7 right now, but come the March tournament the difference between pairing up against a No. 8 or a No. 2 seed from the South will be huge.