SPC Basketball Teams Picked First in Preseason Polls

Western Junior College Athletic Conference (WJCAC) coaches have tabbed both the South Plains College men's and women's basketball teams as the ones to beat in 2007-08.

Both the Texans and Lady Texans were picked to finish first in the WJCAC Preseason Coaches Poll. The SPC men were first, followed by Midland, Howard, Frank Phillips, Odessa, Western Texas, New Mexico Junior College, Clarendon and New Mexico Military Institute. The SPC women were first, followed by Midland, Frank Phillips, Odessa, Howard, Western Texas, New Mexico Junior College and Clarendon.

The Texans are coming off a season in which they finished 26-7, won a WJCAC Co-Championship and advanced to the Region V championship game. Four key players return from last year's team, including All-WJCAC performers Jonathan Hall (guard from Miami, FL) and Nick Okorie (guard from Houston, TX). Also back are forwards Lu Griffin (Greenville, SC) and Luciano de Souza (Brazil). Okorie averaged 12.2 points a game last year, while Hall averaged 9.6 points and 7.4 rebounds.

South Plains is ranked No. 9 in the nation in the Sporting News JUCO Preseason Poll.

The Lady Texans are looking to build on what was a record-breaking season in 2006-07. Last year's team went 31-2, set a school record for consecutive wins (27) and were ranked No. 1 in the nation for more than two months. SPC was a perfect 14-0 at home and won a WJCAC Co-Championship. They also advanced to the championship game of the Region V tournament.

The SPC women will also return four sophomores who were part of last year's squad. Among the returnees are post Brittany Blackmon (Clovis, NM), guard Mariame Djouara (Ivory Coast), guard Ashley Frazier (Duncanville, TX) and guard Krystal Davis (Fort Worth, TX).

Blackmon was an All-WJCAC selection last year after averaging 11.1 points and 5.6 rebounds. Djouara also had an outstanding freshman season, averaging 10.3 points and 3.7 rebounds per game.

Both the SPC men and women will start conference play earlier this year than past year's. Both teams will play three conference games before the Christmas break, starting with a road contest at Frank Phillips on Nov. 29. The Texans and Lady Texans will play their first conference home game on Dec. 3 against Midland.