Chipola hosts arch rival Northwest for Homecoming Saturday, Feb. 22, in the final game of the regular season.
The ticket office will open at 4:15pm with doors opening at 4:30pm.
Chipola president Dr. Gene Prough and his wife, Priscilla, will host an Alumni Reception beginning at 6 p.m. in the Hospitality Room. Alumni, retirees and friends of the college are invited. The homecoming court will be presented, and the Homecoming Queen and Mr. Chipola crowned, during halftime of the men’s game. Also during halftime of the men’s game, the women’s basketball sophomores will be recognized in their final home game.
The homecoming game is a must-win for the Indians who are locked in a three-way tie for first with Northwest and Pensacola, all at 7-4. But the Indians control their own destiny. A win over Northwest will give Chipola the men’s conference championship and the number one seed from the Panhandle in the state tournament.
A Chipola loss to Northwest on Saturday creates two scenarios. If Chipola loses to Northwest and Pensacola beats Gulf Coast, Chipola will finish third in the league and miss the state tourney. If the Indians lose to the Raiders and Gulf Coast wins Saturday, the Indians would face Pensacola in a one game playoff to decide second place in the league and a berth in the state tournament.
Chipola and Northwest split their first two meetings this season. The Indians won 86-78 on Jan. 18 in Marianna, but fell to the Raiders 90-83 on Feb. 5 in Niceville.
The Indians scored a big 67-64 win over Tallahassee on Feb. 18. Sam Cassell, Jr., led Chipola with 26 points. Carlos Morris scored 18 and pulled down 7 rebounds. The Indians held on for an 83-82 overtime win over arch-rival Gulf Coast on Feb. 11. Sam Cassell, Jr., led all scorers with 34 points.
The men’s league race is knotted with Chipola (7-4) tied with Northwest (7-4) and Pensacola (7-4). Gulf Coast is (4-7). Tallahassee is (3-9). The men’s and women’s FCSAA State Tournament will move to Ocala this year after being held at Chipola for 17 years.
The Lady Indians (11-0) have already earned a berth to the state tournament and their first Panhandle Conference title since 1990 with a 69-30 win over Gulf Coast on Feb. 11.
The Lady Indians also cruised to a 55-38 win over Tallahassee on Feb. 18. Diamonisha Sophus and Rahni Bell each scored 14. Evelyn Akhator had 11 points and 7 steals.
The Lady Indians are headed to the FCSAA State Tournament, March 5-8 in Ocala, as the top seed from the Panhandle. Second year head coach Greg Franklin took last year’s team all the way to the Elite Eight of the NJCAA Women’s Basketball National Tournament.
For the latest news about Chipola Athletics, visit www.chipolaathletics.com.