Lions Overcome Bears in South Central District Quarters

SOUTH CENTRAL DISTRICT TOURNAMENT PAGE

MESQUITE, Texas – Farai Mandhlazi wasn't making plans for upcoming getaways.

"I don't want to go home," Mandhlazi said after Dallas College Mountain overcame Dallas College Brookhaven, 86-79, in the National Junior College Athletic Association South Central District quarterfinals at Dallas College Eastfield.

"I wasn't ready for this to be my last game."

�� @mvc_mbb's Farai Mandhlazi talks about the Lions' 86-79 win in the @NJCAABasketball Division III South Central District quarterfinals. #MountainViewLions | #NJCAABasketball pic.twitter.com/RyelSRC4qj

— Dallas College Athletics (@DallasCollAth) March 1, 2023

Neither was the rest of his team, who've played some of their better basketball the last couple weeks of the season.

"We live to see another day," Lions head coach LeRoi Phillips said, walking off the court, following the comeback victory in which his team erased a 12-point halftime deficit, and finished with a flurry.

Fifth-seeded Mountain View (18-12) advances to play at top seed Dallas College North Lake (23-6) in the semifinals 6 p.m. Friday.

"Me and my teammates, we play with a lot of heart and just passion, so I feel like it's going to be a good tournament, a long tournament," Mandhlazi said after scoring a season-high 24 points. "We're not just going to let anybody walk over us. We're always going to compete. We've been through a lot this year, so we're just trying to finish strong, and do good things."

A freshman forward from McKinney, Texas, Mandhlazi was 8 of 12 from the floor and 8-for-8 from the free throw line. It was the fourth time he's went for at least 20 in a game this season.

Justice Marmara and Jezrael De Jesus Fargas both scored 13 for the Lions, who shot 49 percent  from the field. Marmara grabbed seven rebounds. Jaden Clark had nine points, going 3 of 4 from the 3-point line. Devion Randle finished with six points, five assists, four rebounds and a steal. Terry Moss III had four assists and a steal. Johnny DeWalt had six points and two blocks. 

Mountain View, which trailed 48-36 at halftime, sank 20 of 22 free throws. The 91 percent from the stripe was a season best. Despite being confronted with a 12-point deficit at the break, the Lions weren't fazed. They outscored the Bears, 50-31, in the second half, seizing control in the closing minutes.

"In the locker room, no one was mad or anything," Mandhlazi said. "We just kept the intensity up, good stuff, nothing negative, and we came out hot. We just came out ready to play. Like I said, we're going to finish strong always."

The Lions have won three of their past four games, beating Brookhaven (9-18) twice in a six-day span.

"Coming into the second semester, we had half our team gone, just doing things," said Mandhlazi, who reached double figures for the 19^th time this season. "I think it took us a little bit to click, but with what we have right now, the 11 we have, I think we finally got it done. Everyone's healthy, and we're just ready to go."

North Lake will host the semifinals and finals Thursday and Saturday. Tickets are $10 for a tournament pass for all games, $5 for adult single session of two games and $3 for students ages 6-18. Children under 6 are free. Dallas College students and employees with a current ID (must present at the gate) are free. Game programs are $2.

NJCAA DIII Men's Basketball South Central District

Quarterfinals

Tuesday at Dallas College Eastfield

Dallas College Eastfield 85, Dallas College Cedar Valley 76

Dallas College Mountain View 86, Dallas College Brookhaven 79

Semifinals

Friday at Dallas College North Lake

6 p.m. - #1 Dallas College North Lake (23-6) vs. #5 Dallas College Mountain View (18-12)

8 p.m. - #2 Dallas College Richland (14-10) vs. #3 Dallas College Eastfield (21-7) 

Championship

Saturday at North Lake

5 p.m. - Semifinal winners