The Stage is Set: Herkimer Ready For First Round of National Tournament Tomorrow
The stage is set for an exciting first-round matchup in the NJCAA Division III Men's Basketball National Tournament, as the No. 5 seed Herkimer Generals take on the No. 12 seed Dallas College-Mountain View Lions. Both teams bring impressive records and standout players into this clash, with hopes of making a deep run in the tournament.
Herkimer Generals (23-4) – The Hometown Heroes
Herkimer's offensive firepower has been led by sophomores Jayson McGhee (15.1 PPG, 40.8% FG, 78.3% FT) and Oladele Oladitan (13.5 PPG, 39.5% FG, 68.0% FT). Freshman forward Kenny Freeman has been a key contributor as well, averaging 12.7 PPG on 58.2% shooting.
The Generals boast a 45.3% team field goal percentage, while their defense has been equally impressive, holding opponents to 38.1% shooting. Herkimer's ability to control the boards, led by Oladitan (9.7 RPG), and force turnovers with McGhee (1.8 SPG) and Josiah Smith (2.2 SPG) makes them a tough opponent for any team.
Dallas College-Mountain View Lions (15-18) – The Offensive Juggernaut
Mountain View has been an offensive machine all season, averaging 86.2 points per game with a 45.1% field goal percentage. Sophomore Ashton Price leads the charge with 24.8 PPG, shooting 49.7% from the field. He is joined by Augustine Chibuko (14.2 PPG, 62.9% FG) and Louis Conner (8.5 PPG, 8.1 APG), who provides elite playmaking ability.
The Lions have a strong rebounding presence, led by Chibuko (8.9 RPG), and their defensive pressure has been solid, averaging 11.3 steals per game. Their three-point shooting (30.7%) has been streaky at times, but their ability to score in transition makes them dangerous.
Key Matchups to Watch
• Jayson McGhee (Herkimer) vs. Ashton Price (Mountain View) – A battle of two elite scorers who can take over the game.
• Louis Conner (Mountain View) vs. Herkimer's Defense – Conner's passing ability (8.1 APG) will be tested against a tough Herkimer defense that averages 18 steals per game.