WE ARE THE BASKETBALL CHAMPIONS

Men’s Basketball Team Uses Home Court Advantage to Capture First Conference Championship in 27 Years

“I Believe That We Will Win!” “I Believe That We Will Win!” That iconic chorus by the boisterous Ozarks student section reverberated off the walls of Mabee Gymnasium in the waning seconds of the championship game of the American Southwest Conference men’s basketball tournament on March 15, 2021. When the final horn blared, the Eagles had defeated Louisiana College 7472 to capture the school’s first ASC basketball championship since joining the conference and NCAA Division III in 1997. What a moment it was when hundreds of Ozarks students stormed the court to congratulate their conquering heroes in one of the most improbable athletic championships in University history. Picked to finish last in the ASC East Division in the preseason polls, the Eagles shocked the conference by winning the division and hosting the conference tournament. The Cinderella season continued in the tournament as the Eagles used the home-court advantage and large purple-clad cheering sections to defeat long-time conference powers LeTourneau, Hardin-Simmons and Louisiana College within a six-day span to claim the program’s first league title in 27 years.

The unlikely championship season was spearheaded by the hard work and leadership of head coach Travis Carruthers (see page 10) and a gritty group of six seniors who stayed the course despite winning just three games as freshmen. Those seniors— Bryson Johnson, Zach Bobo, Tim Turpin, Seth Duke, Darnel Renelique and Lynden Gibson—formed the foundation of the team’s first men’s basketball conference championship since the Johnny Johnson-coached, Stephen Kennedy-led Eagles won the Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference postseason tournament during the 1993-94 season. The Eagles not only had to overcome a strong conference schedule, they had to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic that forced them to cancel several games and miss weeks of practice early in the season. According to Carruthers, the team turned the negative into a positive. “I think the entire time away from each other really helped us appreciate the opportunities that were present,” he said. “We thanked God each day after practice and games for giving us the opportunity to compete together as a group. Every time we were

together, from the time we started practice in October until we were finally done celebrating late into the night March 15th after the championship, we had fun. This group was the most fun group I’ve ever been around.” Carruthers said the team also had a cohesion and chemistry that was hard to deny, helping the Eagles finish strong by winning 10 of their last 12 games after starting the season 0-3. The Eagles also found a way to win the close games, winning the three tournament games by a total of 13 points. “We talked every day about who we are more than what kind of basketball players we are,” said Carruthers. “That type of mindset carried us throughout the season. We are a tough group and a group that is together. They made the plays when they had to all season. We hung our hat on the defensive end and rebounding. They had a will to win, and when things got tight we got better. I’m happy for the guys. It’s really special to see the joy in their faces. It’s been a long season and the guys just gave me everything they had every day.” Carruthers, who would be named ASC East Division Coach of the Year, said he told his team to “embrace the opportunity” before the championship game with Louisiana College. “At any point, this season could have been taken from us so we’ve got to take advantage of what’s in front of us,” Carruthers said, “And boy, did we. I didn’t need to say one thing to those guys. They were prepared and ready. We had three values that we stuck to all season: First, value the basketball and each possession. We want great shots over good shots. Second, was to defend with purpose. Each player has a responsibility and each player must take accountability. We had to be physical on the glass. And third, be selfless and together. Those three things defined this team.” Johnson, a 5-foot-11 point guard from Katy, Texas., was the catalyst of the team, leading the way in scoring (21.0) and assists (5.5) and hitting numerous big baskets and free throws in clutch moments on his way to earning All-ASC first team and Tournament MVP honors. He scored 62 points in three tournament games, including a memorable 30-foot buzzer-beating three-pointer that knocked off Hardin-Simmons in the semifinals and gave Ozarks nation-wide notoriety as one of ESPN SportsCenter’s Top 10 Plays

of the Day. “First, all glory to God, without Him we wouldn’t be here,” said Johnson. “It is surreal what this team was able to accomplish this season. It is the perfect Cinderella story for us seniors to finish out on our home court with a conference championship.” Other postseason honors for the eagles included, Bobo being named to the ASC All-East Division second team, junior forward Zach Byrd being named the ASC East Division Co-Newcomer of the Year and ASC All-East Division honorable mention honors and senior forward Darnel Renelique being named to the ASC East Division all-defensive team. Freshman forward Jacob Dukes was named to the ASC East Division All-Freshman Team.