MC Lady Chaps, Chaparral Cagers Open 2011 with #3 NJCAA Rankings

By Forrest Allen
MC Athletic Director

Both Midland College basketball teams open the 2011-12 campaign with #3 national rankings according the NJCAA Division I Basketball polls. The preseason rankings, released on Thursday, can be found on http://www.njcaa.org/ 

Lady Chaparrals

The MC Lady Chaps, who lost to Grayson County CC in the 2011 NJCAA Region V Championship game, finished last season ranked #11 nationally and with a 27-6 overall record. Coach Ron Jones (18th year) returns a talented core of sophomores including 2011 NJCAA Honorable Mention All-American Danesha Long.

CLICK HERE to view the NJCAA Women's Basketball rankings

In addition to Long, a 5'9" guard from Long Beach CA, Midland College return 6'1" Forward Lindsay Ansley (Marble Falls, TX), 6'2" Post Morgan Schwartz (Garden City, TX), 6'2" Post Ornela Bacchini (Buenos Aires, Argentina) and 6'1" Post Nety Sousa (Sao Paulo, Brazil) will bring experience and leadership to the floor.

Tyler Junior College at #10 is the only other team from Texas in the preseason poll.

Chaparrals

The Chaparrals now under the leadership of head coach Chris Craig return only two players from 2010-2011. Chap sophomore Majok Majok (Perth Western Australia) a 6'9" post and 6'2" redshirt guard Colan Weasby (Houston, TX) are the only holdovers from last year's NJCAA National Runner-up team. However several sophomore transfers will add maturity to the squad as they enter the regular season as well as through the WJCAC gauntlet.

CLICK HERE to view the NJCAA Men's Basketball rankings

Trinity Valley CC (Athens, TX) comes in at #6 while Howard College and South Plains College of the WJCAC debuts at #8 and #18 nationally.