News

Your source for breaking news at Missouri State-West Plains

You are here: Home / Facebook / Grizzlies return to national poll at No. 23
THE 2017-18 GRIZZLY BASKETBALL team at Missouri State University-West Plains includes, front row from left, Erik Nvagbara, Kharkiv, Ukraine; Nieke Thomas, Springfield; Johde Campbell, Leicester, England; Ricky Torres, Pinellas Park, Fla.; Radshad Davis, Nassau, Bahamas; Terrell Whitaker, Pinellas Park, Fla.; Montel Stewart, Palm Bay, Fla.; and Eric Lovett, Union City, Ga. Second row: Evan White, Florissant; managers Marcus Golden and Eric Stafford, both of St. Louis; Head Coach Chris Popp; managers Jordan Cook, St. Louis, and Bennett Sandwell, Springfield; and Derrick Roberson, Springfield. Back row: Mykyta Drugachonok, Odessa, Ukraine; Yannis Mendy, Metting, France; Leo Kontopoulos, Frankfurt, Germany; Greyson Smallwood, Portland, Ore.; Dontell Brown, Lexington, Ky.; Kenyon Stone, Bowie, Md.; and Burone Edwards, San Antonio, Texas. (Missouri State-West Plains Photo)
THE 2017-18 GRIZZLY BASKETBALL team at Missouri State University-West Plains includes, front row from left, Erik Nvagbara, Kharkiv, Ukraine; Nieke Thomas, Springfield; Johde Campbell, Leicester, England; Ricky Torres, Pinellas Park, Fla.; Radshad Davis, Nassau, Bahamas; Terrell Whitaker, Pinellas Park, Fla.; Montel Stewart, Palm Bay, Fla.; and Eric Lovett, Union City, Ga. Second row: Evan White, Florissant; managers Marcus Golden and Eric Stafford, both of St. Louis; Head Coach Chris Popp; managers Jordan Cook, St. Louis, and Bennett Sandwell, Springfield; and Derrick Roberson, Springfield. Back row: Mykyta Drugachonok, Odessa, Ukraine; Yannis Mendy, Metting, France; Leo Kontopoulos, Frankfurt, Germany; Greyson Smallwood, Portland, Ore.; Dontell Brown, Lexington, Ky.; Kenyon Stone, Bowie, Md.; and Burone Edwards, San Antonio, Texas. (Missouri State-West Plains Photo)

Grizzlies return to national poll at No. 23

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – For the first time since the 2010-11 season, the Missouri State University-West Plains Grizzly Basketball team is ranked.

by

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – For the first time since the 2010-11 season, the Missouri State University-West Plains Grizzly Basketball team is ranked.

The Grizzlies (15-1) were listed at No. 23 on the National Junior College Athletic Association’s (NJCAA) Division I Men’s Basketball national poll released Tuesday, Dec. 12, from the organization’s home office in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

“I’m very proud of what the guys have done to this point,” Grizzly Basketball Head Coach Chris Popp said. “I’m especially happy for our sophomores who went through the probation year last year and turned down other opportunities to be a part of this.”

Even so, he added, “I know they’re not satisfied with No. 23. We’ve got a tough stretch coming up, and a lot of season left to go. We have to continue to get better.”

Sitting atop the poll is Northwest Florida State College in Niceville with a 14-0 record. Also included in the poll are Grizzly foes Indian Hills Community College from Ottumwa, Iowa, at No. 3 with a 10-0 record; Motlow State Community College of Lynchburg, Tennessee, at No. 7 with a 10-1 record; Region 16 rival Moberly Area Community College at No. 9 with a 13-1 record; and Iowa Western Community College of Council Bluffs at No. 22 with a 13-2 record. Both of Iowa Western’s losses were to the Grizzlies.

The Grizzlies, who lost to Indian Hills Dec. 1 in Ottumwa, will see the Warriors again Jan. 10 in West Plains. And, Motlow State will be in town Jan. 5-6 for the Hirsch Feed & Farm Supply Classic. The Grizzlies and Motlow State will face off at 7 p.m. Jan. 5.

For the complete poll, visit http://www.njcaa.org/sports/mbkb/2017-18/div1/polls.

For complete statistics of the Grizzlies’ games this season, visit http://stats.njcaa.org/sports/mbkb/2017-18/div1/teams/missouristateuniversitywestplains.

For more information about the Grizzly Basketball program, visit the team’s website or call 417-255-7991.

Stay up to date with Grizzly Athletics and Grizzly Booster Club news by signing up for text alerts at http://remind.com/join/wpgrizz or text “@WPGrizz to 81010.