TONKAWA — The Northern Oklahoma College men’s basketball team put together a dream season in 2019-2020.

The Mavericks won 28 games while losing only four and were invited as an at-large team to play in the National Junior College Athletic Association’s national tournament in Hutchinson, Kan.

It wasn’t something that happens frequently on the Tonkawa campus. The men’s team has been to the national tournament only two other times in the school’s history.

Unfortunately, the dream season came to a end with a thud. Because of the national CONVID-19 crisis, the national tournament was cancelled. The cancellation came in the same week that the invitation had been made and the Mavericks had been celebrating their good fortune.

What is the team feeling?

“It is heartbreaking,” Maverick Coach Donnie Jackson said. “We worked really hard to get to t his moment. This is a speial team and they deserved the opportunity to compete at the national tournament. You don’t have years like this every season.

“But every team is going through this and if it’s for the best of humanity we will still always remember this season. That won’t be taken from us and i hope lives are spared because of this as well.”

How good was the Mavericks’ season?

As a team, they averaged 92.5 points per game and allowed opponents only 66. Eleven times they scored more than 100 points in a game. Those were over nationally ranked Cowley (twice, 106-103 and 102-94), Oklahoma Wesleyan JV (119-37), Bethel (106-96), Southwestern JV (111-42), On Point (131-69), Redlands (twice 113-62) and 105-58), Eastern Oklahoma (twice 104-59 and 125-79) and Connors State (100-74).

Three players averaged in double figures — Demaree King, 19.5; Tyrel Morgan, 15.2; and Avante Lederer, 10.3.

Goard JD Ray tied a school record with 11 three-point baskets in a game against Western Oklahoma State only to have King set a new record a game later with 12.

All four losses were to Oklahoma Collegiate Athletic Conference foes, twice to Northeastern Oklahoma A&M and twice to Murray State. The last loss to Murray State was in the semifinals of the Region II Tournament.

In 16 games at home, the Mavericks were 15-1. On the road they were 9-2 and at neutral sites they were 4-1. NOC hit 40 per cent of its three-edge over their opponents and averaged 20.6 assists per point shot attempts. had a seven rebo per They game contest.

NOC will lose King, but can match the record of this year’s dream team remains will retain players Whether a for next good next year’s corps of season. team to be seen.