The Kirkwood Eagles are the 2023-24 Division II National Champions after being named the #2 seed to start the tournament. The Eagles came into the NJCAA Championships with a 31-2 record over the course of the 2023-34 season. Kirkwood faced off against Lake Land in the first round. The Eagles would trail after the end of the first quarter but would turn it around and have a 46-32 lead at the half. Five Kirkwood players would end in double figures, led by Demetria Prewitt who had 21 points and 9 rebounds. Jenna Twedt would give the team 19 points. Puot would give 13-points off the bench. Kirkwood would go on to win their first round match up 90-69 after a close first half of the game.
In the Quarterfinals Kirkwood would start hot against the #7 seeded Morton, getting out to a 43-32 lead at the half. In the third quarter the Eagles would get ahead 61-39. Then Kirkwood got put in a corner when Morton went on a run that would get Morton back in the game with 7:03 remaining. With the score now being 72-68, the Kirkwood Sophomores of Demetra Prewitt and Kaylee Corbin would rattle off six straight points to build back the lead. Kirkwood would win 88-78 in a gritty game to advance to the Semi-finals. In the Semifinals it was what we have seen out of Kirkwood all year in a 66-43 victory the Eagles over Mesa would move into the Championship game. Kirkwood at one point would lead 53-28, there was a little scare for Kirkwood when Mesa would claw back to pull it within 13 points with 7:01 remaining in the game. The Eagles defense would step up and hold them scoreless for 3:24 and solidify their spot in the National Championship game.
In the Finals, Kirkwood would take undefeated Johnson County (34-0). The #1 seed, Johnson County was looking to cap off the perfect season, but the Eagles had different ideas. Kirkwood would take the early 17-12 lead after one and kept the momentum in the second going into the half leading 36-35. The Eagles would see their lead cut in the third quarter when Johnson County pulled within 5, but Kirkwood would go on a 14-5 run and pull away. The Eagles would win 69-58 being led by the freshman, Jenna Twedt, who went off for 18 points and would be named Tournament MVP. Kirkwood would get two All-Tournament team members, Sophomore, Kaylee Corbin and Sophomore Demetraia Prewitt while Kim Muhl would take home Coach of the Year.
Kirkwood (National Champions, 4-0) :
First Round: #2 Kirkwood def. #15 Lake Land, 90-69 - Box Score
Quarterfinals: #2 Kirkwood def. #7 Morton, 88-78 - Box Score
Semifinals: #2 Kirkwood def. #6 Mesa, 66-43 - Box Score
Finals: #2 Kirkwood def. #1 Johnson County, 69-58 - Box Score
The Reivers were looking to make a run in the 2023-24 National Title. The Reiver started off by taking on the #12 seed Parkland in the first round where Iowa Western would take care of business being led by Shannon Niles, who dropped 27 points while going 5-9 from deep. McKenna Minter would add 26 points herself to help the Reivers move on to the Quarterfinals. In the Quarterfinal matchup against #4 CCBC Essex Iowa Western would start slowly, scoring just 10 points in the first quarter and trailing 17-10. CCBC Essex would lead by just 6 points going into the fourth and that's where Iowa Western scored just 7 points the whole fourth quarter. CCBC would go on to score 24 in the fourth and move on to the semifinal and Iowa Wester would play in the 5th place semifinal game.
5 Iowa Western would take on the #3 seed Rock Valley who lost to #6 Mesa in the Quarterfinals. Iowa Western and Rock Valley had a close first quarter with Rock Valley holding a 13-12 lead over the Reivers. In the second quarter is where Iowa Western would come alive, outs scoring Rock Valley 24-13 in the second quarter. Rivers would go ice cold from the field as a team shooting just 33% as a team and not making a three pointer the whole second half.
This would allow Rock Valley back into the game but with four seconds on the clock Shannon Niles would knock in two free throws and pull down a defensive rebound to seal the game for the Reivers. In the 5th place game for Iowa Western they would face off against Morton and both teams would come out firing in the first half with the Reivers trailing 41-36 but McKenna Minter would go 6-10 in the first half and drop 15 points to lead all scorers through the first two quarters. After the half the Reivers would cool off while Morton would stay consistent. Iowa Western would shoot just 25% from three and 61% from the free throw line while Morton would shoot 34% from three and 93% from the free throw line and would get a 75-67 victory to capture 5th place. The Reivers would get up taking 6th in the NJCAA National Championships and would end their season with a 33-4 record and McKenna Minter would be honored with All-Tournament Team.
Iowa Western (6th Place, 2-2) :
Round 1: #5 Iowa Western def. #12 Parkland, 88-74 - Box Score
Quarterfinals: #4 CCBC Essex def. #5 Iowa Western, 70-47 - Box Score
5th Place Semifinal: #5 Iowa Western def. #3 Rock Valley, 66-63 - Box Score
5th Place Game: #7 Morton def. #5 Iowa Western 75-67 - Box Score