Charger Prepare for Conference Championship, Regular Season Finale
The regular season is not over yet, but the Ancilla College men’s basketball team knows their opponent for the Michigan Community College Athletic Association Championship on Saturday.
The Chargers (25-2, 15-1) will be hosting Henry Ford Community College (22-5, 13-2), the MCCAA East Division winner, at 3 p.m. at the LifePlex in Plymouth. The two teams met earlier this year in a non-conference game in Plymouth. Ancilla claimed a 99-75 win on the first game back after the Thanksgiving break. But that game was early season and the Hawks have been improving all season.
“Saturday is a big day not only for Ancilla basketball, but for Ancilla College and Ancilla athletics,” said men’s basketball coach Aaron Butcher. “It has always been a program goal to win the league and play in this game, and to be able to play in it at home is even more special. Henry Ford is a really good team, and we look forward to competing for a championship.”
This is the first time Ancilla has played in in the conference championship game. Despite a 14-4 conference mark a year ago and an overall record of 26-6 the Chargers were third in the final MCCAA West standings in 2016-17.
Before they get to Saturday’s game Ancilla will be preparing for a busy end to the regular season this week. After disposing of Lansing Community College on Saturday 114-77, the Chargers are on the road today. They play at Glen Oaks tonight at 7:30 p.m. and will host Lake Michigan College on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.
“These last two games are big for us in terms of putting everything together; where we are playing our best basketball of the year going into post season, Butcher said. “I thought Saturday was our most complete performance of the year so we are hoping to build on that. Wednesday we honor three sophomores who leave here as the all-time winningest class in program history and honor the best student assistant coach in the country, James Amodei.”
Wednesday’s game will also be Sophomore Night where the College will honor the Charger sophomores on both of the basketball teams and the cheerleaders. The ceremony will take place between games. Jair Rodgers, Frank Felix and DK Fox will the sophomores honored.