As TCC marches toward national championship, coach's departure for D-I program announced
Tallahassee Community College men’s basketball team’s resilience has been on display at the NJCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship.
For starters, the Eagles have been without leading scorer Addison Patterson.
Patterson was suspended by the FCSAA for three games after he was ejected for the second time this season during the recent state tournament.
On Wednesday night, TCC announced that second-year head coach Rick Cabrera will depart at the end of the season to become the head coach Northwestern State University, a Division I program in Louisiana. Speculation began to build on social media earlier this week regarding Cabrera's status.
Still, the 12-seed Eagles (30-5) have marched on.
They won their second consecutive game in dramatic fashion Wednesday afternoon, beating No. 5 seed Salt Lake Community College 94-93 in overtime at the Hutchinson Sports Arena in Hutchinson, Kansas.
More:Tallahassee CC men's basketball coach Rick Cabrera holds special connect with FSU and FAMU
Other TCC news:Bryan Henry named TCC's new baseball coach, replaces Hall of Famer Mike McLeod
Banners, Tassels, Celebrations: TCC Athletic Director Chuck Moore making strides in second year
Malachi Davis plays hero for the second consecutive game
Malachi Davis, the hero in TCC’s tourney opener Monday, stepped up again as he scored a school-record 48 points.
His effort was punctuated by a 3-pointer that tied the game at 93 with three seconds remaining.
Fouled on the shot, Davis drained the free throw to lift the Eagles into Thursday’s quarterfinals game against 13-seed Dodge City at 7 p.m. ET.
Davis played 45 minutes, made 15-of-31 field goals, including 6-of-12 treys and 12-of-14 free throws. He added 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals.
Davis had 31 points, including TCC’s final five points of the game, in Monday’s 78-75 win over Trinidad State.
TCC's Ja’Quavian Florence added 22 points off the bench against Salt Lake, including 6-of-10 3-pointers.
Dodge City (25-9) advanced with a 77-74 win over No. 4-seed Moberly Area, Montana, Wednesday.
While Cabrera is set to depart at the conclusion of the season, he said his priority is to bring TCC its first national championship. The Eagles must win three games over three consecutive days to accomplish that feat.
In 2006, TCC finished as national runners-up as it lost the National Championship game to the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith.
"To my Tallahassee family, I would like to thank you for the wonderful two years that you have given me and my family," Cabrera said in a school release.
"I would like to thank (President) Jim Murdaugh, Sheri Rowland, Chuck Moore and Rob Chaney for making these two years the best of my coaching career. Most importantly, being the head coach at Tallahassee Community College is my only priority right now as we pursue an opportunity to bring home a championship."
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: TCC basketball coach Rick Cabrera to leave after season ends
