Collin College athletics will heat up in February, with basketball entering conference play and tennis kicking off its spring schedule.
Both basketball teams have had substantial success this season, with the Lady Cougars rolling up 20 wins so far and the Cougars putting up 16 victories. The teams seem to be firing on all cylinders as they enter North Texas Junior College Athletic Conference play, which will put them up against consistently strong opponents all month long.
The Lady Cougars came into the season with hopes of winning the conference for a fourth year in a row and have exceeded expectations in many ways. In addition to dropping only two games so far this year, the women’s team has moved up to 14th in the National Junior College Athletic Association national rankings.
So far, the team has made short work of most of its opponents, earning 20-2 overall and 5-1 conference records. The team’s two most recent games were a nail-biting 67-75 comeback win over McLennan Community College at home and a 65-57 win over Hill College on the road. The Lady Cougars will face both opponents again in February.
“This team is very connected to each other,” Coach Jeff Allen said. “We have not been healthy all season, but our ladies have never made any excuses and keep working hard every day. They are a great group of young women.”
The men’s basketball team has put up solid numbers as well this season. The Cougars have a 16-6 overall and 4-1 conference record, with a good outlook for the rest of conference play. The team is ranked second in NTJCAC play, with seven wins in January propelling them into this month’s games.
The Cougars defeated nationally-ranked McLennan College at home Jan. 27 to keep their win percentage going, but Coach Jim Sigona does not want that win going to his players’ heads. He wants his team to focus on consistency.
“Like anything, you have to take it one game at a time,” Sigona said. “Hopefully we will keep getting better and improving as the season continues.”
Come see the Lady Cougars and Cougars in action at the Spring Creek Campus Feb. 10 versus Weatherford College, Feb. 17 facing Cisco College and Feb. 24 welcoming Hill College. Women’s games begin at 2 p.m. and the men’s games follow at 4 p.m. Collin College students and employees get in free. The general public pays only $3.
February is also the start of Collin College’s spring tennis schedule, with both men’s and women’s teams playing at home early. The men’s team will host Cameron starting at 1 p.m., Friday, Feb. 2. The women’s team welcome Harding, Sunday, Feb. 4 beginning at noon.
Both teams will play in the Collin Super Bash, Feb. 9-10, and the Collin Super Six, Feb. 16-17. The full schedule for the men’s team is available here. The women’s schedule is available here.
“Our team has been training hard,” Coach Marty Berryman said. “I expect to be very competitive this spring. We have put together some awesome talent to showcase at the dual matches and the Super Six, Super Bash and SW JUCO.”
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