United Tribes NJCAA National Tournament Run Ends in Overtime Thriller

In a tense showdown that had fans on the edge of their seats, the United Tribes Thunderbirds faced off against South Arkansas in the NJCAA National Tournament on Wednesday in Danville, IL. The Thunderbirds, making their first appearance on the national stage since 2002, brought a sense of excitement and anticipation to the court as they aimed to leave their mark on the tournament.

As the clock ticked down and the tension mounted, the Thunderbirds found themselves with a narrow 83-81 lead. With mere seconds remaining, it was Troy'reon Ramos who rose to the occasion, sinking a pull-up jump shot with just 0.6 seconds left on the clock to tie the game and send it into overtime.

United Tribes attempted a last-ditch effort to clinch the win, hurling the ball the length of the court in a desperate bid for victory. Trae Hugs, amid the chaos, managed to secure a shot opportunity, but his desperation layup agonizingly rolled out, leaving fans on the edge of their seats as the game was forced into overtime.

Overtime proved to be just as intense as regulation, with both teams trading blows on the court. However, it was South Arkansas who ultimately prevailed, outscoring the Thunderbirds 11-8 in the extra period to clinch a hard-fought 94-91 victory.

Jacolby Pearson rose to the occasion for the Thunderbirds, shooting an impressive 7-9 from beyond the arc and finishing with a staggering 27 points. Cayden Redfield also capped off his impressive season by adding 24 points to the scoreboard.  Houston Davis recorded recorded his fifth double-double of the season with 18 points and 11 rebounds.

The Thunderbirds' journey in the NJCAA National Tournament has come to an end, but the team made history this season by capturing their first Region and District titles in 22 years.