Highland Community College did something not many schools can say at the NJCAA level in basketball this season in qualify both their women's and men's basketball teams to the National tournament. The tournaments are off and running and the Scotties have put their imprint on the action. 

The Highland women are in the Final Four after a 75-53 win over Macomb in the first round and a 77-59 win over Cape Fear in the Quarterfinals. Scottie men opened Nationals with a 88-66 win over Richard Bland and then suffered a tough 103-88 loss to Pima in the Quarterfinals to move them into consolation play. 

Scottie women led only by five points at halftime against Macomb in the first game of the NJCAA Division II tournament in Harrison, Arkansas but behind a 23-9 third quarter took firm control and earned the 75-53 win. Mariane De Caravalho notched 22 points to lead Highland, while Bre Tidwell posted 14 points and Niccolly Ramalho added 10 points. In the Quarterfinals the Scotties jumped up early with a 34-7 first quarter forcing 34 turnovers in the game against Cape Fear and used the big early lead to gain the 77-59 win. Tidwell posted 20 points, while Ramalho scored 13, Caravalho 11 and Sydney Brinlee netted 10 points. The lady Scotties are now 34-0 on the season and into the Final Four just like that last trip to Nationals for the program back in 2014. 

Highland men making only their second trip to Nationals in school history earned their first win in the first round of Nationals in Danville, Illinois by pouring in three's early and running past Richard Bland 88-66 with the Scotties knocking down 11 trifectas and shooting 50%. Holden Redparth scored 23 points to lead Highland, while Taiveyhon Mason netted 22 points. Alonzo Williams, Ryan Haskins and Kevin Perry each tallied double figures with 17, 11 and 10 points. In the Quarterfinals the Scotties ran into a tough Pima team that rained in 15 three's and the Scotties struggled from behind the arc falling 103-88. Jaylin Rutherford led Highland with 18 points, while Redparth scored 17 points. Williams, Perry, Mason and Doakes each added double figures for the Scotties with 13, 11, 10 and 10 points. The 1-1 performance moves Highland to 26-8 on the season and into consolation play. 

NJCAA DII National Tournament action continues on Friday, March 23rd for both teams the Highland men will play at 1:00pm against the loser of Delta versus Arkansas State Mid-South needing at win to play on Saturday in the fifth place game. The Highland women play in the Final Four on Friday night against Kirkwood at 6:00pm and look to earn a spot in the Championship game on Saturday night. (Both games will be broadcasted on 103.9 KNZA)