Nighthawks Celebrate Sophomore Day
The National Park College (NPC) Nighthawk men’s and women’s basketball teams split
their NJCAA Region II games against Arkansas State University Mid-South (ASU Mid-South)
Saturday, with the Nighthawk women dropping a 70-64 decision and the Nighthawk men
picking up a 88-87 overtime win.
Before the women’s game, NPC (9-14, 3-7) honored its five sophomores—India Atkins
(Bryant), Taylor Humphreys (Hot Springs), Amaya Coakley (Killeen, Texas), Kamyia Beal
(Hot Springs) and Jhyla Calvin (Morrilton)—for their outstanding contributions to
Nighthawks women’s basketball.
In women’s action, NPC endured a hot start from the Lady Greyhounds to keep within
two scores, 15-10, after the first quarter. In the second quarter, NPC matched ASU
Mid-South bucket-for-bucket, with Calvin and Atkins excelling from beyond the arc
to stay within two scores, 31-26, at halftime.
Atkins was huge for the Nighthawks in the second half, erupting for 22 points to keep
NPC within contention. The Lady Greyhounds pulled away in the third quarter, however,
utilizing the free throw line to grab a double-digit lead, 56-45, entering the fourth
quarter. In the final 10 minutes, NPC rallied from beyond the arc, with Atkins and
freshman guard Janayi Baker (Magnolia) knocking down clutch treys to cut the deficit
to six points with less than a minute to go. NPC’s comeback attempt fell short, however,
resulting in the team’s second-consecutive loss.
Atkins led the Nighthawks in scoring with 30 points, while Baker and Calvin added
12 and 10 points, respectively, in the loss.
Before the men’s game, NPC (18-8, 7-3) honored its five sophomores—Quinntez Grimes
(Dallas, Texas), Justin Davis
(Waterbury, Connecticut), TJ Fritz (Wamego, Kansas), Ty-Shon Pannell (Long Island,
New York) and Nichus Jackson (Trenton, New Jersey)—for the impact they’ve made on
NPC’s basketball program.
Led by an 11-point effort from freshman guard Nakavieon White (Odessa, Texas), The
Nighthawk men kept things close in a battle of three-point shooters and big scoring
runs. After ASU Mid-South took a 10 point lead, 36-26, with 6:20 remaining in the
half, NPC responded with a 14-5 run down the stretch, closing the gap to one point
at halftime, 41-40.
Behind big performances from freshmen guards Patrick Punch (Houston, Texas) and Ja’Bryant
Hill (Duncanville, Texas), NPC surged to a 13-2 run out of the gate in the second
half, taking a double-digit lead, 53-43, with 16:38 to go. By implementing a new defensive
strategy, which shut down the Greyhounds’ leading scorer for most of the second half,
NPC maintained the lead for most of the period. ASU Mid-South would not go away quietly,
however, chipping away at the deficit and grabbing the lead, 73-72, on a goaltending
call with 2:50 left in the game.
Down by two points with 3.4 seconds remaining in regulation, White drew a foul on
a layup attempt and sank both free throws to send the game to overtime, knotted up
at 77. In the extra period, White scored all 11 of NPC’s points, including the go-ahead
layup and and-one free throw with 1:42 to play to seal the Nighthawks’ fourth-consecutive
victory and avenge NPC’s 72-70 buzzer-beating loss to the Greyhounds in January.
White led the Nighthawks in scoring with 31 points. Hill added 18 points, while Punch
finished with 13 points in the win. With the win, NPC earns a share of the NJCAA Region
II regular-season championship, its first in program history.
The Nighthawk women open the NJCAA Region II tournament as the fifth seed and travel
to University of Arkansas Cossatot Wednesday, March 1 at 6 p.m. After earning a first
round bye in the NJCAA Region II tournament, the second-seeded Nighthawk men will
play host to either North Arkansas College or University of Arkansas Cossatot in the
NJCAA Region II semifinals Saturday, March 4 at 3 p.m. The game will be streamed live
on the Nighthawk Network.
For more information on schedules, rosters and more, visit Nighthawk men’s basketball and Nighthawk women’s basketball online. Fans can also follow the Nighthawks all season on social media.
Facebook: Nighthawk Athletics
Twitter: @NPC_Nighthawks
Instagram: nighthawkathletics
Snapchat: npnighthawks
