Virginia Peninsula Community College’s 77-73 victory over 13th-ranked Sandhills Community College on Feb. 7 in men’s basketball was the team’s third win over a nationally ranked opponent this year. Just as noteworthy, it propelled the Gators to their highest ranking ever at No. 14 in Monday’s National Junior College Athletic Association weekly poll.
“We have finally made it in,” coach Chris Moore said of being in the top 15 in NJCAA Division III. “It feels good to finally get the recognition we’ve worked hard for.”
The NJCAA ranks 15 schools, then has a few listed as “receiving votes.” The Gators have been among the teams receiving votes three times in program history, two of them this season. However, each time their stay lasted just one week.
“We are just trying to make sure we are consistent and not just appearing and then disappearing, which is what we have seen so far,” Moore said. “I think it’s a good time for us to be ranked, but rankings don’t get us the goal that we set forth, which is to win the region.”
The Gators (16-6 overall) are in first place in Region 10 with a 5-1 record. Camp Community College is second at 4-2, followed by Sandhills Community College (N.C.) at 5-3, Patrick Henry at 2-3 and Tidewater at 0-7.
With Saturday’s victory, the Gators improved to 3-1 against ranked foes. They are 2-1 against two other teams that have appeared in the polls, although not at the time of the matchups. Sandhills dropped to 15th in Monday’s poll.
The Gators also defeated Sandhills 83-82 in North Carolina on Jan. 16 when the Flyers were ranked 11th. VPCC’s other win over a ranked opponent came when it downed eighth-ranked Bunker Hill (Mass.) 97-86 on Nov. 22. The lone loss to a ranked team was 77-74 to No.9 Northern Essex (Mass.) on Nov. 21 in a game VPCC led by 14 at the half. Northern Essex is fourth in the latest poll.
In addition, the Gators are 1-0 against Monroe University of the Bronx and 1-1 vs. Oxford College of Emory University (Ga.). Monroe is No.12 this week, and Emory has made the “others receiving votes” portion of the poll this season. The Gators beat Monroe 79-68 on Jan. 18 at SafeHaven Empowerment Center. Against Oxford, the Gators won 100-74 in a game played at Sandhills but lost to the Eagles 90-87 in overtime Jan. 8 at home.
The Gators return to action Feb. 11 at Camp Community College. VPCC won the first matchup 84-51 on Jan. 13 at home. Two days later, they are at Patrick & Henry before returning home Sunday, Feb. 15, to take on Tidewater. The team’s sophomore players and cheerleaders will be honored at the Feb. 15 game, which will be played at SafeHaven Empowerment Center and is scheduled to start at 2 p.m.
For more information on sports at the College, go to www.vpccgators.com.