February 23, 2010

DeSalme leads Cowley basketball to another conference title

Cowley College men’s basketball head coach Tommy DeSalme has put his stamp on this year’s team. In his first season as coach of the Tigers, DeSalme has gotten the most out of his young Tiger squad, which features 11 freshmen and only two sophomores.

With DeSalme and assistant coach Donnie Jackson leading the way, Cowley has clinched at least a share of its third straight conference title.

“It’s a neat thing on paper and for the fans,” DeSalme said. “It’s a credit to the kids that they have kept playing all year. I preach to them to play the same way all year and they have done a good job with that.”

Cowley has won four games in a row and 10 of its last 12 as they are 19-9 overall and 13-3 in the Jayhawk Conference Eastern Division. The Tigers clinched at least a share of the conference title thanks to Coffeyville’s 84-78 loss at Johnson County on Monday. The Red Ravens have lost two games in a row and three of five to fall to 12-5 in conference play.

“One of our goals was to win conference but we want to win it outright,” DeSalme said.

In order to do that Cowley must win one of its final two games. The Tigers will play at Kansas City Wednesday at 6 p.m. before finishing the regular season at Neosho County Saturday at 2 p.m.

“I like this team on the road, they have got a toughness about them,” DeSalme said.

Cowley (9-3) remains a half game ahead of Coffeyville (9-4) in the battle for the East’s top-seed in the region. While, Independence (8-4), Allen County (8-4), and Neosho County (8-5) are each in the hunt for one of the top-four seeds and the chance to host a first-round playoff game next Tuesday.

The winner of the first round of the Region VI playoffs advances to play at the Region VI Tournament held at Wichita State University’s Koch Arena March 6-8.

“In this conference one of the most important things is getting a home playoff game,” DeSalme said. “I am happy for our freshmen group and for our sophomores to have two titles, but we know we have got to keep playing better if we want to get to Wichita.”