Southeast Regional champs return home

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on March 19, 2015 1:48 PM

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MOUNT OLIVE -- A team with a "refuse-to-lose" demeanor had the Trojan Nation on the edge of its seat Tuesday evening.

Jazmine Montgomery was worried.

Emil Cekada wondered if the shots would ever fall.

William Bellos prayed the Trojans would rely on their "street smarts."

Bill Clingan knew the team would never quit.

With less than 10 minutes remaining, each sighed in relief as University of Mount Olive regained its composure and began to play its brand of basketball that's led to a program-record 30 victories this winter.

Nine-plus minutes later, a celebration erupted on the UMO campus and inside the Tex Turner Arena at Lincoln Memorial (Tenn.) University. Fittingly, senior Jordan McCain scored the final seven points -- a 3-pointer and four free throws -- as the Trojans erased a 13-point deficit and upset Montevallo, 82-75, in the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional championship.

Mount Olive (31-3 overall) punched its ticket to the Elite Eight in Evansville, Ind., and opposes Tarleton State (Texas) in quarterfinal-round action next Wednesday. Tip-off is 1 p.m.

"I'm really excited about it. (The championship) is something they definitely deserve, they work really hard and they've improved every year since I've been at Mount Olive," Jazmin Montgomery, a junior on the UMO softball team, said. "I think it's good for the school and I'm just really proud of them."

Montgomery and her teammates, Cekada, Bellos, UMO administrators, coaches and friends gathered outside Scarborough Field late Wednesday evening for the team's arrival. The cheerleading squad chanted "We are ... green and white!" as the team bus, escorted by the Mount Olive Police Department, turned into the parking lot.

The driver pulled up just outside the gate, stopped, set the brake and the doors squeaked open.

One by one, each UMO player stepped off of the bus to thunderous applause and cheers. Head coach Joey Higginbotham exited last and immediately searched for Clingan. The two hugged each other.

Showered with hearty pats on the back, hugs and congratulatory words, the players, coaches and managers gathered for a team photo. The players proudly lifted the Southeast Regional trophy -- the second in program history -- as fans clicked buttons on their iPads and cell phones to freeze the moment in time.

"I thoroughly enjoyed it. I watched it from the student center," Cekada said. "There were only two other seniors in there with me, by seniors I mean citizens ... Doug Connors and his wife. It was a good crowd."

Montgomery watched the live video feed on the athletic website at her apartment and sat in the same spot she had during the previous two games. Her roommate and boyfriend didn't change their seating arrangements, either.

The superstition must have worked.

Along with Cekada's prayer that a 3 would eventually fall.

Along with Bellos' faith that the team would abandon its technical play.

And along with Clingan's confidence that the Trojans wouldn't stop battling until the final horn sounded.

They all watched it unfold in dramatic fashion with 14:27 to go and UMO down by 13 points. JaQuan Blount and McCain finally started to connect on those 3-pointers that Cekada had quietly wished for in his soul.

Dominique Reed finished plays around the basket after Montevallo stretched its defense to protect the perimeter. Bellos couldn't have been more happier with the spirited effort that finally surfaced at the right time.

"I was worried. I think somewhere they pulled it out with their desire to be winners although they had a little bad luck (in the conference tournament)," said Bellos, a Mount Olive native who attends every home game and is a psychiatric nurse at Cherry Hospital.

"When they need it, they do it and find it somewhere whether it's from God or what they learned on the street in the parks. Last night, their plan wasn't working and they said let's pull it out of our hat, do some tricks and let's get this done."

Montevallo tied the game at 75-75 before McCain polished off the Trojans' second consecutive victory against a higher-seeded team in the regional. UMO is the lowest-seeded team (a No. 4) to advance to the Elite Eight.

"I can't say how happy I am for Coach Higginbotham, the university, the team, our community ... so thrilled that this has happened," said Clingan, who guided the Trojans to their first-ever Elite Eight appearance in 2005 - with Higginbotham on the bench as an assistant coach.

"It's what you always hope."

The team was recognized before the Trojans faced Franklin Pierce for the second time in as many days on the baseball diamond. A surprisingly speechless and tired Higginbotham addressed the crowd. He thanked them for their support and said the championship didn't belong only to the school, but to the community as well.

Seconds later, Higginbotham strolled toward the mound and loosened up his right arm. UMO catcher Justin Manning adjusted his mask as he crouched behind the plate. Higginbotham went into his windup and threw a strike.

It was a perfect ending to a celebration 10 years in the making.