Hawks No. 1 in nation
Hawks ranked No. 1 in nation
Henry Ford Community College’s men’s basketball team is now ranked first in the nation in NJCAA’s Division II. The Hawks moved up from the No. 2 spot after Monroe Community College in Rochester, NY, previously ranked No. 1, suffered its first loss of the season last weekend and fell to third.
Last season, the Henry Ford Community College men’s basketball team advanced to the NJCAA Division II national tournament for the first time in the team’s history.
This year, the team is on track to repeat history and have the opportunity to score another first - a perfect season. The Hawks remain unbeaten this season with a perfect 19-0 record going into Saturday’s home game against St. Clair County Community College. Tip-off is at 3 p.m. in the Athletic Memorial Building on HFCC’s main campus at 5101 Evergreen Road in Dearborn.
Even with a remarkable record, Hawks’ Head Coach Abe Mashhour says there is room for improvement if his team intends to stay in the race for the championship.
'We are playing pretty well right now, but we must execute better and be more consistent in order to continue to compete,' noted Mashhour. 'Any of the teams in our conference can sneak up on us if we are not ready to play with energy and focus. In order for us to continue to succeed, we need to get healthier and continue to prepare as we have been.'
Staying healthy has been tough for the Hawks, having had to work through many injuries this year. One the team’s top players, Renaldo Wallace of Dearborn Heights, a graduate of Annapolis High School, has suffered some back problems that side-lined him for a 10-day stretch, forcing him to miss one game. But despite the set back, Renaldo is a force to be reckoned with on the court.
'The numbers that he contributes are an important factor, but just having Renaldo out on the floor is vital, as he demands so much attention from the other teams,' said Mashhour. 'He is the most dominant post scorer in our state and he is someone that most teams will double-team when he touches the ball,' Mashhour said.
Despite Wallace’s back issues, he accounts for at least 10 points and 7 rebounds each contest and is being recruited by Division I schools.
Even with the success on the court, Mashhour says it’s his team's grades and conduct off the court that make this such an extraordinary team, with half of his team’s 12- man roster earning a 3.3 grade point average in the fall semester.
'Although we are having some success on the court, I am more pleased of our success off the court and in the classroom,' said Mashhour. 'It seems as though everywhere we travel, opposing schools, and hotel and restaurant personnel compliment us on the conduct of our players and their well-mannered ways,' Masshour says.
After this Saturday’s contest against St. Clair, the Hawks battle Delta College and Macomb Community College at home Feb. 3 and Feb. 6, and then travel to take on sixth-ranked Mott Community College in Flint on Feb. 10. On Feb. 13, the team visits Kirtland Community College in Roscommon and then plays cross-town rival Schoolcraft in Livonia Feb. 17. The Hawks wrap up their regular season Feb. 20 at home against rival Oakland Community College as they contend for a berth in the state and regional play-offs to win a spot in the national tournament.
To keep up with the Hawks’ quest for a national championship, please go to www.hfcc.edu. To check the national rankings, go to www.njcaa.org.
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