PR2009 Mar U5

SHELTON STATE TO HOST 2010 ACCC BASKETBALL TOURNAMENTS

TUSCALOOSA – Shelton State Community College, in association with the Tuscaloosa Sports Foundation, will host the 2010 Alabama Community College Conference (ACCC) Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournaments Sunday, February 28, through Saturday, March 6, at the Tom Umphrey Center.

The women’s tournament will be held first, with tipoff on Sunday, Feb. 28. The semifinal round will be played on Tuesday, March 2, followed by the women’s championship game on Wednesday, March 3.

The men’s tournament will begin on Wed., March 3, with the semifinals scheduled for Friday, March 5, and the men’s championship game on Saturday, March 6. Times for all games will be determined at a later date.

“I am so pleased that Shelton State has been afforded this opportunity to service our sister schools in the state by hosting these events,” said Dr. Mark Heinrich, Shelton State President. “We also are grateful for the assistance from the Tuscaloosa Sports Foundation and look forward to a collaboration that will allow us to showcase our campus, facilities, and community.”

A previous host of both tournaments, Shelton State worked in tandem with the Tuscaloosa Sports Foundation (TSF) to secure this year’s events. “Almost a year ago we met with Dr. Heinrich with the plan to work with Shelton State in order to bring quality events to Tuscaloosa that would benefit both our community and Shelton State,” said Don Staley, executive director of the TSF. “Being awarded the tournaments yesterday was the beginning of an exciting partnership, and the Foundation is thrilled to work with a first class organization like Shelton State. It is a win-win situation, as it brings visitors to our city and exposes them to what Tuscaloosa has to offer. Plus, it allows Shelton State to highlight its impact in and commitment to our community.”

Shelton State is no stranger to success in the ACCC Tournament. While their teams were winning the championships in Hanceville, Ala., in March of this year, Shelton State’s Madonna Thompson and Barry Mohun were also honored following the tournaments.

Thompson directed the Lady Bucs to a 28-4 record and their fourth straight ACCC championship. She was honored as North Division Coach of the year for Region XXII.

The men’s team (31-2) posted a 31-game winning streak in 2008-09 en route to claiming their second straight ACCC championship and the fourth in the last six years. Mohun was also named the Region XXII North Division Coach of the Year at the tournament. Prior to the tournament, Mohun also received the 2009 Glen Clem Award as the Junior College Coach of the Year from The Birmingham Tip-Off Club. He is the only recipient to receive the award more than once.

The Tuscaloosa Sports Foundation, established in 2007, operates with a mission to provide, organize, and administer youth, amateur, and professional sports activities, programs, and events to enhance the quality of community life in the Tuscaloosa County area. In just over a year of operation the TSF is off to a great start, as earlier this year it secured the Alabama High School Athletic Association's Super Six football championships to be played in Bryant-Denny Stadium for three of the next six years, starting December 2009. Other TSF initiatives have included collegiate rugby, Olympic developmental soccer camps, youth baseball, and events with Olympic bronze medalist Deontay Wilder.

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