Hawks face Madison in semis

The Harper College men’s basketball team will face fifth-seeded Madison Area Technical College in Wednesday’s Region IV, Division III tournament semifinals at Rock Valley College in NJCAA postseason play.

The second-seeded Hawks defeated Lorain County (Ohio) Community College 80-70 on Monday night.

“We played an unknown team (in the quarterfinals)” said Harper coach Tony Amarino.

That won’t be the case today. The Hawks and Wolfpack split their season series in North Central Community College Conference play, with each team winning on the other’s home court.

Harper standout freshman forward Wes Wilcox (Lake Park) missed the first meeting with the Wolfpack in Palatine.

“If we play well defensively (Wednesday), I think we have a great chance to win the game,” Amarino said.

Amarino took time to praise Wolfpack coach Scot Vesterdahl, who is in his second stint as MATC’s head coach. In his first stint in Madison from 1997-99, Vesterdahl guided his team to a 60-29 record.

If the Hawks are fortunate enough to advance to the regional championship game, they will play the winner of Wednesday’s first semifinal between top-seeded and nationally second-ranked Joliet Junior College and fifth-seeded Milwaukee Area Technical College. The Storm advanced to the semifinals by defeating College of DuPage 74-73.

The tournament’s championship game is Saturday at Rock Valley College.