OCC to host ACCA tourney, receives NCCAA at-large bid

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February 26, 2013

OCC to host ACCA tourney, receives NCCAA at-large bid

By Anvil Welch Globe Sports Writer The Joplin Globe Tue Feb 26, 2013, 11:42 PM CST

Chris Lahm, men’s basketball coach at Ozark Christian College, sounded in a good mood on Tuesday.

It became obvious why after a few minutes of conversation.

“We had a great practice today,” he began.

(It can’t be just that. That’s what you’d expect from a 27-7 outfit).

“Everyone (12 men’s teams and 10 women) is saying they will get here for the ACCA National Championships,” Lahm said. “One team did say they wouldn’t make it for the banquet (at 11:30 a.m. today at Missouri Southern).”

(Becoming warmer).

“Winning the ACCA really would give us some confidence for next week,” Lahm said.

(Next week? Bingo!)

“Yes, we received an at-large bid to the NCCAA Division II National Tournament next week (at Central Bible College in Springfield),” Lahm said. “It will be the men’s first trip to the national tournament since 1978.”

Back to the ACCA.

Three venues will be used for the event sponsored by OCC and the Joplin Sports Authority — the OCC Multi-Purpose Building as well as the Missouri Southern Leggett & Platt Athletic Center and Robert Ellis Young Gymnasium.

The OCC men and the Arlington (Texas) Baptist women are seeded No. 1 in their respective divisions.

Tabitha Hall’s OCC women open at 5:30 p.m. today in Leggett & Platt against AFLBS of Minneapolis. The other women’s game at 5:30 in Young Gymnasium is Calvary Bible of Kansas City vs. Emmaus Bible of Dubuque (Iowa).

There are four men’s games today at Missouri Southern — 7:15 p.m.—Champion (Ark.) vs. Calvary in Leggett & Platt, Emmaus vs. Multnomah (Ore.) in Young); 9—Dallas Christian vs. AFLBS in Leggett & Platt, Barclay (Kan.) vs. Faith (Iowa) in Young.

The OCC men debut at 7 p.m. on Thursday on its floor against the Champion-Calvary winner.

Lahm said that contests in 3-point shooting for both men and women and dunking will begin at 2:30 p.m. today in Young Gymnasium.

The OCC men, seeded 11th, will open in the NCCAA Division II Nationals at 4 p.m. Tuesday against No. 6 Valley Forge Christian (Pa,),

Ohio Christian University is seeded No. 1, Lahm said. Grace Bible of Grand Rapids (Mich.) won it at CBC in 2012.