LUBBOCK, Texas — Despite the season ending not the way the Three Rivers women's basketball team expected, it was still a season to remember.
From going undefeated in the regular season and winning the Region XVI championship for the second straight year, to being the top nationally ranked team for the first time in program history, the 2021-22 Raiders were a special group.
"They've accomplished so many firsts in Lady Raider basketball history that they shouldn't be leaving Lubbock hanging their heads," Three Rivers coach Alex Wiggs said. "Raider nation, the community, the fans, everybody needs to be proud of them. They've established a winning tradition and now it's our job to continue that tradition."
The Raiders end the season with a 28-1 record averaging 86.9 points per game, 46.7 rebounds per game and 18.9 assists per game. They were led by sophomores Myia Yelder (17.0 points per game) and Autumn Dodd (11.7 points per game) as the top offensive threats.
Despite the talent that will be leaving the team, a few freshmen have stepped up with COVID-freshman Joi Montgomery averaging 10.5 points per game and led the team's rebounding at 7.9 per contest.
There was also freshman Jenna McMillen averaging 11.3 points per contest coming off the bench along with COVID-freshman Karlee Holland averaging 9.3 points per game while starting 25 games.
"I felt like we accomplished a lot and it was a fun group to play with," McMillen said. "I'm going to contribute in different ways next year and build up my confidence."
The returning players are hungry to get back to Lubbock after a taste of the national tournament.
"It didn't the way the wanted it to, which hurt and we gave it our all (Thursday)," Aniyah Melton said. "I will never forget the way it felt yesterday and I think everybody coming back next year will carry that feeling as a way to fuel us to get back here."
Said Wiggs, "The freshmen this year are a great group. They got a lot of experience this season and there are good things in store for Lady Raider basketball in the future."
The top-seeded Raiders were not alone as second-seeded Shelton State lost its first game to No. 18 Eastern Florida State 47-45, fourth-seeded and defending champs Northwest Florida State lost to No. 13 South Plains (Texas) 54-50 and Wabash Valley (Ill.), the No. 5 seed lost to No. 12 Western Nebraska 70-59. Blinn, the No. 7 seed also lost, with third-seeded Georgia Highlands and eighth-seeded Arizona Western advancing to the quarterfinals while sixth-seeded Southern Idaho played late Friday.
The Raiders checked off a lot of their major check points this season from going undefeated in the regular season, including an early-season win over Wabash Valley, and defeating all Region XVI opponents. In region play, the Raiders had four exciting wins over Moberly Area, culminating in a Region XVI championship and a trip to Lubbock, Texas.
With all that success, the program was ranked first in the national rankings for the first time in program history for the last six weeks of the regular season and it earned them the top seed in the NJCAA National Tournament.
Three Rivers became the second straight No. 1 seed to get beat in its opening game of the tournament.
The Raiders will be back in Poplar Bluff on Saturday afternoon and will be back on the floor in November.
"I'm going to take the next few days to reflect on the season," Wiggs said. "After a few days, I'll be excited for next year."
Robert Augsdorfer - Daily American Republic