The first basketball polls of the year are out in the USCAA, and the New South Conference is well represented as the Apprentice men’s and women’s teams as well as the Atlantis men are in the top 5 of their respective polls.

The Apprentice women crack the season-opening rankings at number four. The Lady Builders fell to eventual champion D’Youville in the national semifinals last year 75-48. Maine-Fort Kent is number one, followed by Bryant & Stratton Syracuse, Bryant & Stratton Buffalo, Apprentice, and Paul Quinn College.

The Apprentice men have garnered the number 2 national ranking, trailing only Bryant & Stratton Syracuse. Head coach Evan Kee is pleased with the recognition and says he’s looking forward to returning to Petersburg, Virginia, the site of the USCAA Small College Championships.

“We are thrilled that our strong start to the season has led to an early season #2 ranking,” said Kee. “We’ve played a challenging opening schedule and we are happy to have come out with some convincing wins. We understand that the only poll that truly matters is the final one, which will be the crowned national champion. We hope to be in position to finish the season number one in the country and to cut down nets at Virginia State University.”

The Builders are picking up where they left off last season when they went undefeated in conference play, won the NSAC tournament title, and advanced to the USCAA semifinals before falling to Bryant & Stratton Buffalo 77-75.

Atlantis comes into the poll ranked number 4. The new NSAC member also appeared in the national tournament last season in its first year of eligibility, but fell victim to B&S Buffalo in the opening round 73-64.

B&S Buffalo is at number three. Salem University, last year’s national champion, rounds out the top 5.

PITTSBURGH, Pa. – After finishing the regular season with a 14-7 record, the Apprentice School women’s basketball team earned the No. 6 seed in the upcoming USCAA National Championship to be contested in Richmond, Virginia, March 12-16, the national office announced Sunday afternoon.

The Builders will take on third-seed D’Youville Monday, March 13, at 8 p.m. at Richard Bland College. This will be the first meeting between the two schools.

Bryant & Stratton (Buffalo) earned the top seed with Bluefield State was named No. 2. Salem was the No. 4 seed and will take on fifth-seeded Bryant & Stratton (Albany). Bryant & Stratton (Syracuse) claimed the seventh seed, while Carlow was the last team in at No. 8.

This is the first tournament berth for Apprentice since the 2017-18 season.

Tickets for the tournament may be purchased here.

Story and image courtesy gobuilders.com

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – While it may not have been easy, the Apprentice School women’s basketball team did what they needed to do to take down Maine-Fort Kent Saturday afternoon, 79-74.

The Bengals jumped out to an early lead behind great shooting in the opening moments of the game, but the Builders weathered the storm and ended up leading by as many as 14 in the first half. UMFK battled back to trim the lead to a single possession late in the game, but key baskets and free throws were enough to push Apprentice to its third straight win.

Jada Bryant led the Builders with a double-double of 22 points and 19 rebounds. Ashawnti Williams also recorded a double-double with 10 points and 14 boards. Amaya Ray had 13 points, while Kerrigan Small added 10. Apprentice hit just one three pointer in the contest.

Story and image courtesy gobuilders.com

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Nyla Jackson led six Apprentice School women’s basketball players in double figures as the Builders easily dispatched of Trinity Washington in a non-conference game on Friday night, 89-39.

The game was never in doubt as Apprentice jumped out to a 14-2 start through the first five minutes and continued to stretch the lead out throughout the contest. The Builders held Trinity to just 14 first half points on the way to a 29-point halftime lead before a 50 point win.

Jackson had 16 points, while five other Builders finished in double figures as well. Ashawnti Williams, Amaya Ray and Jamica Jones all had 14 points, while Kerrigan Small and NeOndra Kelly added 12 and 10, respectively.

Apprentice (4-5 overall, 0-1 NSAC) had 67 rebounds on the night and finished +29 on the boards.

Story and image courtesy gobuilders.com

NEWPORT NEWS – After starting the season with seven straight road games, the Apprentice School women’s basketball team knocked off Central Carolina, 68-50, Saturday afternoon.

The Builders led wire-to-wire, jumping out to a 9-1 lead over the first five minutes. After the Cougars cut the lead down to five early in the second quarter, Apprentice pushed the lead out to 17 points at 34-17 and maintained a sizable margin going into halftime.

Central Carolina didn’t go away quietly, trimming the lead to as few as 17 after trailing by as many as 27 in the second half.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Two Builders finished with double-doubles, including a 15-point, 20-rebound outing from Jada Bryant off the bench. Amaya Ray ended with 14 points and 13 boards and also had six assists and six steals. Nyla Jackson led Apprentice with 18 points.
• The Builders pulled down 27 offensive rebounds and converted them into 16 second chance points.
• The win marked the first home opening win for the women’s basketball program in exactly three years when they took down Regent in the home opener on December 10, 2019.

NEXT UP

Apprentice will next take the floor in 2023 as they will be at Virginia-Lynchburg on January 10.

Story and image courtesy gobuilders.com