Washington leads South Suburban to Region 4 title, 8th place finish at nationals
Sophomore Deshawndre Washington led South Suburban College all season, garnering numerous individual accolades and helping the Bulldogs win the 2021 NJCAA Region 4 Men's Basketball Division II Championship. Following their 82-71 defeat of Bryant & Stratton College, Washington and company went on to finish 8th at the NJCAA Division II Men's Basketball Championship in Danville, Illinois.
After the Covid-19 pandemic left just four team to compete during the 2020-21 regular season, South Suburban College came out as the top seed for the Region 4 Tournament, and promptly dismissed fourth-seeded Carl Sandburg College by an 87-66 final in a semifinal that saw the other four starters score in double-figures, while Washington netted just eight points. In the championship, Washington was one of two Bulldogs to post a double-double, finishing with 31 points and 12 rebounds. The second year guard was named the Region 4 Tournament MVP, and was joined on the Region 4 All-Tournament Team by teammate Chance Love, who went for 21 points and 14 boards. John Pigatti was named the Region 4 Coach of the Year.
Region 4 All-Tournament Team
Deshawndre Washington - South Suburban College
Jean Luc Wilson - Carl Sandburg College
Malik Tidwell - Morton College
Karter Thomas - Bryant & Stratton College
Delaware Hale - Bryant & Stratton College
Chance Love - South Suburban College
Region 4 Tournament MVP
Deshawndre Washington - South Suburban College
Region 4 Coach of the Year
John Pigatti - South Suburban College
At the national tournament, the third-seeded Bulldogs were upset in the opening round by 14th-seeded Henry Ford College, 67-58. Now in the consolation bracket, SSC rattled off an 85-83 victory over North Central Missouri College and a 77-74 decision against Southeast Community College (IA), before falling 66-63 to Southern Arkansas University Tech in the 7th Place game. Washington was named to the 2021 NJCAA Division II Men's Basketball Championship All-Tournament Team after averaging 29.2 points and 8.0 rebounds.
Washington finished the season averaging 27.0 points and 13.5 rebounds, which propelled him to also being voted the Region 4 Player of the Year. He was also the region's lone All-American nominee.
2021 NJCAA Region 4 Men's Basketball All-Region Teams
(Images courtesy of South Suburban College Athletics)