ROCKLIN, Calif. — For the first time in school history, the William Jessup men's basketball team won 23 games in a season. Now the Warriors are going to ride that momentum as they head to Kansas City to play in the NAIA National Championships Tournament.
This will be the second tournament appearance in four years for the fourth-seeded Warriors, and their third overall.
The success comes despite the November death of Kevin McLemore, a former teammate and younger brother of former Sacramento Kings' guard Ben McLemore.
"That's the guy who I looked up to," said senior forward Keith Phillips. "He brought so much to this team."
The team has been able to use the loss as a source of inspiration, bringing players closer together and creating a chemistry that helped push them over the hump.
Fifth year coach Lance Von Vogt said he has really got the players to buy in this year. And while the main objective is to bring home a championship trophy from Kansas City, Vogt has other plans in mind.
"We're going to eat some amazing barbecue while we're there," Vogt said. "We'll hopefully celebrate a win by getting some good KC barbecue. And maybe we'll bring some back for people here in California."
The Warriors play their first game of the tournament on Wednesday, March 21, 2019 against Louisiana State University, Shreveport.
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