89R21891 DSH-D
By: Bell of Kaufman H.R. No. 843
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, A milestone in the history of Trinity Valley
Community College athletics was realized on March 29, 2025, when
the men's basketball team claimed the NJCAA Division I national
championship; and
WHEREAS, During the regular season, TVCC went 20-2 in
conference play and finished atop the Region XIV standings; the
Cardinals then advanced all the way to the championship game of the
Region XIV Tournament and were named the seventh seed for the
National Junior College Athletic Association Division I bracket;
after opening the tournament with a dominant win over Trinidad
State College, TVCC defeated Cowley College and Panola College to
punch its inaugural ticket to the national title game; and
WHEREAS, Trinity Valley battled Connors State College for the
crown in a hard-fought contest that saw six ties and six lead
changes in the first 20 minutes; finding themselves knotted at 32 at
intermission, the Cardinals came out with the hot hand in the second
half and held a 51-41 advantage with six and a half minutes left to
play; demonstrating great poise after their foe cut the margin to
59-55 with just over a minute remaining, the TVCC players sealed the
outcome with clutch free-throw shooting; triumphing 69-61, the team
claimed the first national championship in program history and
ended with a record 34 wins against only 3 losses; and
WHEREAS, TVCC was paced by Zati Loubaki, the tournament's
Most Valuable Player, who was joined by Garrett Nuckolls and Tyler
Smith on the All-Tournament Team; the Cardinals also received
valuable contributions during the year from the other members of
the roster: Braden Wood, Tre'lin Green, Kalen White, Isaac Hymes,
Camarion Johnson, Braylon Wenger, Jalen Wenger, Domanic
Betancourt, Charles Outlaw, M. J. Wardlow, Justin Bohannon,
Mouhamed Mbaye, Chandler Batchelor, and Cameron Williams; these
talented student-athletes were guided by first-year head coach Greg
Heiar, who was honored as the Coach of the Tournament; and
WHEREAS, The Trinity Valley Cardinals have proven themselves
the finest Division I junior college basketball team in the nation,
and their exceptional achievement will forever be a proud memory
for the school's loyal fans in the Athens community and across the
Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas
Legislature hereby congratulate the Trinity Valley Community
College men's basketball team on winning the 2025 NJCAA Division I
national championship and extend to the team's players, coaches,
and staff sincere best wishes for continued success; and, be it
further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for the team as an expression of high regard by the Texas
House of Representatives.