Men’s basketball program sets eyes on playoff spot during second half of conference play

Although the Hill College men’s basketball team ended its first round of conference play Monday sitting a few games outside a potential fourth-place playoff spot, Head Coach Swede Trenkle said the conference remains wide open during the second half of the season.

“This season has been tough,” Trenkle said. “Every team is very talented. We have five games remaining, and we are still in the hunt for a conference title.”

The Rebels (12-12) boast a healthy 9-6 record at home but are only 1-4 on the road so far this season (they are 2-2 at neutral sites).

"I’ve really enjoyed our team – and being around the players every day,” Trenkle added. They are very competitive and work very hard every day to get better.”

Hill College currently ranks No. 11 in the NJCAA Region 5 team standings (out of 23 teams).

Individually, sophomore forward Cameron Estill (Raytown, Missouri) leads the North Texas Junior College Athletics Conference (NTJCAC) in rebounds averaging 11 per game; and teammate Benjamin Ezeagu, a sophomore forward from Toronto, Canada, is currently third in conference for field goal percentage (63.1 percent).

The Rebels kick off the second half of conference play Saturday at Southwestern Christian College in Terrell. Hill College lost to SCC, 70-63, in their first matchup of the season.

The final two home games of the season will be Feb. 28 against Collin College (7 p.m.); and March 9 against Temple College (4 p.m.).

For more information on the Hill College men’s basketball program, please visit https://hillcollegeathletics.com.