Hill College Rebels basketball team begins conference season

  Hill College
  Thursday, January 18, 2018 9:28 AM
  Athletics

Hillsboro, TX

After 18 pre-season games the Hill College Rebels men’s basketball team head into conference play averaging 100.1 points per game, shooting an average of 51 percent from the field, and 40 percent from the three-point line. The National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division I Men’s Basketball Poll Committee for Jan. 9 ranked Hill College men’s team 25th in the nation. 

The Rebels kick off their conference season at Ranger College Wednesday, Jan. 17. The Rebels are currently 15-3 overall. Head Coach Swede Trenkle is in his 15th season with the Rebels, and currently holds an overall record of 250-157. 

“We believe that the best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today. This had been an enjoyable season and we are looking forward to a successful rest of the season,” said Trenkle. 

The Rebels roster consists of nine freshmen and four sophomores. The North Texas Junior College Athletic Conference (NTJCAC) has ranked several Rebels in the 2017-18 Individual Offense Leaders. Xavier Johnson has been ranked fifth in points per game with 16.2, followed by Mike Medlin in seventh with 14.4. Andre Washington is third in rebounds per game with 9.7, with Medlin coming in sixth with 7.2. Washington also came in sixth in field goal percentage with 58.8. In three-point percentage, Quinton Brigham was ranked second with 51.4, Johnson in fourth with 47.8, and Barry Rerecich is seventh with 42.9. 

Sophomore Shamar Bailey has signed a letter of intent to play for Portland State University this fall, and sophomore Quinton Brigham has signed a letter of intent to play for the University of the Incarnate Word. 

Coach CJ Williams is in his first season as an assistant coach with the Rebels, but was a player on the Rebel’s basketball team under Coach Trenkle from 2013-2014. During his time as a player at Hill College the men’s basketball team went to the national tournament both years, and made it to the final four in his second year. “These men have been working really hard in practice and preseason, and that work is going to pay off in our conference play,” said Williams.

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