C of O Women Claim Another National Championship, Men Win to Close Out Shepherd Tenure

Photo courtesy Steve Rackley, Flat Top Photos

The final day of the National Christian College Athletic Association Division One saw the College of the Ozarks Lady Bobcats continue dominance while the Men won their final game for their retiring coach.

In its second year at the Keeter Athletic Complex, the final day of the tournament began with the B with Bobcats taking home third place in the tournament with a 90-79 win over Nelson American Indian College. The Bobcats pulled away from a 25-all tie midway through the first half and never trailed again behind the 29 points of Garrett Snyder.  

The win closed out the 24-year coaching career of retiring C of O Men's Coach Steve Shepherd, who announced earlier this year that he would retire as Head Coach but continue to serve the school as Athletic Director after this season. 

After Cedarville University took third in the women's tournament 65-63 over Sterling College then Lancaster Bible College claimed an 82-75 win over Columbia International University in the NCCAA Men's Title, it was the C of O Women's turn to see if they could continue a run that has seen the Lady Bobcats claim two out of the last three NCCAA Women's Title. 

The Lady Bobcats would build an early lead only to see their opponent, the Bethel Lady Pilots, surge back and claim the lead in the fourth quarter, but C of O answered after Bethel took a 59-57 with an 8-0 run and never trailed again pulling away to  a 73-64 win. Logan Jones, named the tournament's Most Valuable Player, led the Lady Bobcats with 25 points while Ashlen Garrett added 22. 

The Lady Bobcats, after winning their first NCCAA Title in 2023 in Winona Lake, Indiana, have now won both tournaments hosted at College of the Ozarks. 

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