Congratulating the Trinity Valley Community College men's basketball team on winning the 2025 NJCAA Division I national championship.

89(R) HR 843 - Enrolled version - Bill Text

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.

Bell of Kaufman

______________________________

Speaker of the House

I certify that H.R. No. 843 was adopted by the House on May

23, 2025, by a non-record vote.

______________________________

Chief Clerk of the House