Taylorsville • Salt Lake Community College will be hosting the Region 18 men's and women's basketball championships for the first time from Thursday through Saturday at the Bruin Arena, inside the Lifetime Activities Center.
The men's bracket will feature No. 6-ranked College of Southern Idaho, which is trying to defend its titles as Region 18 and NJCAA National Championship. The Eagles will be tested by SLCC, North idaho College and Snow College in the winner-takes-all tournament. The winner earns the right to play in a district playoff for a shot at the NJCAA National Tournament in Hutchinson, Kansas. The bracket on the men's side consists of just five teams, with the College of Eastern Utah men's teams not participating due to a suspension.
Southern Idaho receives a first-round bye. SLCC, the number two seed under first-year head coach Todd Phillips, will meet North Idaho College Friday at 2 p.m. in a second round contest. The Bruins take a 22-8 overall and 9-6 league record into the game against North Idaho, which was 23-7 overall and 9-6 in the SWAC. Fourth-seeded Snow College (22-8 overall and 9-6 in league play) meets fifth seed Colorado Northwest, 6-22, 1-14, in a 7:30 p.m. first-round game on Thursday.
The women's side features No. 7-ranked North Idaho College, the defending Region 18 champion. Snow College, SLCC, Eastern Utah and the College of Southern Idaho will also be competing with the hopes of heading to Salina, Kansas, for the NJCAA Women's National Championships.
North Idaho and Snow College both receive first -round byes. Third-seeded College of Eastern Utah (16-14 overall and 8-7 in league play) meets sixth-seeded CNCC (10-19, 1-14 in league play) at 2 p.m. No. 4 College of Southern Idaho (15-15, 7-8 in league play) tests fifth-seeded SLCC (16-12 overall, 7-8 in SWAC) at 5:30 p.m.