PRESS CONTACT:
Irene Borak
Director of Public Relations
10775 N. St. Helen Road
Roscommon, MI 48653
(989) 275-5000 ext. 242
ROSCOMMON – The Kirtland Firebirds men’s basketball team ended its conference season in the Michigan Community College Athletic Association with an 83-62 win over the Macomb Community College Monarchs. The win took place in Warren on Tuesday, Feb. 21.
With only one non-conference game remaining before entering post-season play in the National Junior College Athletic Association, the Firebirds shut the conference door with an 8-8 record in the MCCAA (13-16 overall).
Although it could have capped a more successful season, Tuesday’s win was another milestone for men’s head coach Glen Donahue. The buzzer marked his 500th junior college coaching win, and adds to the more than 600 college wins and 700-plus career wins he has attained in his 49 years of coaching.
In his five years at Kirtland, Donahue has coached the Firebirds to 90 wins and 88 losses, helping numerous players move on to successful university careers in the process. With his far-reaching connections, he has also had an effect on the diversity of the Kirtland campus by being able to recruit student-athletes from all over the world.
Kirtland’s Tony Brown, a freshman from Battle Creek, netted 24 points in the contest, along with 9 assists. DeMarvelous Carter, a sophomore from Flint, added 19 points and 7 rebounds and was 8 for 10 shooting.
Sal Kabara, who came to Kirtland from the Republic of South Africa by way of Eldon Academy in Petoskey, had 14 points and 6 rebounds, while Ryan Filipiak, of Lapeer, added 8 rebounds
The Firebirds end regular-season play on Saturday, Feb. 25, when they travel to Detroit to face non-conference Lewis College of Business, with a game time of 3 p.m. NJCAA Division I tournament action begins Monday, March 6 with Kirtland taking on Vincennes University in Vincennes, Ind., at 8 p.m. CST.
For more on Firebirds athletics, log on at firebirds.kirtland.edu.