Will Cook County News

By Claude Martinez. Updated at 1:20 p.m. on 3/9/25.

The NJCAA Region IV Division II Midwest District B Championship took place on March 8, 2025, where the   Milwaukee Area Technical College Stormers and the South Suburban College Bulldogs faced off for the second time this season.

Back on January 28, 2025, the Bulldogs secured a close 97-93 victory at home over the Stormers.

This time, however, the Stormers brought thunder and lighting in the second half.

Despite leading 41-35 with 20 minutes left, the Bulldogs couldn’t hold on to their lead.

FINAL: Milwaukee Area Tech 85, South Suburban 74.

South Suburban College gave up 50 points in the second half, a recurring issue throughout the season.

That’s been [the] whole mantra all year,” Head Coach John Pigatti said, referring to not allowing second-half points. “We just don’t guard people in the second half. It all caught up to us tonight.”

“We were not a very good defensive team all year and it caught up to us in the second half… of a championship game.”

The situation was amplified with four starters in foul trouble early in the second half.

“If we don’t put our bench players in, we have a chance to win the game,” Pigatti noted. “Randy (Casey, head coach of Milwaukee Area Technical College) didn’t play his bench players… [except] one player.”

“Hensight is 20/20. [We] probably [should have] just played them to the fourth [or fifth] foul [and] see if they foul out,” Pigatti reflected. “It was a whole microcosm of the whole year.” 

This is one of the youngest teams Pigatti has coached in his 19 seasons at SSC.

“This moment was too big for a lot of them,” Pigatti explained. “It wasn’t big enough for AJ [Abrams, Freshman] who had 27 [points]. For the rest of our freshmen it was too big for them.”

Pigatti gave credit to the Stormers, who are now heading to the national championship tournament. “We’re going home to a 15-17 team who is going to be a big bracket buster down in Danville.”

As the Bulldogs regroup for the 2025-2026 season, they’ll be looking to bounce back stronger.

Special thank you to the NJCAA, Tim Romanello (Rock Valley) and head coach John Pigatti (SSC).

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