Chiefs near goal; QCC needs 2 more wins.

Byline: Rich Garven

WORCESTER - The Quinsigamond men's basketball team is two games - make that two wins - away from achieving its one and only goal this season.

The Chiefs have accomplished much already, going 25-5 while winning their first Massachusetts Community College Athletic Conference Tournament championship and claiming the No. 5 ranking in the country. That's all been groundwork, though, for the road ahead.

"Our goal from the beginning of the year has been to get to New York," coach Jon Weiner said Wednesday afternoon prior to practice.

SUNY-Delhi, located a short drive south of Cooperstown, is hosting this year's National Junior College Athletic Association Tournament. The Chiefs will take aim at earning a spot in the eight-team field starting tomorrow when they compete in a regional qualifier in Springfield.

Quinsigamond has a bye into the semifinals after being seeded first in Region 21 and will face Springfield Tech at 1 p.m. This is the second straight weekend the Chiefs will meet STCC on its own court, having claimed a 74-59 win in the state semifinals Saturday.

The final is scheduled for 1 p.m. Sunday, with the winner confirming its Elite Eight reservation for the weekend of March 15-17.

The Chiefs won nine games a year ago, which was quite an accomplishment considering their lack of depth, size and experience. Only two players returned from that squad, but one of them was All-America do-it-all Mo Horton.

"And with the guys we picked up we thought we'd have a shot to be where we are," the 26-year-old Weiner said. "I can't complain."

No, life is good at 670 West Boylston St.

Horton led the nation in scoring last year, balling his way to 37 points a night for the simple reason he had to if the Chiefs entertained any thought of winning. His average is down to 22 points this season, but that's OK because Horton has three other teammates posting in double figures for the region's top-ranked offense (86 ppg).

"All he cares about is winning," Weiner said of Horton, the former Burncoat standout who has caught the attention of Adelphi, American International and Central Connecticut State.

And winning is just what the Chiefs did in Horton's absence, taking seven of nine while he was sidelined all of January and early February due to thumb surgery on his left, or non-shooting, hand. He suffered the injury at the final practice before Christmas break said Weiner, who made the best out of a potentially bad situation.

"That turned out to be a good thing for us in terms of guys stepping up and getting better in his absence," the second-year coach said.

There haven't been many better than Elijah Sims, who is a strong candidate along with Horton for this year's All-America team. The 5-foot-10, 170-pound guard is averaging 20 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, and a national-best 5.5 steals.

Sims is originally from Worcester and, after a stint in South Carolina, is back here living with his cousin and QCC assistant coach Al Jenkins. There's a good chance Sims will be sticking around the area as both Anna Maria and Clark have shown an interest in him.

Sims is joined in the backcourt by Charles Horton, who is averaging 14 points and has the upper hand on his taller cousin when it comes to 3-point shooting and defense.

"Charles is the best defensive player in the region in my estimation," Weiner said. "Whoever we put him on, he locks down."

Weiner has worked hard on opening the eyes of his players by placing academics on equal footing with athletics. The team has a one-hour study hall prior to practice three days a week and players must submit bi-weekly progress reports.

His message is simple: You can't make a pass on the court if you can't pass in the classroom.

"They've bought into what I'm trying to do," Weiner said. "It hasn't been easy for them - we've had to lay some punishments down - but with the success they've been having they can see why I've been so tough on them."

The young coach with the degree from Clark seems particularly pleased with Charles Horton's approach, noting his most recent progress report displayed a trio of Bs and an A. "It shows just how responsible he's become on and off the court," Weiner said.

Dennis Williams, who played previously at Notre Dame Prep in Fitchburg, and Ramon Llanos, a freshman from Doherty, complete the starting five. Both 6-1 forwards are pulling down seven rebounds a game, and Williams is averaging 10 points.

The bench is comprised of sophomores Kojo Asenso, who hopes to study engineering at WPI next year, and Carmelo Perez, formerly of Voke and the Chiefs' other returnee; and freshmen Shane Trudell of Voke, Jon Evans of Shrewsbury and Mick Pucko of West Boylston. Hadley Camilus, who knows Weiner from their days at Clark, completes the coaching staff.

The Chiefs have had a single-minded objective since the start of the season. If they earn a trip to New York, it appears they'll have to add a goal or two more to their list.

NAME: QUINSIGAMOND COMMUNITY COLLEGE