By Daryn Mason, Castle Country Radio Sports:

The Scenic West Athletic Conference Basketball Tournament is coming back to the B-DAC in Price, giving the USU Eastern Eagles a solid home court advantage in the season finale playoff.

Its been four years since USU Eastern, Snow College, Salt Lake CC, College of Southern Idaho, and Colorado Northwestern CC have met in Price to crown the champion of the SWAC. The tournament will be held at the B-DAC on Feb. 28 through March 2. It will be for both the men and women’s basketball teams.

“Our conference is considered one of the top three conferences in the country. We have three teams in our conference they are ranked the top 25 right now,” said head coach Adjalma Becheli of the men’s team. “We know the level of the competition is really high. This year we have a young team with 12 freshmen. Because they are so young and inconsistent, some days they practice really well, some of the other days they practice so bad.”

Now two weeks into conference play both the men and women teams have gotten off to an excellent start with wins over Colorado Northwestern and Southern Idaho. The men also secured a road win over ranked Salt Lake Community College. The elite start only adds to the excitement of the tournament being held in Price.

Starting the season 2-2 in conference play, plenty of optimism surrounds the USU Eastern women’s team as well. Finishing the non-conference portion of the schedule 12-3, the Lady Eagles rode the momentum into conference play with two wins.

“I think were ready to play, so every year they go to different schools to hold the tournament, and this year they’re holding it here, so I think that just gives us the extra momentum,” said head coach Chelsey Warburton. “Were hoping that we go into it and play as well as we have in our preseason. Lots of great teams, great competition, the coaches are really wise in our conference and league, so its going to be a battle every game.”

Both the USU Eastern men and women teams will take the majority of the week off before returning to the court on Saturday on the road against Colorado Northwestern Community College. The team’s will continue conference play until the final regular season game on Feb. 23.

SWAC is a sports association for junior colleges in Utah, Idaho, Colorado, and Nevada. SWAC is a member of the NJCAA. It sponsors nine sports, four for men and five four women. “It is the sole conference in the NJCAA’s region 18.” (SWAC).

*Picture courtesy of USU Eastern Athletics*