By Marissa VanWingen
The last Ellsworth Community College title was in 1971 and Parkland College had never cut down the nets. The two programs have each been building over recent years.
The Panthers made the big dance in 2024 for the first time in 38 years, but lost in the semifinals. The Cobras made the Elite 8 two years ago and finished as runners-up in 2025. Parkland was poised and ready to strike in 2026 and they did just that with the 76-68 victory.
The 12th-ranked Cobras had the bonus of having the best player on the court. Jaiden Martin averaged 21.3 points per game heading into the tournament. The 6'4", 200 pound sophomore was not just imposing his will against the No. 9 Panthers with his 34 point effort, he did it all week and was named all-tournament MVP.
Trailing by as many as seven to start the second half, the Panthers (28-8) staged a comeback. With 13:57 left to go in the game, Jayden Pretty's basket made it 42-41. Eesher Singh Sarai connected on one of two free throw attempts to even the score at 42, but Parkland (29-7) went back on top.
The momentum looked to shift in the Panthers favor. Martin picked up his third foul and Jonovan Wilkinson drained a triple with 11:17 left in the game to give ECC the 45-44 advantage. Wilkinson scored another basket to push the lead to three (47-44). The two would be tied twice, the final at 51-all. The Panthers came out on top and led 58-54.
The Cobras went on a 6-1 run and then on a Parkland steal and two Martin baskets the 11 seed had a 62-61 lead with 4:40 left in the contest. Martin drained a triple to extend the advantage to 65-61.
With less than five minutes on the clock two ECC mainstays – Will Taylor and Wilkinson – fouled out. Alex Charlotin made a bucket to cut the difference to two (68-66) with 46.2 ticks left but Panthers could never tie or take the lead again.
In the first 10 minutes of the game, the lead exchanged hands five times. The final ECC advantage was 11-10 when Singh Sarai connected on a basket. The Cobras then went on a run as ECC went cold offensively. Martin made one of his first half baskets to extend the advantage to 26-19. Collins Ngondu ended ECC's scoring drought but they still trailed by seven (35-28) at the half.
The Panthers made 11 total field goals in the opening 20 minutes and were 16.7 percent (1-6) from beyond the arc.
Despite having an extremely short bench, the Cobras had just eight players rotating through, Parkland never waivered and they never seemed to tire.
The Cobras did a good job of playing more physical than the Panthers and got to the line – and made their free throws. While ECC was 10 of 18 from the charity stripe, Parkland was 31 of 40 and 8-8 in the final minute.
Martin shot 40.7 percent from the floor and was 11 of 13 from the line for 34 points and was joined by two other teammates in double figures, Chris Bush (12) and Grant Chamberlain (11).
Singh Sarai led the Panthers with a double-double of 15 points and 15 rebounds and was named to the all-tournament team. Charlotin finished with 19 points and was also on the all-tournament squad.
"I'm very appreciative. One to my family, I love my wife so much and my kids. I love the job at Ellsworth because I get to be with my family and our support system. Nate Forsyth our AD, Barb (Klein) our Provost and the support we have at the college too. They allow me to be me and I don't think you get that everywhere," Panther coach Bryan Bender said. "I have so much gratitude and I'm just thankful for the support we've had all year from my family, our college, our community. I have a high level of gratitude and I am very appreciative."
For more photos and videos for the National Tournament, visit: https://www.timescitizen.com/sports/ecc/
NJCAA National Finals
Saturday at Danville, Ill.
PC: 35| 41 – 76
ECC: 28| 40 – 68
ECC Scoring: Alex Charlotin 7 5-11 19; Eesher Singh Sarai 7 1-3 15; Jonovan Wilkinson 2 0-0 8; Tanner Berggren 2 2-2 7; Jayden Pretty 3 0-0 6; Jacob Khounsourath 2 0-0 5; Will Taylor 1 2-2 4; Christian Johnson 1 0-0 2; Collins Ngondu 1 0-0 2.