Samsons the East's top seed in Region 13

Gogebic hopes to take advantage of being the No. 1 seed in this weekend's NJCAA Division II Region 13 tournament.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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Gogebic Community College's men's basketball team is the No. 1 seed from the East in this weekend's NJCAA Division II Region 13 tournament. The Samsons will face United Tribes in the semifinals, while tournament host Dakota College at Bottineau takes on Dakota County Technical College in the other semifinal. The winners will advance to Sunday's championship game.

Why it matters

Earning the top seed means Gogebic avoids having to play the West's No. 1 seed, Dakota College at Bottineau, in the first round. However, the tournament is expected to be highly competitive, with any of the four teams capable of winning the regional title.

The details

Gogebic finished the regular season with an 18-12 record, led by five players averaging double-figure scoring. The Samsons split their two regular-season meetings with defending champion Dakota County Technical College. Gogebic coach Dennis Mackey emphasized the importance of defense, rebounding, and taking care of the ball for his team to succeed in the tournament.

  • The semifinals are on Saturday, February 29, 2026.
  • The championship game is on Sunday, March 1, 2026.

The players

Gogebic Community College

The No. 1 seed from the East in the NJCAA Division II Region 13 tournament.

Dakota College at Bottineau

The tournament host and the No. 1 seed from the West.

Dakota County Technical College

The defending Region 13 champion.

United Tribes

Gogebic's semifinal opponent, known for their fast-paced play and 3-point shooting.

Dennis Mackey

The head coach of the Gogebic Samsons.

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What they’re saying

“Any of the four teams are capable of winning Region 13 this year.”

— Dennis Mackey, Gogebic Community College head coach (yourdailyglobe.com)

“The favorite … has to be Dakota College at Bottineau. They're a big talented team, the No. 1 seed and playing at home in 'The Woodshed.' That said, DCTC is the defending Region 13 champion and beat Dakota College back in November at a neutral setting. This Region 13 semifinal matchup will be one heckuva battle.”

— Dennis Mackey, Gogebic Community College head coach (yourdailyglobe.com)

“Tribes like to play fast and push the ball down the floor in transition. We'll need to wear our track shoes and try to stay in front of their shooters as best we can. Rebounding will be a key factor. I'm confident we'll take care of the ball and limit our turnovers, my biggest concern is our guys being active on defense, boxing out and running down rebounds.”

— Dennis Mackey, Gogebic Community College head coach (yourdailyglobe.com)

What’s next

The winners of the semifinal games on Saturday will advance to the Region 13 championship game on Sunday, March 1, 2026.

The takeaway

The NJCAA Division II Region 13 tournament is shaping up to be a highly competitive event, with any of the four teams having a chance to win the regional title. Gogebic's success will hinge on their ability to play strong defense, rebound effectively, and limit turnovers against their fast-paced opponents.