The post-season for junior college schools in the Centennial State continues this weekend with Trinidad State’s men’s and women’s basketball teams still competing along quintets from  Lamar, Northeastern (Sterling), and Otero (LaJunta).

The Trinidad State men are the reigning NJCAA Region IX champions. The Trojans have won the playoffs the last three seasons to advance to the national championships in Hutchinson, Kan.

Gillette is the top men’s team, as the host Pronghorns are ranked 26th in the latest NJCAA polls.  The national finals will be March 22-29 at the Hutchinson (Kan.) Sports Arena.

In the women’s bracket at Scottsbluff, Neb., Casper is also a three-time defending champion and is ranked 20th nationally, with host Western Nebraska one spot ahead of the Thunderbirds.  The national championships are set for March 25-April 1 at the Ford Wyoming Center in Casper.

Women’s at Cougar Palace, Scottsbluff, Neb.

Thursday, March 13

• Gillette (22-9) vs. McCook (19-11), 12:30 p.m.
• Northeastern (8-23) vs. Casper (24-6), 2:30 p.m.
• Trinidad State (9-18) vs. Western Wyoming (22-8), 5 p.m.
• Eastern Wyoming (15-16) vs. Western Nebraska 24-5), 7 p.m.

Friday, March 14 – Semifinals tipoffs to be announced
Saturday, March 15 – Finals tipoff to be announced

Men’s at Pronghorn Center, Gillette, Wyo.

Thursday, March 13

• Casper (24-6) vs. Lamar (10-16), 1 p.m.
• Trinidad State (15-41) vs. Laramie County (12-19), 3 p.m.
• Western Nebraska (13-16) vs. Northwest (19-11), 5 p.m.
• Gillette (27-3) vs. Otero (13-15), 7 p.m.

Friday, March 14 – Semifinals at 5 & 7 p.m.
Saturday, March 15 – Finals at 3 p.m.

Year – Region IX Men’s Champion (NJCAA placement)
1953 – Otero
1954 – Fort Lewis
1955 – Pueblo (12th)
1956 – Pueblo (6th)
1957 – Pueblo (3rd)
1958 – Mesa State (12th)
1959 – Mesa State
1960 – Pueblo (8th)
1961 – Pueblo (1st)
1962 – Trinidad State (6th)
1963 – Casper (3rd)
1964 – Casper (2nd)
1965 – Northeastern
1966 – Casper (11th)
1967 – Northwest
1968 – Northeastern (4th)
1969 – Northwest
1970 – Casper (4th)
1971 – Casper (5th)
1972 – Casper (7th)
1973 – North Platte (12th)
1974 – Northeastern (8th)
1975 – Sheridan (10th)
1976 – Casper (10th)
1977 – Sheridan
1978 – Casper
1979 – Western Nebraska (12th)
1980 – Northeastern (12th)
1981 – Western Nebraska
1982 – Western Nebraska (14th)
1983 – Southeast (3rd)
1984 – Northeastern (9th)
1985 – Casper (14th)
1986 – Trinidad State (8th)
1987 – Laramie County
1988 – Casper (6th)
1989 – Eastern Wyoming
1990 – Western Nebraska (12th)
1991 – Eastern Wyoming
1992 – Casper (11th)
1993 – Western Nebraska
1994 – Western Nebraska (7th)
1995 – Western Nebraska (3rd)
1996 – Casper (12th)
1997 – Western Nebraska (14th)
1998 – Western Nebraska
1999 – Western Nebraska
2000 – Northeastern (7th)
2001 – Western Nebraska
2002 – Sheridan
2003 – Eastern Wyoming
2004 – Eastern Wyoming (7th)
2005 – Northeastern
2006 – Sheridan College
2007 – Northeastern (7th)
2008 – Eastern Wyoming
2009 – Lamar (5th)
2010 – North Platte
2011 – Western Wyoming (7th)
2012 – Otero
2013 – North Platte
2014 – Northeastern
2015 – Northwest
2016 – Gillette
2017 – Gillette (11th)
2018 – Western Nebraska
2019 – Casper
2020 – Western Wyoming
2021 – Northeastern
2022 – Trinidad State
2023 – Trinidad State
2024 – Trinidad State

Year – Region IX Women’s Champion
1975 – Northeastern
1976 – Northwest
1977 – Northeast
1978 – Eastern Wyoming
1979 – Eastern Wyoming
1980 – Western Wyoming
1981 – Western Wyoming
1982 – Central Wyoming
1983 – Northeastern
1984 – Central Wyoming
1985 – Central Wyoming
1986 – Central Wyoming
1987 – Casper
1988 – Miles City
1989 – Miles City
1990 – Miles City
1991 – Sheridan
1992 – Casper
1993 – Western Nebraska
1994 – Casper
1995 – Western Nebraska
1996 – Casper
1997 – Casper
1998 – Western Nebraska
1999 – Sheridan
2000 – Casper
2001 – Western Nebraska
2002 – Northeastern
2003 – Western Nebraska
2004 – Western Nebraska
2005 – Western Nebraska
2006 – Western Nebraska
2007 – Casper
2008 – Western Nebraska
2009 – Sheridan
2010 – Casper
2011 – Casper
2012 – Otero
2013 – Western Nebraska
2014 – Western Nebraska
2015 – Western Nebraska
2016 – Gillette
2017 – Western Nebraska
2018 – Casper
2019 – Western Nebraska
2020 – Casper
2021 – Otero
2022 – Casper
2023 – Casper
2024 – Casper