DANVILLE, Ill.—March 7, 2026—The Parkland College men's basketball team captured the Region 24 Championship on Saturday, defeating No. 1 tournament seed Danville Area Community College (DACC) 81-67. Entering the tournament as the No. 3 seed, the Cobras delivered a strong performance to claim the regional crown and earn a berth in the NJCAA Division II National Tournament.

With the win, Parkland improves to 26-7 on the season and advances to the national stage.

The Cobras built momentum early and carried a 35-32 lead into halftime before pulling away in the second half. Parkland outscored the Jaguars 46-35 after the break, using a balanced offensive attack and steady defense to secure the championship victory on DACC's home floor.

Jaiden Martin led the Cobras with 19 points while adding 7 rebounds. Chris Bush followed with 18 points and 4 rebounds, while De'Shaun Tolever provided a major boost off the bench with 16 points and 6 rebounds.

Grant Chamberlain added 11 points and 4 rebounds, knocking down 3 three-pointers, while Kodhi McStraw and Nick Harrell each contributed 7 points.

Parkland shot 48.1% (25-52) from the field and was nearly perfect at the free-throw line, converting 24-of-25 attempts (96.0%). The Cobras also held Danville Area to 67 points, closing the game strong to secure the regional title.

Head coach John Bowler credited the players for the program's continued success following the championship victory.

"Proud of our guys for making some history tonight. This is the first time in school history that we have won the Region 3 years in a row. Credit goes completely to the players, both past and present. We set our goals extremely high and they continue to accept the challenge. As far as this game goes, our poise and composure helped us a lot late in the game. That really allowed us to separate ourselves. It showed in how balanced we were over the last two games."

The championship also marks head coach John Bowler's third trip to the NJCAA Division II National Tournament in his four seasons leading the Cobras.

With the victory, Parkland advances to the NJCAA Division II National Tournament, which begins March 16. The tournament will be hosted by Danville Area Community College, and the Cobras will await their official seeding and bracket placement.

The regional championship marks another major milestone for the Parkland program as the Cobras now prepare to compete on the national stage.