Published: March 7, 2002
Section: SPORTS
Page#: 11C
MCTC helps center find new focus
By Mark Craig; Staff Writer   

Levi Jones was a big man in need of a change. Jay Pivec specializes in changing big men.

So when Jones, a former Minneapolis North High School center, decided to leave South Carolina State after last season, he called Pivec, the head basketball coach at Minneapolis Community and Technical College. The phone didn't have to ring twice.

Jones transferred to MCTC and the ensuing relationship with Pivec and assistant coach Ron Gates couldn't have worked out better.

The Marauders, who lost All-America center Jerry Holman to the Gophers after last season, rebuilt themselves around the 6-11, 245-pound Jones. They won a third consecutive Minnesota Community College Conference title last week and are 21-6 entering Friday's semifinals of the National Junior College Athletic Association Division III Region 13 tournament at MCTC.

"We weren't supposed to win 20 games and the conference," Pivec said. "People thought we might be OK, but they never expected this."

Jones, meanwhile, used his turnaround season to redirect his Division I career. He has signed with No. 14-ranked Oklahoma State. He's the ninth Marauder to receive a Division I scholarship in Pivec's 12 seasons.

"Coach Pivec and Coach Gates opened my eyes and expanded my skills," Jones said. "When I was at South Carolina State, I didn't think I'd get any better. But I came here and everything changed. My coaches tell me I'm just scratching the surface."

Jones is second in scoring (13.1 per game), rebounds (7.26) and shooting percentage (58.8). Pivec calls him a "true throwback center" who sets crushing screens, blocks out aggressively and can nail 15-foot shots, even though he rarely wanders out that far.

"When we had Jerry, he was all over the place, blocking shots, running the floor and dunking the ball," Pivec said. "When you looked at Jerry, you said, `Wow.' With Levi, you don't say, `Wow.' But we've won 20 games and he could play anywhere in the country."

Several major Division I teams were interested in Jones. The final decision came down to OSU and Pittsburgh. The Gophers passed on Jones because they have similar young players.

Jones never would have drawn as much interest had Pivec not changed his coaching style to accommodate Jones' talents. Pivec's teams normally force the tempo, play man-to-man defense and press full-court.

"On the first day of practice, we realized we had to change everything to keep Levi on the floor," Pivec said. "We're a half-court team now. We've played more zone this season than we did in my first 11 years combined. But it works because Levi is the most efficient post player I have ever coached."

Pivec has developed a reputation of salvaging the careers of struggling young big men. They include Holman and former Minneapolis Henry player Dennis Winfield a decade ago. Winfield earned a scholarship to Utah, but never played there.

Jones wasn't a starter in high school until the No. 1 center was injured in Jones' senior season. South Carolina State redshirted him two years ago and gave him only limited playing time last season. Now, he's a future Cowboy. But a Cowboy who still has some unfinished business in his hometown. The Marauders play Mesabi Range (21-6) in the Region 13 semifinals at 8 p.m. Friday.

"I'm having a great time here," Jones said. "I haven't been around a better bunch of people. It's the best decision I could have made."

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- Mark Craig is at mcraig@startribune.com.

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NJCAA tourney

- What: National Junior College Athletic Association Region 13 national qualifier

- Where: Minneapolis Community and Technical College

- When: Friday and Saturday

- Tickets: $6 adults; $4 students

- Semifinal games: Vermillion (23-4) vs. Mid-State Tech (23-12), 6 p.m. Friday; Minneapolis Community and Technical College (21-6) vs. Mesabi Range (21-6), 8 p.m. Friday

- Championship game: 2 p.m. Saturday. Consolation game: Noon Saturday.

- Next step: The winner advances to the NJCAA national tournament March 14-16 in Delhi, N.Y.

- Tournament outlook: The MCTC Marauders beat Vermillion 90-71 last week to win the Minnesota Community College Conference tournament. Mesabi Range lost to Vermillion 92-86 in the MCCC semifinals. . . . Mid-State Tech won the Wisconsin Community College Conference, but has lost to the Marauders twice this year. . . . Victories Friday by the Marauders and Vermillion would set up a rematch of last year's Region 13 final. The Marauders were 28-0 entering that game, but lost. . . . The Marauders have won two Region 13 titles in coach Jay Pivec's 12 seasons. They were second at the 1993 NJCAA national tournament. . . . Dusty Decker, who played high school basketball with former Gopher Joel Przybilla at Monticello, leads the Marauders in scoring (15.7) and rebounds (8.15).

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NJCAA Division III Region 13 schedule

All games at Minneaplis Community Technical College

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Friday

- Vermillion vs. Mid-State Tech, 6 p.m.

- Mesabi Range vs. Minneapolis, 8 p.m.

Saturday

- Third-place game at noon

- Championship game at 2 p.m.

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