DANVILLE, Ill. (March 16, 2026) — A tale of two halves defined opening game of the NJCAA Division II Men's Basketball Tournament, as Parkland College stormed back from a 10‑point deficit to defeat Johnson County Community College, 86–78.

Johnson County dominated early, shooting a blistering 56.3% in the first half while building a 14‑point lead midway through the period. Sparked by the play of Gavin Harvey, who finished with 21 points on 9-of-14 shooting, and Tavian Cruse, who added 18 points and nine rebounds, the Cavaliers looked firmly in control heading into halftime with a 43–33 advantage.

But the second half belonged entirely to Parkland.

The Cobras erupted for 53 points after the break, shooting an impressive 59.3% in the final 20 minutes. Chris Bush powered the comeback, scoring 20 points, including an 8-of-9 performance at the free-throw line and a strong presence on the glass with nine rebounds.

Equally impactful was Kodhi McStraw, whose efficient 20-point outing (8-of-13 FG) kept Parkland's offense humming. Grant Chamberlain added 15 points, and Jaiden Martin chipped in 16, giving the Cobras four players in double figures.

Parkland's turning point came with roughly five minutes remaining, using a decisive surge to erase the deficit and seize control. Their largest lead reached 10 points at the 4:32 mark, a remarkable turnaround from their early struggles.  

Johnson County attempted to rally late behind the scoring of Avian Webb, who provided a big lift off the bench with 20 points on 7-of-16 shooting, including three three-pointers. But the Cavaliers cooled dramatically from long range after halftime, hitting just 3 of 12 from beyond the arc in the second period.

Despite winning the rebounding battle (33–30) and scoring 38 points in the paint, Johnson County was undone by Parkland's second-half shot-making and their own struggles at the free‑throw line, finishing just 8-of-14 in a game ultimately decided by eight points.

Parkland closed out the contest with poised ball movement, timely shooting, and strong defensive stands, holding Johnson County to 35 second-half points. The Cobras' balanced attack and relentless second-half efficiency propelled them to a crucial tournament victory.