Northwest finished just three points shy from its first NJCAA National Tournament berth since the 2005-06 season a year ago in Clinton.

The Rangers rallied from a 15-point halftime deficit in the NJCAA Region 23 Semifinals before falling 75-73 to eventual region champion Northeast to end its season at 17-9 overall.

Even with the final outcome, 13th-year head coach Bubba Skelton, the winningest coach in program history, is still pleased with the effort of last year's team.

"I was proud of what our team accomplished," Skelton said. "We came on as the year went on, but we came so close to winning the north division and we came so close to making the national tournament. When you're that close, it's a little disappointing. With that being said, however, I thought we played awfully well several times to give us those opportunities. We just couldn't quite get over the hump."

In order to replicate or even surpass last season's success, the Rangers are going to have to replace Division I signees such as Seth LeDay (Virginia Tech) and Dre'Kalo Clayton (Austin Peay) in addition to losing two-year veterans Mark Partee and Tyrin Jones (Arkansas-Monticello).

"This isn't unusual for junior college," Skelton said. "Obviously we're going to miss high-level D1 guys like Seth and Dre. Mark and Tyrin were also steady for us at the guards and tough kids that really did a good job. We only have four guys returning but they all sprinkled in some minutes last year, so I think they can tell the other guys what they're going to be looking at."

Northwest's 2016-17 roster will be made up of six sophomores and nine freshmen. 

Leading the returning sophomore group is Clarksdale native Keelin Jackson who started in 11 of the team's 26 contests and averaged 7.2 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. Jackson scored in double figures seven times, including a career-high 19 points at Northeast.

"He's not a real vocal person," Skelton said. "But he's real steady and real coachable. The great thing about him is that he's going to play anywhere from point guard to the four-spot for us this year. He's a natural too tight player, but we're going to play him a little bit everywhere this year."

Among the other sophomores returning are guards Shelby McEwen and Trey Skelton and forward Isaiah Austin, all of which saw time in at least 21 games last season. 

A mix of transfers and true freshmen comprise the latest group of newcomers.

Dante Sterling, a 6-6, 200-pound forward, comes to Northwest after splitting time at Northwest Florida State College and at the Division I level at James Madison University. Sterling played in all 33 games last season at Northwest Florida, averaging 6.5 points and two rebounds per game while helping the Raiders to the NJCAA Quarterfinals.

Therrell Gosier II was his team's co-leading scorer on nationally-ranked Blanche Ely High School and helped the Cougars to a 28-1 record and the Florida Class 7A state title. Although Gosier initially signed with Kentucky to play football, the Pompano Beach, Fla., native eventually made his way to Northwest for hoops.

Raekwon Bush, a 6-foot-5, 220-pound forward and native of New Orleans, had several Division I offers out of Edna Karr High School while averaging a double-double his senior year.  

Transfers Alex Shepard and Dakota Dailey arrive from Ole Miss and Delta State along with Simpson Academy standout Brandon Cranford who should all provide immediate scoring for the Rangers.

Shepard was the MAIS Player of the Year at Leake Academy his senior year after averaging 25.7 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game and holds the school record with 3,260 career points. Dailey was a four-time All-MAIS selection out of Marshall Academy and was an MAIS Preseason Fab 15 from 2012-14 for three different sports, the only athlete to accomplish that feat. 

Overall, Skelton is eager to see what his class brings to the table.

"Having players that have some experience at the Division I level helps those guys coming in here," Skelton said. "We do have a lot of brand new guys, also. It's just going to be one of those things where they will have to figure it out as we go along. They will have to experience it early in the year and hopefully we can figure out exactly what we are going to be as a team."

While Northwest may have one of the most complete teams in the MACJC, the schedule is once again filled with challenges. Aside from the usual grind of the north division, the Rangers will also play challenging non-division opponents like Arkansas Baptist, Lawson State and Missouri State-West Plains.

"All three of those teams have been ranked in the NJCAA Top 20 in recent years," Skelton said. "They always have high-level Division I athletes at all of these programs and I know that they do again this year. Those three teams will give us a big test and ASU Mid-South is a steady opponent for us as well."

Northwest will open the season with its first eight games at Howard Coliseum, beginning with Tennessee Prep Academy on Tuesday, Nov. 1 at 7 p.m. The Rangers will travel to north division foe East Mississippi on Dec. 5 before resuming the rest of division play in the new year.

Selected Ranger basketball games will be live streamed at nwccrangers.com/watch this season, with Bryan Fenley on the call, while live stats will be available for all contests.