RC kicks off basketball season with Midnight Madness

The official start of the 2021-22 men's and women's basketball seasons got underway with a bang - and plenty of neon thanks to the new RC cheer squad - on Thursday night with a special Midnight Madness event in the Ron Butler Gymnasium.

"It was great and a lot of fun for everyone," said RC head men's basketball coach Larry Brown. "We want to thank everyone that came out and showed their support."

The event, which celebrated the official start of preseason practices for NJCAA teams across the country, kicked off just after midnight to a large crowd of fans, students and athletes. In all, more than 150 people turned out to dance and cheer part of the night away. As part of the event, the Ranger men's and women's basketball teams were introduced and played a short scrimmage amongst themselves. They also treated fans to a dunking and three-point shooting display.

Fresh off a run to the NJCAA national semifinals, the RC men will start preseason scrimmages on Oct. 9. The Lady Rangers, under new head coach Gabi Laurent, will also begin preseason games on Oct. 9. The 2021-21 regular season will start on Nov. 1.

The event also ushered in the rebirth of the Ranger College cheer program. The squad performed numerous cheers, as well as several events such as a limbo relay race and a dance contest for students - complete with MC work by RC head baseball coach Scott Norwood, who previously served as the official voice of the Indianapolis Colts' RCA Dome before returning the coaching.