Davidson County Community College doesn’t have to share anything this year.

After finishing in a tie for first place in the Storm’s first two seasons, DCCC will have the Region X Tarheel conference championship all to themselves following Tuesday night’s 73-68 over Central Carolina Community College. DCCC, currently ranked sixth in the country in the National Junior College Athletic Association Division III poll, is 21-4 on the year, including a perfect 8-0 record in the Tarheel conference.

“We were excited,” DCCC coach Matt Ridge said. “It was definitely one of our goals before the season just as it was the previous two seasons. We were co-champions before, but this year we wanted to do it without the 'co' part. We were fortunate enough to do that. Hopefully, this will not be the highlight of our season. We want to base our pride not on what we’ve done but what we’re going to do.”

Justin Glover’s 24 points paced the Storm Tuesday night, as DCCC collected its 13th victory in a row. With the regular season title locked up, the Storm head into the conference tournament on Feb. 25-27 as the top seed and will have a first round bye. In the previous two seasons, DCCC has reached the finals only to lose to Catawba Valley, who is longer in the conference. Taking that step and getting that elusive championship is next on the Storm’s list, especially after losing last year’s final on a 3-pointer in the final seconds.

“There’s not been many days in the past year where that game hasn’t been in the back of my mind,” said Ridge. “It was the most painful loss I’ve had as a coach. To lose like that was such a dagger in our side. Our sophomores have talked to the team about not going out like that again.”

After starting the year 2-3, DCCC has only lost one of their last 20. There are two more games left in the regular season and both are at home where the Storm is 38-2 in almost three full seasons. DCCC hosts Louisburg tonight at 7 p.m. before honoring its sophomores on Saturday against Caldwell Community College. Sophomores Roderick Geter, Eric Potts and Phillip Williams all will be honored Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m.

“For whatever reason, as the season went along, we have gained more confidence, in ourselves, our system and more importantly each other,” Ridge said. “This team, no matter what the score, finds a way to win. Not every game has been a gimme. I don’t think we’ve peaked, and to me that’s exciting. Hopefully, we’ll peak [in the conference tournament].”

Staff Writer Eliot Duke can be reached at 888-3578, or duke@tvilletimes.com.