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By DAVID WOLMAN
Traveler Sports Editor
sports@arkcity.net

What the Cowley College men's basketball team accomplished during the regular season was one for the record books.

The Tigers won their first outright conference title since the 1990-91 season, finished one win short of tying a school record, led the Jayhawk East in scoring defense (61.6) and Eric McKinney broke the school record for blocked shots in one game (9).

"It's a good accomplishment, but it's over with," Cowley coach Steve Eck said. "We have to get ready for the next part of the season (Region VI Tournament)."

Eck isn't taking anything for granted heading into tonight's Region VI first-round playoff game against Butler County. He knows that all of the success his team had in the regular season would become an afterthought if Cowley can't take care of business against the Grizzlies at W.S. Scott Auditorium.

"It's a different season," Eck said. "A team can be playing really well during the season and play bad (during the postseason). You've got to begin from scratch."

After finishing 16-15 last season, Eck has turned the program around in just his first season --finishing the regular season 28-2 and are currently ranked ninth in the latest NJCAA Division 1 poll.

All of that success has earned Cowley the number one seed in the Region VI Tournament. But with success, comes a bulls-eye. The Tigers will certainly have ones on their back in the tournament.

"We've had a target on our back from the very beginning of the year," Eck said. Cowley has handled that pressure extremely well, especially during its current 11-game winning streak.

The Tigers enter the Region VI tournament as the favorite, but don't tell that to Eck. He's not buying into that.

"I think everybody is a favorite," Eck said. "There's not a favorite. Every team in the tournament is going to be competitive. I'm not too big on the 'favorite' type of thing. There's so much parity. Everybody has a chance."

Cowley's up-tempo offense has been a constant, but its been an increased effort on the defensive end that's left more of a positive impression on Eck. The Tigers have held six of their last seven opponents to 60 or fewer points.

"I thought that we played better defense in the second half of the season," Eck said. "We shut down the other team's better players, and I thought we did a better job of that."

Having a little pride in what you do certainly has added to Cowley's cause.

"We seem to have a little more pride in what we're doing than in the first half of the league season," Eck said.

Cowley will have its hands full tonight. It's not just one player the Tigers have to focus on tonight, but almost Butler's entire roster.

DJ Harrison (13.2 points), Logan Stutz (13.1) and Maurice Colter (12.3) are all threats from the field. Couple that along with four more Grizzlies average at least seven points, the Tigers will have their hands full.

"They're a very good shooting team," Eck said. "They shoot the ball well. They run a good offense. They play well on defense. They've been in almost every ball game they've played."

Cowley can relate to that, first-hand.

In their only regular season meeting on Dec. 2, the Tigers led only 42-39 at halftime and clinged onto a four-point lead with 12 minutes remaining. Cowley managed to built its lead to 15 points and leave with an 81-72 win.

And don't overlook Butler's record for one second. The Grizzlies enter the playoffs at 9-20, but they could be one of the scarier lower seeds heading into the tournament.

"Butler's record is deceiving," Eck said. "They are a solid team and are going to play hard."

During practice this week, "intensity" has been the key word mentioned. Eck believes that element could determine how far Cowley advances in the playoffs.

"As in the regular season, you've got to have a high intensity level on defense and a sense of urgency. And you've got to play together."

Let the tournament begin.