Turkey and Dressing, Pumpkin Pie and Some Juco Hoops

A short docket in the sports world, as usual on Thanksgiving Day. The same goes for the Juco hoop scene as well. Only five games showed up in the schedule, one ranked team in each of the three games at the State College of Florida Thanksgiving Classic in Bradenton. A FL vs. GA showdown. And two games in the boot heel of Southwest Missouri in the Peoples Community Bank Thanksgiving Classic at Three Rivers College.

Here are the summaries of all the games:

-In the first game of the SCF Classic (billed as FL vs. GA), it was also the battle of the Titans. And the Titans won. The unranked and undefeated Albany Tech (GA) Titans, lowered the boom on #7 Eastern Florida State Titans, to the tune of 61-51. It was Eastern Florida’s (5-2) second straight set back (Chipola the other).

Albany Tech took a 31-25 lead a after 20 minutes. Kicked up the advantage to 19, 51-32, at 9:00 on the clock before the Eastern Titans sounded their emergency alert. EFSC proceeded to answer the alarm by outscoring Tech 13-1 to cut it to 52-45 on a Stephan Dieujuste triple from the deep left corner at 3:09. Albany had gone over 7 minutes without a FG.

Eastern Florida, however, could get no closer. Less than two minutes later, the Tech Titans stretched the margin back to thirteen, holding off Eastern for the final ten point margin. Albany, now 6-0, was led by DJ Gooden’s game high 22. Jalen Nesmith knocked down 13, and John Egbuta added 11.

Eastern Florida, played without six roster players. No explanation available. Markus Harding was the only Eastern Titan with double figures finishing with 13, eleven coming before the break. EFSC continues in the FSC Classic Friday vs. #19 South Georgia Tech (6-1). Albany faces off against #9 Indian River CC (8-1).

-Game two featured Indian River CC in the Royal and Yellow-gold corner, vs. Georgia Highlands in the Royal and Orange corner. GHC has been struggling a little hitting shots. Sitting at 3-2 on the season, suffering back to back losses, they were looking to get on track against the #9 Indians, who entered the game on a six game win streak.

Georgia Highlands scored on their first possession and led 2-0. Unfortunately for the Chargers, it was the last lead change of the game. The second consecutive game in which there was only one lead change, and neither were to their benefit.

Leading 47-38 at half, Indian River did get a strong challenge from the Chargers at the start of the second frame. IRSC watched as GHC cut it to 2, 49-47 three minutes after the break. However, after that is was all Indian River. the Indians eventually pushed the lead to 21 and closed out the deal, 94-82.

Georgia Highlands (3-3), will look to regroup tomorrow against the host, State College of Florida, a team who beat them last week 85-82 on their own home court.

Indian River, now winners of seven straight (8-1) got an outstanding performance from AJ Cajuste, who dropped in 34, seemingly scoring at will. The Indians will greet Albany Tech (6-0) in the jump circle on Friday.

-In the day’s finale at Bradenton, State College of Florida squared off with South Georgia Tech. State College led from the tip, and by 13 at half, 54-41. After the first period and 15 minute rest, the #17 ranked Jets found a different gear, and climbed within 2 at :19 mark, 88-86.

The Manatees James “Pop” Weathers was fouled on the ensuing possession, sending him to the charity stripe for a one plus bonus. An 81% career FT shooter at SCF, Pop, uncharacteristically, only hit one of two, leaving FSC up only three.

Seconds later, South Tech’s Malik Battle drilled a right wing trey off a dandy Will Johnston dish to tie it up. With ten ticks on the clock, State was able to get off a last second three, but Williams shot bumped the rim a little short, and wide right. Regulation ended at 89’s.

In the extra period, the Manatees were five better than the Tech to claim the win, 103-98, sending them to 7-3 on the season. With the loss, the Jets suffered their first defeat following six wins.

State College had five in double figures, and two getting double-doubles. Cobey Harraway’s 27 points led the way, James “Pop” Weathers completed play with 20 pts, adding 11Reb and 7Asst. Next up was Ametri Moss who tossed in 16, while Djorde Gobovic and Kwo Agwa both chipped in 11. No results were available on the Jets scorers at press time.

SGTC gets #7 Eastern Florida State Friday. State College will meet Georgia Highlands.

-Three Rivers College hosted the People’s Community State Bank Thanksgiving Classic in Poplar Bluff, MO. The first game was between hot and cold #24 Northeastern Oklahoma A&M and Southwest Tennessee CC.

This one turned out to be the Golden Norsemen’s “hot” night (or day). They started off well, and finished well, on their way to a 88-69 collaring of Southwest TN. NEO up by ten at half, 36-26, kept the cold shooting Saluqis at bay, and pulled away in the second half to gain their 9th win in 12 tries. NEO’s biggest lead was thirty before gliding in for the 19 point landing.

NEO shot 50% from the field (53% from outside the arc on 10-19) and 82% on free tosses. Meanwhile, SWCC was going 32/22/72%.

Terrell Kabala had scoring honors for NEO, drilling 7-11 FGs, totaling 19 points. Three others breached the ten point barrier, Brian Moore went in for 16p/4r/5a, with Adnan Hussein and Jonathon Mogbo both notching 12, Mogbo also had 6 reb & 5 asst. Thomasi Gilgeous-Alexander only scored three, but was team high with 9 boards and 7 helpers. The Norsemen shared the ball well with 20 assists on their 32 makes.

Carding a dub-dub for the Saluqis was Jarren Nunez Radden posting 17 points and 10 rebounds. James DeJesus and Juan Cajelli both ended the game with 10. Cajelli just missing a double double as he had 9 boards.

SWCC will play hosts Three Rivers College Friday. NEO, whether hot or cold, will take on Otero College.

-In the day’s grand finale, Otero, who traveled 800 miles for their chance to play games in the People’s Community Bank Thanksgiving Classic, had the host Three Rivers up first.

And anybody who knows Juco Ball, knows that Three Rivers is always a tough draw at home. Even in their new digs at the beautiful, spacious, state-of-the-art Libla Family Sports Complex.

Otero came into the contest with a record of 7-1, on a six game winning streak. Three Rivers was 4-3, with two of those losses to the hands of No. 2 ranked John A. Logan College (IL).

The Rattlers also came in as one of the nations leading 3pt shooting teams, averaging 11.3 makes per game, ranking them 4th. The Raiders were not having much success in defensive FG% or defending the three.

The game could just as easily been decided on a coin flip as both teams stayed within arms length of the other, and the outcome, as it often does, came down to the last possession. And after the smoke had cleared in the Battle Royale, Three Rivers gave it their best shot, but came up just a tad short, falling 63-62.

Otero, now 8-1, established the advantage early, but the Raiders never let them pull ahead too far. The Rattlers took a slim lead of 32-28 into the locker room.

Three Rivers quickly tied it at 38 at the start of the second twenty, and it was anybody’s game from that point on. With the Raiders leading 56-55 and four minutes to play, the teams took turns posting 6-0 runs. Otero went first to claim the lead 61-56. After Three Rivers returned the favor, they were back in front by one at 62-61.

With the shot clock off, Otero used about 15 of the 29 seconds working the ball, but the Raiders “D” didn’t give them what they were looking for. Finally Aman Measho got free at the FT line, took a dribble and a step, hitting a floating 12 footer from straight on, putting the Rattlers back up by what proved to be the final score.

With ten ticks remaining, Three Rivers advanced to the 28′ mark across from their bench and took a time out. Five seconds still on the clock, the Raiders leading scorer, Lamar Wilkerson, was inbounding. Not getting the first, second, or third option, Wilkerson finally found Lamont Jackson open right in front of him on the deep right wing.

Jackson quickly became closely guarded by two Rattler defenders. Jackson wanting to create, tried to split the defenders on a dribble drive toward the basket. But feet got tangled up and Jackson went to the floor, and so did the ball.

Otero’s Dwayne Chester III, dove on the loose ball, holding it for a couple of seconds until the horn sounded. In disbelief, it seemed the Raiders were standing around waiting on a foul call, that never happened.

Three Rivers falls to 4-4. Lamar Wilkerson was leading scorer with 16, right at his season average. Lamar also finished with game high 9 boards. Kenyon Hodges totaled 13 points and 6 rebounds.

Aman Measho, who hit the game winning basket for Otero, was their leading point producer at 13. AC Curry was second recording 12 points plus collecting a team high 8 caroms.

Otero hooks up with #24 NEO on Friday. Three Rivers faces Southwest Tennessee CC.