The South Georgia Technical College Jets and Lady Jets basketball squads are gaining a lot of valuable experience during preseason scrimmages and both head coaches hope to see even more improvement before the two teams open the 2019 – 2020 season on November 1st.
The Jets traveled to the CB Hoops JUCO Jamboree in Emerson, GA on Saturday, October 19th and also traveled to Middle Georgia State College in Cochran last week for tough scrimmages. The Lady Jets hosted Thomas University on the SGTC campus on Sunday and the Jets will have a home scrimmage against Thomas University on Tuesday, October 22nd at 6:30 p.m. in the Hangar.
“I thought we improved,” said South Georgia Technical College Jets head coach Travis Garrett. “Especially our younger guys, they are starting to understand the pace of play and are paying attention more to details. We also shot the ball better and I think that will be a strong point for us this season."
Coach Garrett singled out sophomore guard Toriano Lewis for shooting the ball well all weekend and then spotlighted seven-foot sophomore Merdy Bata for his ability to block and defend shots against opponents.
“Toriano will have a bigger role for the team this season,” said Garrett. “I thought our defense got better and we were able to transition up and down the court better. Merdy Bata is a major shot blocker, which is something I haven’t had since I’ve been here. I expect him to be a major force defensively for us as he blocked and altered shots all weekend. I am really looking forward to seeing our guys play Thomas University here Tuesday night in our last tune-up before the season starts on November 1st,” added Coach Garrett.
The Lady Jets were scheduled to play Thomas University on Saturday at 1 p.m. but the threat of dangerous weather postponed that match-up until 2 p.m. Sunday. The weather delay definitely helped the Lady Jets as they rolled to a 90 – 48 win over Thomas University in that scrimmage.
"We are gradually showing some improvement in some areas,” said SGTC Athletic Director and Lady Jets head coach James Frey. “We’re still very inconsistent and have a long, long way to go before we are a good basketball team. Everything starts in practice. We have to learn to show up and compete every day. A few have but more haven’t,” said Coach Frey.
“Practice is where we will get better. Physically, we can be special. We’re very talented but mentally we must get a lot better. Sunday was a step in the right direction but we have to follow it up with a good week of practice or it won’t matter.
"As a team we have to get much tougher mentally. This is the softest team I’ve ever coached mentally and as their coach it is my job to push them through that and get them mentally tough so they are willing and able to compete at a high level every day in practice and in every game. We’re working on it so I guess time will tell,” said Frey.
The Lady Jets were up by 20 at the end of the first quarter and never looked back. They stretched to lead to 48 – 16 at the half and then at the final buzzer had compiled a 90 – 48 lead.
Four Lady Jets posted double-figures including sophomore forward Yasriyyah Wazeerud-Din and sophomore guard Anna McKendree. Yasriyyah Wazeerud-Din tossed in 13 points and Anna McKendree added 11 points.
Flore Ngasamputu, a freshman from the Congo, led the team with 22 points and freshman Veronica Charles, point guard, hustled her way into double-figures with 10 points.
The Lady Jets will have one more scrimmage before the season opens. They will host Wesleyan College in a scrimmage on Saturday, October 26th at 1 p.m. in Hangar.
Both the Jets and the Lady Jets open the season on November 1st. The Jets will travel to Wilmington, NC, to play in the Region 10/17 Tip-Off. They face Cape Fear Community College at 7 p.m. on November 1st and then USC Salkahatchee at 5 p.m. on November 2nd and Spartanburg Methodist College at 1 p.m. on November 3rd.
The Lady Jets will open the season with a Tip-Off Classic here. They face Santa Fe College at 7 p.m. on November 1st and Chattahoochee Valley Community College at 3 p.m. on November 2nd.
