Jets and Lady Jets learning in pre-season match-ups

The South Georgia Technical College Jets and Lady Jets basketball teams took on some tough opponents in pre-season match-ups over the weekend and struggled slightly in preparation for the real 2016-2017 season opening at home on Tuesday, November 1st. The Lady Jets hosted Columbus State University in the Hangar on the Americus campus and dropped a 72 – 55 decision. The Jets did better with a 2 – 1 record at the CB Hoops JUCO Jamboree in Cartersville. They won against USC Salkehatchie and Lawson State but dropped a tough one to Enterprise State. “We have a long way to go in a short period of time,” said South Georgia Technical College Athletic Director and Lady Jets head coach James Frey. “This is the time of the year to look at a lot of different players and see how people react in game situations. But we start the season in less than a week, so we have got to step it up.” Jets head coach Travis Garrett was a little more optimistic. “We are looking forward to the 2016 – 2017 season when we open up with New Rock Prep out of Conyers, Georgia. The pre-season jamboree contests are different from real games but it does allow you to look at the players against good opponents.” In the Lady Jets contest, returning sophomore guard LaDeja James, from Virginia Beach, VA, showed leadership on the court and led the Lady Jets in scoring with 10 points. She was four of five from the field and two of two from the foul line. She is the only Lady Jet returning from the 2015-2016 season. Two other guards also contributed good scoring performances for the Lady Jets in that loss. Camille Coleman, a sophomore transfer guard from South Bend, IN and Evansville University, had nine points and freshman guard Kanna Suzuki from Hamamatsu, Japan, added eight points. She was two of three from the three point line and two of two from the foul line. Desiree Corbin, a sophomore forward transfer from Darton College; Trakyra Kidd, a freshman guard from Wesley Chapel, FL, and Esther Adenike, a freshman forward from Lagos Nigeria, all added six points. Houlfat Mahouchiza, a freshman forward from Nice, France, tossed in five points. The Jets have two players returning this season. Pat Welch and Derrick Traywick. Welch is a guard from Pembroke, NH; and Traywick is a guard from Milledgeville, Georgia. They are joined by six other sophomores that transferred in and seven true freshmen. “I think all of our newcomers will be able to help us tremendously,” said Coach Garrett, who added, “We are certainly going to need them. We have one of the toughest non-conference schedules in the country. Our goal every year is to play against quality teams with the hopes of us being battle tested before we start conference play.” Both the Jets and the Lady Jets open the regular season on Tuesday, November 1st at the Hangar on the Americus campus. The Lady Jets will face Chattahoochee Valley Community College at 6 p.m. and the Jets will take on New Rock Prep from Conyers at 8 p.m.