The South Georgia Technical College Jets took an impressive 102 – 77 victory over New Rock Prep in their first home game of the 2019 – 2020 season. That moved the Jets to 3 – 2 overall after splitting decisions on the road in the opening weeks of the season.
The Jets opened up in Wilmington, NC with a 77 – 61 victory over Cape Fear Classic Community College in the Cape Fear Classic but then USC Salkehatchie handed the Jets a 76 – 68 loss in the second outing. The Jets traveled to Tuscaloosa, AL the following weekend and wound-up with another split. They lost to Shelton State Community College 72 – 61 in the opening game of the Tip Off Tournament but then rallied to a 95 – 85 win over Gadsden State Community College to go into the first home game with a 2- 2 record.
“We have played some good teams and this is a chance to get the guys ready for the conference season,” said South Georgia Technical College Jets head basketball coach Travis Garrett. “We have a lot of talent; we just have to get it all together.”
Returning sophomore guard Justin Johnson from Ft. Lauderdale, FL, has been leading the team in scoring so far this season. He had 15 points against Cape Fear Community College, 17 points in the loss to USC Salkehatchie and 23 points in the loss to Shelton State. He was the only player in double-figures in that game. He led the team again with 29 points when the Jets defeated Gadsden State Community College and then wound up with 15 points in a more balanced scoring attack against New Rock Prep at home.
“Justin is playing well,” said Coach Garrett. “But we know as the season progresses that our opponents are going to key on him and we have got to have some other players to step up and fill in that gap.”
Johnson was named the GCAA Division I player of the week for November 11th for averaging 26 points, eight rebounds, three assists, one block, and 3.5 steals in two games over the weekend. He shared that honor with Lady Jet Samari Tyson who was the women’s GCAA Division I player of the week. She averaged 17.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals in the Lady Jets that same week.
Garrett has started returner Justin Johnson, freshman Lamont Sanders from Baltimore, MD; sophomore transfer guard Jairus Carroll from Annapolis, MD; freshman guard/forward Denari Garrett from Tampa FL; and sophomore transfer Merdy Bata from Kinshasa Congo so far this season. Four of the five starters have put up double-figures in at least one outing.
In the first home game of the season, South Georgia Technical College never trailed. New Rock Prep did tie the game a couple of times early in the first half, but the Jets were up 52 – 36 at the end of the first half and then stretched that lead into a 102 – 77 victory.
Six Jets were in double-figures in that contest with Justin Johnson leading the way with 15 points. Lamont Sanders, Jairus Carroll and Tabais Long each contributed 11 points and then sophomore returning guard Brice Paster closed out the double figure scoring with 10 points.
Returning sophomore guard Toriano Lewis, freshman Denari Garrett, and 6’9’ freshman forward Jonahthan Kanyanga from Kinshasha Congo had six points each. Returning sophomore point guard Jaylen McKinney accounted for five points and then freshman Jalen Reynolds and Merdy Bata had four points apiece. Freshman guard Jordan Stephens from Macon, Georgia, closed out the scoring with three points.
The Jets will play at home this weekend in the Pete Arrington Classic. They will open up the classic at 7:30 p.m. against Wake Tech and then play against at 3 p.m. on Saturday, November 16th against Triton College.
The Lady Jets will also be at home on Saturday at 5 p.m. when they host Andrew College in a conference match-up. The Lady Jets will open the 2019 – 2020 conference season in Macon on Wednesday, November 13th at 5:30 p.m. when they face Central Georgia Technical College.