By Ted Waddell
LOCH SHELDRAKE — February 20, 2001 – It was a walk in the park for the home team during Thursday night’s men’s basketball game, as the Sullivan County Community College (SCCC) Generals defeated the Falcons of Dutchess Community College 117-53.
As the Generals continued to rack up points on their way to clipping the opposition’s wings, SCCC coach Will Brown took advantage of the situation and gave the bench some hard earned minutes on the floor.
In the opening minutes of the second half, Brown nipped the nagging problem of his starters getting the idea the game was too easy, and gave them a few minutes on the bench to reflect on the word “intensity” by pulling them off the floor and sending in another wave of players.
In a game against an obviously overmatched opponent, six Generals attained double digits: Curtis Henry (17), Laverne Goulbourne (13), Justin Dawson (12), Dereck Rankin (11), Ty Brunson (11) and Tim Butler (10).
Anthony Guarino led the Falcons with a game leading 18 points. Stats from the free throw line: SCCC 15/21 (71 percent); DCC 6/8 (75 percent).
“We were overmatched by a much superior, talented team,” said Joe Detz, head bird in the Falcons nest in summing up the game. “The kids played hard, but we were just overmatched.”
While Generals helmsman Brown thought it was a good game from the standpoint of giving a lot of his hoopsters playing time, he wasn’t too thrilled with the early second half letdown.
“I put their a–––s right on the bench,” Brown said of his starting five, “and put in five guys who went out there who had a 15-2 run.”
Brown added that was his way of telling the starters that games aren’t over at the half. “That’s why you play forty minutes,” he said.
“The main concern in games like this is maintaining the intensity, and giving kids a chance to play,” he said. “Fifteen guys practice every day, busting their butts, and you have to make sure you reward them with court time.”