By Ted Waddell
LOCH SHELDRAKE — November 19, 2002 – It was surf’s up “Down in the Bunker” Thursday night, as the home team Sullivan County Community College (SCCC) Generals defeated The Wave of Queensborough Community College, 105-62.
For the Generals, it was the first home game of the 2002-2003 season of hoops. It was a welcome win, as SCCC (1-2) came off a two-game losing streak in the wake of the Monroe of Rochester Tournament, which took place on November 8 and 9.
In Rochester, the Generals led a couple of nationally ranked National Junior Collegiate Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II teams in the closing minutes, but in the final analysis came up a bit short in the points column.
After a fairly sluggish start in Thursday’s game at Paul Gerry Fieldhouse, the Generals began to break it open in the first frame taking a 46-27 halftime lead into the locker room.
In the second half, with a comfortable lead on the overhead scoreboard, the Generals displayed some snap-fire shooting, a performance that delighted the hometown fans.
In a welcome change from recent years, the “bunker” – as the fieldhouse is affectionately known by the local faithful – was about three-quarters filled to capacity with a spirited crowd including stalwart fans Herman and Shirley Weingarten and a local contingent from the First National Bank of Jeffersonville.
Adding to the excitement running rampant in the gym, the Generals basketball cheerleading squad kept things hopping as they kicked it up into overdrive.
“Sullivan is a very talented team, and I think they’re the team to beat in the region,” said Tom Sinnickson, eighth year basketball coach at Queensborough, (0-2).
“We’re a young team, and we’re growing,” he said. “I think the second half of the season will be better.”
SCCC Athletic Director and Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach Chris DePew said he thought the victory was a good start to the Generals’ home season.
“If we keep getting better, we’re going to be real good by February,” he said. “We know we have something special here.”
Chad Beeten is returning at the helm of the Generals for another go at an NJCAA national championship.
“It was fun,” he said. “Every time we win, it’s a fun time considering we started off 0-2. It was good to get a win.”
“We just wore ‘em down,” added Beeten. “A lot of teams can come out and play well for five minutes, but it’s a forty minute game.”
SCCC stats: double-digit scorers were Darren Sykes (a game-high 25), Glenn Davis (11), Gary Jones (11) and Dante Griggs (10). At the free throw line, the Generals were 9-of-11 (82 percent).
Players into double figures for Queensborough were Mark Frazier (20) and Teron Simpson (12). At the foul line: 8-of-17 (48 percent).
The 2002-2003 SCCC Generals field a squad of 13 freshmen and four sophomores. The captains of the young team are Wygene McCants, Darius Waters and Dana Holmes.
“We have a long way to go, a lot of learning to do,” said Beeten. “I think our best days are ahead of us – it’s one day at a time.”
Joe Roche, “The Voice of the Generals”, talked about the team following the game.
“I think this team is a lot more athletic than last year’s team,” he said. “They can run and they can shoot!”
After the game, 6-year-old Dante Seabrook of Chester made the rounds getting the General players and coaches to autograph his copy of the team’s new media guide.
“Someday, I will get a lot of autographs and I’ll be the luckiest boy on earth,” said the young autograph hound.
The next scheduled home game for the Generals will tip-off at 7 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 25 as SCCC squares off against Gateway Community College at Paul Gerry Fieldhouse.