By Rob Potter
LOCH SHELDRAKE — January 1, 2010 — At the midway point of their 2009-2010 season, the Sullivan County Community College Generals are undefeated and among the best National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division III basketball teams in the nation.
SCCC entered the semester break with a spotless 14-0 record and a No. 4 ranking in the NJCAA Division III poll.
Coach Kevin DeVantier, who is in his first year of guiding the Generals after serving as head coach of the men’s basketball team at Columbia-Greene Community College, is understandably very pleased with SCCC’s success so far this season.
In particular, DeVantier praised sophomores Moses Dayee and Terry Coleman.
“Moses Dayee and Terry Coleman have been doing a great job on both ends of the floor,” he said. “They are two of the guards who run our offense.”
DeVantier also lauded Geraldo Fernandez, a sophomore forward and 2003 graduate of Monticello Central School, who will be eligible to play during the spring semester.
“He will be a key player for us,” DeVantier said. “He should help our offense and score some big baskets.”
SCCC is set to begin the second half of its schedule by hosting Dutchess Community College at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 21 at Paul Gerry Fieldhouse.
All of the Generals games this month and in February will be Region XV contests.
Given the storied history of the SCCC men’s basketball program, which includes four NJCAA Division III national titles, DeVantier noted that reaching the championship game and winning it is the Generals’ “ultimate goal” for this season.
But he also knows that in order to play for the national title at SUNY Delhi in March, the Generals need to win the Mid-Hudson Conference and Region XV championships.
“We are taking it one game at a time,” DeVantier said.