By Rob Potter
SULLIVAN COUNTY — January 26, 2010 — The Sullivan County Community College (SCCC) basketball teams opened the spring semester with victories on Thursday night at Paul Gerry Fieldhouse.
In the first game of the evening, the SCCC Lady Generals defeated the Rockland Community College Lady Hawks, 67-49, in a Mid-Hudson Conference (MHC) game. Then the SCCC Generals topped the Dutchess Community College Falcons, 91-53, in a MHC contest.
SCCC keeps its undefeated record intact
With its victory over Dutchess CC, SCCC improved its record to 15-0 overall and 8-0 in MHC. The Generals are currently ranked No. 2 in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division III national poll.
DCC’s record dropped to 3-13 overall and 1-8 in MHC.
SCCC took a 4-0 lead in the first minute of the game and extended its lead to 11-2 as Leron Joseph made a pair of free throws with 15:07 to go in the first half.
Sophomore guard Geraldo Fernandez, who is a Monticello High School graduate, made a 3-point shot at the 8:44 mark to push the Generals’ advantage to 27-8.
The Generals made some more shots from outside the arc while limiting the Falcons’ scoring opportunities to hold a 51-20 lead at halftime.
Fernandez, who finished the contest with a team-high 16 points, was one of five Generals who scored in double figures. Moses Dayee had 14 points, Kareem Bernard and Evan Pope scored 13 points apiece and Terry Coleman had 10 points.
Bernard’s 13 points were a career high and Coleman recorded a double-double as he dished out 11 assists.
In addition, SCCC freshman forward Jordan Thorpe had 12 rebounds.
SCCC Coach Kevin DeVantier was pleased to have his team back on the court after not playing for 33 days due to the break between semesters.
“I thought our offense was a little bit rusty early on,” he said. “Our effort on defense was great, we held them to 51 points.
“All 12 guys played tonight,” DeVantier added. “It was a good win and a good way to start the second half of the season.”
Sophomore forward Jack Blayney lead the Falcons with a game-high 17 points.
“They are an extremely talented basketball club,” DCC Coach Marc Lofaro said of the Generals. “They are capable of winning the national championship.”
As for his players, Lofaro was happy they kept giving a good effort on the court.
“In the second half, we played better,” Lofaro said. “It was great that we kept competing.”
Lady Generals stop Lady Hawks
SCCC led by as many as 30 points in the second half on its way to victory.
In a seven-minute span in the second half, SCCC (3-7, 1-3 MHC) went on a 13-0 scoring run. Sophomore forward Roxann Rutherford scored seven of those points. With 9:50 displayed on the scoreboard clock, she swished a 3-point shot to extend the Lady Generals’ lead to 59-30.
Rockland CC (1-9) managed to reduce that advantage as Alyssa Guido scored 12 points in the last five minutes of the contest.
Leading SCCC to victory were freshman forward Destiny Harmer, who scored a game-high 18 points, Rutherford and Taisha Sherman. Rutherford netted 15 points and Sherman added 14 points.
“It feels nice to win some games,” SCCC Coach Sara Thompson Tweedy said. “It’s a whole different experience for the players and coaches this season.”
During the 2008-2009 season, the Lady Generals only recorded one win.
“The program’s more stable now,” said Tweedy, who is in her second year of guiding the Lady Generals. “I appreciate all of the players from last season for sticking with it and doing their best.”
Two of those players, Rutherford and Jessica Diaz, a Liberty Central School graduate, are the two sophomore leaders for this season’s Lady Generals team.
Guido finished with a game-high 27 points, while teammate Katie Daly had 14 points.
“We were competitive in the first half,” Rockland Coach Rich Jacobson said. “In the second half, our shooting percentage was not where it should be at all. But we have a young team and we’re improving.”