By Ted Waddell
LOCH SHELDRAKE — December 11, 2007 — A balanced scoring attack was the key for the home team Generals of Sullivan County Community College as they defeated their long standing rivals, the Orange County Community College (OCCC) Colts, 66-53, on Thursday night in a National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) basketball game down in the “bunker” at Paul Gerry Fieldhouse.
SCCC (8-3, 5-0 Region XV) managed to eke out a slim 30-25 lead at halftime. But the Generals ramped up their offensive pressure in the second half to win by 13 points.
The Colts’ 7-foot-2-inch center Riiny Ngot dominated the glass as he grabbed 15 rebounds.
But Ngot was corralled somewhat in the scoring department by 6-foot-6-inch SCCC forward David Williamson.
“I think David did a good job containing him,” SCCC Coach Chris DePew said of Williamson’s defensive performance against Ngot.
Bertram “B.J.” McDowell paced the Generals’ balanced scoring attack with 14 points. Robert Afum scored 10 points, Marvin Ramirez and Josh DuPuy each netted nine points and David Williamson added eight points for SCCC.
Two Colts, Malik Jenkins and Ngot, reached double figures in the scoring column. Jenkins recorded a game-high 21 points, while Ngot had 13 points.
SCCC held a slight edge at the free-throw line. The Generals made 9-of-14 (64 percent) of their free throws, while the Colts were 6-of-18 (33 percent)at the line.
OCCC (3-5 overall, 1-2 Region XV) was missing three starters – Stefan Bonneau, Tony Surin and Blake Williams – due to injury.
“We missed a bunch of chippies and a bunch of free throws,” OCCC Coach Tom Rickard said. “With only seven players, you can’t make mistakes.
“Coach DePew coached a very good game, and his players played hard,” Rickard added.
The Generals’ leader summed up the game in a few words.
“Well, we won, that’s good,” DePew said. “It’s always a good thing when you beat a Division II scholarship program, and as long as we keep winning games at home, everything’s going to be fine for us.
“I think we played very, very well considering the size disadvantage,” added DePew, referring to facing off against some very tall players on the Colts’ roster.
DePew said one of the main strengths of this year’s squad of Generals is the ability not to have to rely on a single player to post double digits on the scoreboard.
“When B.J.’s [McDowell] off, the other guys step it up, and that’s what happened tonight,” DePew said.
“The only thing I care about is scoring more points than the other team,” he added.