Exhibition games train fresh teams

The men’s basketball team kicked off its season on Thursday, Nov. 3, with an exhibition game facing Mercer University.

The team was unable to hold on to victory as Mercer came back in the final three seconds of the game to win with a final score of 58-57.

The Bobcats played a close game against Mercer and they plan on training hard to get ready for their first official game against Lee University in Newberry, S.C., on Nov. 11.

“I felt good about the effort the team put forward,” Head Coach Terry Sellers said. “I didn’t see anything we can’t correct and work on for future games.”

At the end of the first half, the Bobcats were behind two points with the score at 32-30. The score was close throughout the game.

“The defensive effort was really good,” Sellers said. “The team hustled and played well enough to keep us in the game.”

Sellers is in his 19th season coaching for GC and is looking forward to a great season.

“Right now we are going to focus on offense for the game against Lee,” Sellers said. “We need to shoot with more confidence and believe when we take a shot it is going in the basket.”

Senior forward Ryan Aquino is in his fourth season playing for GC. He finished the game with eight boards, three steals and a total of 14 points for the Bobcats.

“We will practice every day for the rest of the week to be ready for Lee,” Aquino said. “Once the season gets started, we will practice six days a week.”

Junior guard Tarrence Chatman is in his first season playing for GC.

“I love to play ball and be with my team,” Chatman said. “It doesn’t matter who we play, we just love the game.”

Chatman also scored 14 points for the Bobcats as as well as recovered three rebounds and made three assists, Chatman tyed with Aquino as the highest team scorer.

“When I come in to practice it feels good to be there,” Chatman said. “The whole basketball atmosphere at GC is a good place to be.”

GC recruits new players every year to replace the graduating seniors and fill the team’s needs.

The exhibition against Mercer was a Coaches vs. Cancer game and the proceeds went to Relay For Life. The NCAA participates in Coaches vs. Cancer and every year this scrimmage is dedicated to the effort.

“This is our second year scrimmaging Coaches for Cancer with Mercer,” Sellers said. “Hopefully we were able to donate a good amount.”

Before their next game against Lee University, the team will sit down and discuss the Mercer game and together create goals.

“Our goal every year is to have the team reach their full potential,” Sellers said. “I love seeing the players come together at practice and have it carry on to the games.”

Posted by Julia Richardson on Nov 10 2011. Filed under Lead stories, Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.