Bobcats Split Homecoming Games to Conference Rivals, Columbus State

By Brandon Bush

The most exciting week of the year has come and gone but before homecoming week came to a close, Georgia College basketball looked for two big conference wins.

The Bobcats met archrival Columbus State to cap off Homecoming 2016. In front of thousands of fans, the women’s team lost a hard-fought 66-53 battle with the Cougars, while the men smashed their opponents, cruising to an 88-78 win.

The Bobcat women kept close to Columbus State through most of the match, and entered the half locked up at 30 but the Cougars would take control in the second half, scoring 22 points in the final quarter. The Bobcats turned the ball over 18 times, resulting in 12 Columbus State points.

“I couldn’t be more proud of their effort,” women’s head coach Maurice Smith said. “We made some mistakes, but our effort was good. That being said, you have to play 40 minutes. The margin of error is small going down the final stretch.”

Despite the loss, the Bobcat women are still holding their heads high going into the final stretch of the season.

“We’ve had our ups and downs and our losing streaks, but we’re going to be fine,” junior point guard LaRice Walker said. “I’m very confident that we’re going to the conference playoffs.”

“When you look at the box score and your four seniors are leading the team in scoring, it’s a great feeling.”

Mark Gainous,

men’s basketball Head Coach

Walker led the team in scoring with 15 points, while seniors Kadesha Gibbs and McKenna Rushton also scored double digits, with Gibbs earning a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds while Rushton scored 13 and caught six rebounds.

Things were drastically different for the men’s team, however, as the Bobcats dominated Columbus State, shooting 51.9 percent and maintaining the lead from tip to the final whistle.

“They were resilient,” men’s head coach Mark Gainous said. “We shot the ball well, and we played defense well. When you look at the box score and your four seniors are leading the team in scoring, it’s a great feeling. They’re good kids.”

All five Bobcat starters scored double digits, with senior guard Dwight Anderson thrashing the Cougar defense with 23 points.

“We feel good right now,” Anderson said. “After we beat Augusta, we came in trying to get back on a winning streak. We have an opportunity to go far in the tournament.”

Coach Gainous expressed his gratitude to everyone in attendance, saying that it was an “awesome and unbelievable crowd” and adding that GC was a “special place to be.”

The result of Saturday’s games leave the men’s team in fourth place in the division with a 16-7 record, while the women sit at third place with 15-8. Both teams will travel to Young Harris to begin the final stretch of the regular season on Wednesday.