basketball coach Wendell Weathers is re-loading for the 2008-09 season.
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College men’s basketball coach Wendell Weathers has signed five standout Coast players this week for the 2008-09 season. The signing period for community/junior college players began April 8.
“We’re very excited about these players,” Weathers said. “It was a pretty good run for us on the coast.”
The five Gulf Coast signees are Willis Brownlee, T.J. Bowie, Derrel Jordan, Nadarius Durr, and Calvin Walker.
Brownlee, (6-4, 210) from Pass Christian, and Bowie, (6-4, 205) from Harrison Central, are both members of the Sun Herald 2008 All-South Mississippi Boys Team.
Jordan, (6-9, 195) is also from Harrison Central. Durr, (6-2, 165) from Gulfport, and Walker, 6-5, 205) from Gautier, were both considered two of the top 50 high school prospects in the state by several media outlets.
In 2007-08, Gulf Coast finished the season with a 15-12 record, and berths in the MACJCA State and Region 23 tournaments.
South Squads Post Wins In MACJC All-Star Games
MGCCC’S Luther Suggs
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College’s Luther Suggs’ tip-in at the buzzer gave the South All-Stars a 108-106 overtime win over the North team and completed a sweep for the South in the annual Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC) All-Star Basketball Games held Tuesday night at Choctaw Central High School in Choctaw.
The South women cruised to an 82-70 victory in their matchup with the top sophomore female players representing the North Division.
In the men’s contest, the North squad erased a 10-point deficit in the final three minutes of regulation and tied the contest on Jarvis Hill’s three pointer from NBA-range to send the game into the two-minute overtime period tied at 104.
Greg Truvillion of Co-Lin pumped in 26 points to lead the South and was voted the game’s most valuable player.
Other South scorers were Mark Wilson of East Central, 16; Regis Huddleston of Meridian,14; Terencio Powell of Southwest, 12; LaBarton Jones of Jones, nine; Labaron Weathers of Pearl River and Darron Maxtion of East Central, eight each; Jonathan Woodland of Jones, six; Corey London of Co-Lin, five; and Suggs, of Gulf Coast, four. Antoine Taylor of Mississippi Delta led the North with 19 points.
The North led 55-50 at halftime.
In the women’s contest, Reisha Bullock of Co-Lin led the South with 23 points. NaDosha Stickland of Meridian also had a productive evening with 17 points and received the game’s most valuable player award.
Also scoring were Tanesha Brown of East Central, 11; Phenicia Taylor of Southwest, eight; LaTerrica Booth of Pearl River, seven; Whitley Wiltz of Southwest and Jennifer Wair of Meridian, four each; Keaundra Augustus of Mississippi Gulf Coast, three; and Kim Griffin of Southwest and Kristen Ellis of Co-Lin, two each. Tateshia Page of Hinds and Kate Hubbard of Jones also saw action but did not score. The South held a 42-36 advantage at the break.
The MACJC All-Star Basketball Games are sponsored by the Pearl River Resort, Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, Pepsi, Mississippi Sports Medicine and East Central Community College in Decatur.
Bulldogs end hoops season with back-to-back losses to Itawamba
Justin Ray was the Bulldogs leading scorer.
Men’s head basketball coach Wendell Weathers saw his young team finish the 2007-08 campaign with a 15-12 record, and berths in the MACJCA State and Region 23 tournaments. The tough part was, in both events, Gulf Coast had to face eventual state and region champion Itawamba.
On Feb. 25, Anthony Brock scored 25 points as Itawamba defeated Gulf Coast 100-79 in the State Community College Basketball Tournament in Fulton. Justin Ray of Gulfport led Gulf Coast with 26 points. Luther Suggs of Gulfport added 22 points. Gulf Coast led 41-40 at halftime.
Eight days later the Bulldogs dropped a tough 80-73 loss to the Indians at the Region 23 Tournament in Clinton.
Many of this year’s starters should return for next season.
MGCCC men to face No. 5 Itawamba again at region 23 tourney
MGCCC’S Teshawn Byron.
To be the best, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College will have to beat the best. Once again the Bulldogs will face No. 5 ranked Itawamba on the hardwood 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Region 23 Tournament at Mississippi College in Clinton. Last week, Itawamba beat Gulf Coast 100-79 at the MACJC State Tournament in Fulton. The Indians (26-2) went on to win its first men’s state basketball title in 46 years.
In 2007, Gulf Coast lost to Itawamba 71-58 in the Region 23 title game. The Bulldogs (15-11) are hoping to get hot in Clinton and make a run and its first Region 23 title since 1993.
MGCCC falls to Itawamba at MACJC State Tourney
Anthony Brock scored 25 points as Itawamba defeated Gulf Coast 100-79 in the State Community College Basketball Tournament on Monday.
The tournament is being played at Fulton on the campus of Itawamba Community College.
Justin Ray of Gulfport led Gulf Coast (15-11) with 26 points. Luther Suggs of Gulfport added 22 points. Gulf Coast led 41-40 at halftime.
The team will find out soon if it qualifies for next week’s Region 23 Tournament.
MGCCC Bulldogs get ready for MACJC State Tournament
MGCCC’S Justin Ray (3) leads the Bulldogs against Itawamba at the MACJC State Tournament.
It took a win in the final game of the regular season, but Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College has once again qualified for the MACJC State Tournament set for Feb. 25-28 at Itawamba Community College in Fulton. The Bulldogs (15-10) defeated Meridian on the road 79-71 Feb. 21 to earn the No. 4 spot in the MACJC South Division.
“Before the win at Meridian, we had lost three in a row,” said Gulf Coast head coach Wendell Weathers. “We cut it pretty close, but we’re in the post-season, and that’s what matters.”
The Bulldogs will take on Itawamba (23-2), the No. 1 seed in the North Division, at 7:45 p.m. Feb. 25. The winner of that game will play the winner of the Meridian/Miss. Delta matchup Feb. 27.
“We need to play all 40 minutes to have a chance of winning,” Weathers said. “This season every one of our games has been winnable. We’ve lost most of our games by six points or less, and two of our losses came in overtime. We’ve had games where we’ve played 25 minutes, 30 minutes, and even 35 minutes. We need to play a complete game against Itawamba.”
Freshman guard Justin Ray scored 31 points in the regular season finale at Meridian. Weathers said the Gulfport native will have to come up huge again if the Bulldogs want to advance in the post-season.
“Justin’s been averaging about 25 points per game,” he said. “If he scores anywhere from 22-30 points, we have a chance of winning. Each team in the state has two or three excellent players, so there’s plenty of balance in the tournament. Our role players really need to step up and play solid basketball. The team that makes the fewest mistakes will win this thing.”
MGCCC Bulldogs fighting through divisional play
MGCCC’S T.C. Franklin shoots over Meridian defenders Jan. 28.
Justin Ray scored 16 points, including a jumper at the buzzer as the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Bulldogs beat Meridian 80-78 Jan. 28 at Perkinston. The Bulldogs were led by T.C. Franklin with 25 points, while Luther Suggs added 17.
Three nights later, the Bulldogs went on the road and defeated Southwest 68-57 to complete a season sweep of the Bears.
On Jan. 15, Ray lit up the nets for 34 points as Gulf Coast turned back Hinds 65-62. Luther Suggs added 10 points in the win.
The Bulldogs jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the contest en route to another home victory at the Weathers/Wentzell Center.
On Jan. 17, the Bulldogs fell at Jones 98-93. Justin Ray led the Bulldogs with 33 points while Luther Suggs added 22 points for Gulf Coast.
The Bulldogs then lost in overtime to Co-Lin 82-77 Jan. 22 at Perkinston. It was the team’s first loss at home this season.
Two days later, the Bulldogs rebounded with a thrilling 91-90 overtime win at East Central. T.C. Franklin's buzzer-beating in overtime lifted the Bulldogs past East Central. Justin Ray again led the Bulldogs with 35 points, while Teshan Byron and Curtis Nickson each had 15.
After dropping a home game to Pearl River, the Bulldogs bounced back with a 57-51 win at Hinds Feb. 7. Ray led the Bulldogs with 20 points in the MACJC South Division win.
On Feb. 11, Luther Suggs scored 25, but Gulf Coast lost to Jones 73-66. On Feb. 14, Ray had 18 but the Bulldogs lost again 71-63 to drop to 14-9 overall and 5-6 in the division. Gulf Coast will host East Central Feb. 18 at Perkinston.
MGCCC’S Justin Ray earns P.O.Y. honors
Justin Ray (3) is the NJCAA Player of the Week.
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College guard Justin Ray is the NJCAA Division I Player of the Week for the week ending Jan. 19.
In a win over Hinds, Ray had a steal and made the go-ahead basket with 12 seconds remaining to lift Gulf Coast to the 65-62 victory. In that game he had 34 points, three assists, two rebounds and one steal. He followed that with 33 points, four rebounds, four assists and one steal in a five-point loss to Jones. On the week he was 19-of-33 (.576) from the floor, including 7-of-17 (.412) from three-point and was 22-of-24 (.917) from the charity-stripe.
Against East Central on Jan. 24, the former Gulfport Admiral had 35 points as the Bulldogs won 91-90 in overtime.
MGCCC Bulldogs fighting through divisional play
MGCCC’S Justin Ray (3) tries to score against Co-Lin Jan. 22.
Justin Ray lit up the nets for 34 points as Gulf Coast (10-4, 2-1) turned back Hinds 65-62 Jan. 15 at Perkinston. Luther Suggs added 10 points in the win.
The Bulldogs jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the contest en route to another home victory at the Weathers/Wentzell Center.
On Jan. 17, the Bulldogs fell at Jones 98-93. Justin Ray led the Bulldogs with 33 points while Luther Suggs added 22 points for Gulf Coast.
The Bulldogs then lost in overtime to Co-Lin 82-77 Jan. 22 at Perkinston. It was the team’s first loss at home this season.
Two days later, the Bulldogs rebounded with a thrilling 91-90 overtime win at East Central. T.C. Franklin's buzzer-beating in overtime lifted the Bulldogs (11-6, 3-3 South Division) past East Central. Justin Ray again led the Bulldogs with 35 points, while Teshan Byron and Curtis Nickson each had 15. The Bulldogs host Meridian Jan. 28.
MGCCC Bulldogs handle Hinds 65-62
Justin Ray lit up the nets for 34 points as Gulf Coast (10-4, 2-1) turned back Hinds 65-62 Jan. 15 at Perkinston. Luther Suggs added 10 points in the win.
The Bulldogs jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the contest en route to another home victory at the Weathers/Wentzell Center.
On Jan. 17, the Bulldogs fell at Jones 98-93. Justin Ray led the Bulldogs with 33 points while Luther Suggs added 22 points for Gulf Coast, (10-5, 2-2). The bulldogs take on Co-Lin Jan. 22 in Perkinston.
Pearl River upends Gulf Coast 69-62
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College rolled into Shivers Gymnasium at Pearl River Community College knowing that the Wildcats were gunning for them. After all, before the Jan. 10 matchup in Poplarville, the Bulldogs had won three out of the last four meetings.
The result was a 69-62 win by Pearl River.
"We didn't play with common sense on offense," Bulldogs coach Wendell Weathers said. "Pearl River played well, but we missed all but two of our free throws in the second half. We were dumb tonight, especially on offense."
The Wildcats came out strong in the first half, using a 7-0 run to take a 23-9 lead. Gulf Coast finally woke up and fought its way back into the game, closing to within 33-26 at halftime.
Pearl River extended their lead to 46-30 six minutes into the second half, but Gulf Coast reeled off 12 straight to get within 46-42 as T.C. Franklin scored five of his 16 points eight minutes into the half.
The Bulldogs overcame a 14-point first-half deficit, tying the game at 62 on Justin Ray’s 10-foot jump shot with 2:18 left.
However, a 7-0 run by the Wildcats down the stretch sealed the deal.
Gulf Coast (9-4, 1-1) takes on Hinds Jan. 14 at Weathers/Wentzell Center on the college’s Perkinston Campus at 8 p.m.
MGCCC Bulldogs tame Southwest
The Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Bulldogs opened MACJC South Division play with an 80-75 win over Southwest Jan.7 at the Weathers/Wentzell Center on the college’s Perkinston Campus.
Justin Ray poured in 32 points for the Bulldogs (9-3, 1-0), while Teshawn Bryon added 12. The win improves the Bulldogs home record to 6-0 in 2007-08.
Gulf Coast travels to Pearl River Jan. 10 to face the arch-rival Wildcats.
MGCCC drops both games at East Miss.
2008 didn’t start off well for both Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College basketball teams. On Jan. 3, the Gulf Coast men dropped a 91-76 decision to the East Mississippi Lions in Scooba. The Bulldogs (7-4) begin MACJC South Division play Jan. 7 against Southwest at the Weathers/Wentzell Cetner. The Lady Bulldogs also lost to East Miss. 76-50. Keaundra Augustus led Gulf Coast with 16 points, while Ja'Net Schonberg and Savannah Palomarez added 10 apiece. Gulf Coast (4-7) also springs into MACJC South Division play Jan. 7 against Southwest.
MGCCC hoops begins on hardwood
Other than receiving a small bouquet of flowers on her desk, and hugs from family and friends, the first win for Melanie Stone as head coach of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Lady Bulldogs wasn’t a huge deal. In fact, the 78-37 destruction of Delgado by Gulf Coast Nov. 6 was more of a learning experience for Stone and her team.
“We can play a lot better,” Stone said. “I feel like we played better during our first two games then we played against Delgado.”
In those first two matchups, the Lady Bulldogs suffered close losses to San Jacinto (Tx.) (79-74) and LSU-Eunice (La.) (88-80). But despite her reservations, Stone said the 41-point blowout win had its perks.
“It does feel good,” she said, “But I’m not satisfied. I expect a lot more effort from the team. We’ve got to play our game no matter who were playing.”
Lady Bulldog sophomore Keaundra Augustus led the team in scoring with 16 points, while freshman Savannah Palomarez grabbed 11 rebounds.
In the nightcap, the mens team opened its 2007-08 season with an 87-76 win over Delgado. Justin Ray led the way 25 points, with Luther Suggs and Ronnie Ealey scoring 13 apiece.
On Nov. 8, the Bulldogs traveled to Bishop State and won 86-76 behind 25 points from Luther Suggs. The Lady Bulldogs fell to 1-3 thanks to a 71-57 loss at Bevill State (Ala.).
As of Dec. 7, the Lady Bulldogs were 4-6 after wins against Delgado (79-54), Coahoma (65-45), and Northwest (76-65), and losses against Northwest (81-79), East Mississippi (53-46), and Faulkner St. (73-70).
Meanwhile, the men's team is off to a 7-2 start, including two wins at the Gulf Coast Classic Nov. 19-20 over Northwest and East Mississippi, and a recent 71-58 victory over Bishop St. on Dec. 6.
“We’ve done OK,” said men’s head coach Wendell Weathers. “I’m happy we’re at 7-2 now, but we’ve still got a lot of work to do.’ We’ve got to learn how to play an entire 40 minutes worth when we get on the court.”
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