GCC Athletics Update
Written by Dan Fischer on December 14, 2017
Press Release:
Lady Cougars Improve Win Streak to Three with 31-Point Fourth Quarter Rally
The Genesee Community College women’s basketball team improved its winning streak to three games after a season –high, 31-point fourth quarter in a come-from-behind Western New York Athletic Conference win over Mercyhurst North East 81-76.
The 81 total points were also a season high after the Cougars entered the final quarter trailing 54-50. Genesee opened the fourth quarter with a 10-1 run led by Estella Anderson, who scored seven of the team’s first dozen points of the fourth including the basket that put the Cougars ahead to stay at 55-54. Anderson just missed a double-double with nine points, but her 11 rebounds led the team.
The Saints came within one score in the final minute, but current National Junior College Athletic Association Region III Player of the Week TaLia Burgess sank a pair of free throws in the final seconds to make it a two-score game and seal the win. Burgess registered 18 of her team-high 23 points from three-land and shot above 50 percent from beyond the arc. In addition, her nine rebounds were only second to Anderson and it was the third-consecutive game she either led or co-led the team in scoring.
Rosalyn Sealey was also instrumental in the win, especially her free-throw shooting where she hit 14-of-16 at 88 percent and finished with 21 points.
Men’s Basketball Team Registers Third-Consecutive 100-Plus Point Win
The Genesee Community College men’s basketball team extended its winning streak to four games with a 101-67 road win over Mercyhurst North East Dec. 13. It was the third-consecutive time the team reached triple digits, while the win improved Genesee’s Western New York Athletic Conference record to 4-1. Over the Cougars current four-game win streak, Genesee has averaged 104 points.
Genesee scored the game’s first basket for their first lead and never trailed. After building a 14-point first-half lead at 44-30, the Cougars opened the second half with a 10-run before out-scoring the Saints by 20 in the second half.
Three Cougars accounted for 75 points with each having 20-point-plus performances. Rahmel Thompson led the team in scoring with 27 points, but Jaheem Page and current National Junior College Athletic Association Region III Player of the Week Brian Fobbs both registered double-doubles. The latter pair each scored 24 points with Page leading the team in rebounds with 15 and Fobbs not far behind with 13 boards.
Coach Gavin Garners Recognition for GCC as USC National Staff of the Year
The United Soccer Coaches announced its staffs of the year for each level of competition associated with the prestigious organization that includes the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA), National Association of Interscholastic Athletics (NAIA) and Junior College at Division-I and Division-III for both men’s and women’s teams.
Genesee Community College was recognized as the Junior College D-III Staff of the Year for the men’s division Dec. 13. USC will honor GCC at its annual convention and awards banquet Jan. 19, 2018 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.
Genesee Community College men’s soccer staff of head coach Ken Gavin and assistant coach Josh Carpenter led the 2017 GCC men’s soccer team to its first national title in Herkimer, N.Y. in November. An often overlooked, but vital part to Genesee’s staff is athletic trainers Amber Nichols and Jeff Engels, who assisted the coaches and players throughout their championship run. The Cougars finished their magical season on a 10-game winning streak and a 20-game unbeaten streak.
The United Soccer Coaches (formerly known as the National Soccer Coaches Association of America / NSCAA) is an organization of American soccer coaches founded in 1941. It is the largest soccer coach’s organization in the world, with more than 30,000 members. The NSCAA was rebranded as United Soccer Coaches about four months ago in early August and is based out of Kansas City, Mo.
Cougar Athletes of the Week Announced
The Genesee Community College’s athletes of the week for the period ending Dec. 10 are TaLia Burgess (Philadelphia, Pa.) from the women’s basketball team and Brian Fobbs (Rochetser, NY) from the men’s basketball team. Both were also announced as the National Junior College Athletic Association’s Region III Players of the Week Dec. 12.
Brian led Genesee to its first three-game win streak of the season with a pair of weekend tournament victories by accumulating 49 points, 19 rebounds and six assists. Even more impressive than his totals was his shooting percentage, where he shot 74 percent from the field that included 75 percent from beyond the arc with 18 points, and 100 percent from the free-throw line with nine points. He also helped the team to its first 100-plus point game twice.
TaLia led Genesee CC in scoring in a pair of tournament wins where the Cougars emerged as the only undefeated team in the women’s bracket. TaLia scored 40 points with 11 rebounds and four assists that included 30 points from beyond the arc at a 53 percent shooting percentage. Her point totals of 25 and 15 were team-highs in each contest.
