GCC Athletics Update: Men’s/Women’s Basketball
Written by WBTA STAFF on February 19, 2018
Brian Fobbs (center) dunks the ball against Niagara Feb. 17 as he moved into No. 7 all-time on GCC’s career scoring list (photo credit: GCC Athletics/Curtis Kreutter)
Press Release:
Men’s Basketball Team Rallies from Double-Digits Late in Second Half for Comeback Win
The Genesee Community College men’s basketball team trailed by as much as 10 points in the tail end of the second half, but went on a 13-2 run to re-take the lead with four minutes left. Both teams were tied with 78 seconds at 65 apiece, but clutch free-throw shooting proved to be the difference in giving the Cougars a 71-66 win against visiting Niagara County Community College Feb. 17.
A pair of Cougars decided the game in the final 30 seconds. The second of Jordan Smart’s free throws put Genesee up 67-65 and ended up being the deciding score, but Caylen Williams added another four charity-strip scores with the first pair coming with 13 seconds and the insurance free throws with just four seconds to seal the win.
Niagara built as much as a four-point lead in the first half at 20-16 with six minutes left before Genesee rallied late in the first with a 14-6 run to close out the first half with a 30-26 lead.
Current National Junior College Athletic Association Men’s Basketball D-II Player of the Week Brian Fobbs led the team in points with 31 and rebounds with 11 in recording yet another double-double performance. His 1,191 points moved him to No. 7 all-time among GCC scorers by passing Melvin Council (2001-2003) and now Fobbs needs just 21 more to leapfrog into sole possession of fifth place on the career scoring list.
Although the starting guard has a nation-leading 27 points-per-game, he has averaged 32 during February and he also continues to lead the nation in rebounds-per-game with 13.5.
Jarett Haines and Rahmel Thompson each added 13 points, but Haines also recorded tam-highs in assists with six and steals with four. Thompson was second on the team in rebounds with five despite only playing 26 minutes.
The Cougars close out their regular season home schedule against conference-leading Monroe Feb. 21 with a 7:30 p.m. tipoff. The Tribunes are also nationally-ranked at No. 9.
Kierra Perl (far right) battles under the boards against Niagara Feb. 17 (photo credit: GCC Athletics/Curtis Kreutter)
Lady Cougars Post Back-to-Back Seventy-Point Performances
The Genesee Community College women’s basketball team may have come up on the short end in their contest against Niagara County Community College, but the team has had one of its most productive offensive surges in its last two games.
The Lady Cougars put up 76 points in an 86-76 loss Feb. 17 to NCCC and combined with their previous game’s total have averaged 73.5 points during the past two games for the most points in consecutive games when not winning this season.
Genesee got out of the gate hot while building an 8-0 lead and kept the game close at 22-20 after the opening-quarter of play. Their best quarter came in the second when the Cougars took a six-point lead into halftime by a 43-37 margin.
The Cougars stayed close and were tied in the dying seconds of the third at 58 before the Thunderwolves went on a roll to take the contest.
While the offense has been there it has also come by committee with five Cougars recording double-digit performances.
Rosalyn Sealey led the way with 21 and Kierra Perl added 14. Both Jasmine Holmes and TaLia Burgess scored 13 each, while Reika Murota added 11.
Burgess’ team-leading 12 rebounds gave her a double-double, while Sealey also led the team in assists with seven and steals with four. Holmes just missed a double-double with nine boards and had a pair of blocks.
The Cougars close out their regular season home schedule against conference-leading Monroe Feb. 21 with a 5:30 p.m. tipoff. The Tribunes are also nationally-ranked at No. 1.
Mark Jagord
GCC Sports Information
