This past Friday night, the USC Salkehatchie men’s basketball team kicked off the season in Aiken, South Carolina against the #1 team in the nation (NJCAA), Central Florida Community College. The Indians played hard in the first half but according to USC Salkehatchie men’s head Coach Travis Garett, “We have to start playing hard for entire 40-minutes. We can’t expect games when we are standing around instead of moving around setting screens.”
The Indians defense held the number one player in NJCAA Ricardo Ratliffe
To no points in the first half.
The score at the half was Central Florida Community College 45, USC Salkehatchie 36
In the second half, the Indians struggled to establish any offense and Ratliffe lit up the Indians for 16-points to help put the game away for Central Florida CC.
“I felt like once Ratliffe got going, we gave up. We have to learn that we win as a team and we will lose as a team. I have a lot of young guys out there right now but I think once they learn to gel, we will be fine,” said Coach Garrett.
The lone bright spot for the Indians was freshman- Fred Hargrove (Eatonton, Georgia) as he led the team with 19-points.
On Saturday the Indians faced Gulf Coast Community College (Florida) the first five starters were benched after only six minutes off the clock. “I had seen enough, I won’t sit there and watch players that act like they could care less. I took every starter out and played with kids that wanted to play. I didn’t want it to embarrass anyone but I have to let them know if you want to play, you have to prove it on the court,” said Coach Garrett.
The wholesale substitution seemed to do the trick as the Indians took the lead mid-way through the first half. However, at the half the score was Gulf Coast Community College 43- USC Salkehatchie 40.
The Indians defense held the number one player in NJCAA Ricardo Ratliffe
To no points in the first half.
The score at the half was Central Florida Community College 45, USC Salkehatchie 36
In the second half, the Indians struggled to establish any offense and Ratliffe lit up the Indians for 16-points to help put the game away for Central Florida CC.
“I felt like once Ratliffe got going, we gave up. We have to learn that we win as a team and we will lose as a team. I have a lot of young guys out there right now but I think once they learn to gel, we will be fine,” said Coach Garrett.
The lone bright spot for the Indians was freshman- Fred Hargrove (Eatonton, Georgia) as he led the team with 19-points.
On Saturday the Indians faced Gulf Coast Community College (Florida) the first five starters were benched after only six minutes off the clock. “I had seen enough, I won’t sit there and watch players that act like they could care less. I took every starter out and played with kids that wanted to play. I didn’t want it to embarrass anyone but I have to let them know if you want to play, you have to prove it on the court,” said Coach Garrett.
The wholesale substitution seemed to do the trick as the Indians took the lead mid-way through the first half. However, at the half the score was Gulf Coast Community College 43- USC Salkehatchie 40.
In the second half, the Indians had trouble rebounding, getting back in transition defense and could not get an offensive flow going. In the end, Gulf Coast Community College would get the win 82-69.
Leading the Indians in scoring was Issac Oppong 14, Gabe Mathis 13, Brandon Riley and Fred Hargrove with 10.
Leading the Indians in scoring was Issac Oppong 14, Gabe Mathis 13, Brandon Riley and Fred Hargrove with 10.
