AMERICUS —
The South Georgia Technical College Jets defended a last second shot by the Albany Tech Titans on Wednesday night to capture a 71–69 Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association (GCAA) victory, retain its top GCAA ranking, and remain unbeaten this season. The Lady Jets also came up with a conference win as they defeated the Albany Tech Lady Titans 72–64.
“Another GCAA win is huge for us,” said South Georgia Technical College Athletic Director and Jets head basketball coach Steven Wright. “Albany Tech made an unbelievable comeback in the last three minutes of the ball game, but when the final horn sounded, we had more points and that’s what counts.”
South Georgia Tech is currently ranked number one in the GCAA and is 8–0 overall and 3–0 in conference play. “Eight consecutive wins is the second best start in our basketball program’s history,” said Wright, who added that South Georgia Tech’s 2003–2004 team still has the record for the best season start at 12–0.
The Albany Tech victory was a big win for the Jets, but now Coach Wright is looking forward to another conference match-up on Saturday at 3 p.m. against an unbeaten East Georgia College team. “We are just looking to continue our winning ways Saturday,” said Wright.
The Jets were up 34–27 at the end of the first half. They pulled ahead by as many as 16 points in the second half before Albany Tech began its comeback that led to an exciting last second attempt to steal the victory from the Jets.
South Georgia Tech’s GCAA Player of the Week Stedmond Lemon, a sophomore guard from Lithonia, Georgia, and Jacob Obande, a freshman guard from Marietta, Georgia, made four key free throws in the last few seconds to help clinch the win for the Jets.
Lemon was the leading scorer for the Jets with 19 points, but only six of those points were earned in the second half. Anthony Ethridge, a freshman from Lakeland, scored 17 points, 13 of which came in the second half. B.J. Davis was the only other Jet in double figures with 12 points.
Albany Tech’s Deandre Harper scored 23 points for the Titans and Antwon Tuff and Tony Fear both added 11 points. Nouhoum Boucoum closed out the double digit scoring for the Titans with 10 points.
The Lady Jets started off the night on a good note as they came from eight points down in the first few minutes of the first half to rally and take a 36 – 20 half time lead and hold on to capture their first conference win this season, 74–62.
“It is great to get our first conference win of the season,” said South Georgia Technical College Lady Jets head coach James Frey. “The Lady Jets played harder last night than we have this year. Hopefully, we have turned the corner and will continue to play like that the rest of the year.”
The Lady Jets are currently 5–3 overall and 1–2 in the GCAA. Their two losses came to the second and fourth place teams in the conference (Georgia Highlands and Central Georgia Tech). Albany Tech was ranked third in the GCAA at 1–0 prior to the Lady Jets win last night. There are 11 teams in the women’s GCAA Division I bracket.
Portia McCray, a sophomore forward from Loganville, Georgia, was the top scorer for the Lady Jets. She had 17 points, seven rebounds, and two assists. Her teammates, Shaquaya Daniels, a sophomore guard from New York, NY; DeKoya Mack, a freshman from Augusta, GA; and Nikkei Blackburn, a freshman from Bennettsville, S.C.; each tossed in 13 points apiece. Blackburn also had 14 rebounds and two assists. Daniels had nine rebounds and three assists.
Lashay Lettingham was the top scorer for the Albany Tech Lady Titans with 32 points.
The Lady Jets will have their opportunity to capture their second GCAA victory, Saturday, December 1 at 1 p.m. when they take on East Georgia College in the first half of a double-header in the SGTC James S. Peters gymnasium on the Americus campus, while the Jets attempt to move to 9-0 at 3 p.m. following the Lady Jets game.
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Stedmon Lemon (12) takes a shot against Albany Tech on Wednesday night in the Hanger. Lemon scored 19 points in the victory that helped moved the Jets to 8-0 on the year. The Lady Jets also won their contest against the conference foe Lady Titans 74-62. Submitted Photo
South Georgia Tech Jets and Lady Jets sweep Albany Tech Titans
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