2nd Herd Back in Ocala

The SCF basketball team (10-4) readies for one of their two final two-day weekend tournaments of 2019 as they travel back to Ocala to compete in the Florida College's Men's Basketball JUCO Shootout at the Patriots Gym, hosted by Central Florida. The Manatees will face ASA Miami (4-9) and Florida State College at Jacksonville (4-7) Saturday and Sunday afternoon, December 14-15. Both games will start at 4 pm. #5 FSW (12-1), #21 Polk State (10-2), St. Pete (6-6), RV CCF (12-3), RV Chipola (9-3), Palm Beach State (8-5), Pensacola State (9-4), and RV USC Salkahatchie (10-3) will also be competing in the shootout, but will not play SCF in the tournament. The Manatees won't play FSW, Polk State or SPC until Suncoast Conference play.

Last Time Out:
The Manatees are coming off of playing in a tight knit game against Santa Fe at home winning by a score of 84-80. It was the Manatees' final home game of 2019.

Sophomores D'Moi Hodge and Isiah Dasher and freshman Jordan Clark continue leading the Manatees offense.

Hodge is averaging 27.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 2.2 steals and 2.5 blocks per game. Against Santa Fe, the reigning NJCAA National Player of the Week had 25 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals. The upcoming Cleveland State transfer currently in his career has 954 career points and is 46 away from reaching 1,000 career points.

Dasher is averaging 16.9 points, 5.9 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game. The native of Jersey City, N.J. had 14 points, five rebounds and two assists against Santa Fe. Like Hodge, Dasher is also on point to reaching 1,000 career points as he has 748 currently. Dasher is only 252 shy in doing so.

Clark had 11 points, four rebounds, four assists and two steals against Santa Fe. The product of Booker High School is currently averaging 13.2 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game.

Sophomore Chris Scarborough and freshmen Marshall Kearing and Sam Grayson continue to lead the way as the big men.

Despite not playing against Santa Fe, Scarborough is still averaging 4.2 points and 3.4 rebounds per game. As for the Australian duo, Kearing is averaging 9.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and two blocks per game while Grayson is averaging 4.4 points and 2.3 rebounds per game. Kearing had seven points and two rebounds against Santa Fe, while Grayson had one of his best games with a season-high 10 points and six rebounds.

Sophomore Max Bell-Ramos, redshirt freshman Calvin McCutcheon and freshman Michael Gavin continue their strong roles as wild cards. Bell-Ramos is averaging 4.2 points and 2.5 rebounds per game, while McCutcheon is averaging 5.9 points and assists per game and Gavin averaging 5.9 points per game. Against Santa Fe, Bell-Ramos had seven points, five rebounds and two blocks while McCutcheon had four points, one assist and three steals and Gavin added three rebounds and two assists.

Although he is averaging 3.8 points per game, the hero against Santa Fe was actually sophomore Remy Robert II as he scored six points on two 3-pointers while being a strong defender.

Scouting ASA Miami:
The Silver Storm are coming off of playing in two tight knit games losing to Florida Gateway by a score of 93-90 before losing to Hillsborough by a score of 78-77.

Freshman Jean-Karlo Iciano Rivera, who plays off the bench, is averaging 11.4 points and 4.3 rebounds per game. Rivera finished his last game against Florida Gateway off the bench with 32 points and six rebounds.

Sophomore Sebastien Jean is averaging 10.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game. Jean did not play against Florida Gateway.

Freshman Darian Hercule is averaging 8.8 points and 6.7 rebounds per game despite having no points but four rebounds.

Scouting FSCJ:
The Blue Wave are coming off of competing against Tallahassee Community College losing by a score of 83-42. Prior to playing SCF, the Blue Wave will play Polk State Friday at noon, December 14 at the JUCO Shootout

Freshman Johnny Brown leads the way for the Blue Wave averaging 10.9 points and 6.1 rebounds per game, while classmate Evan Busby averages 10.6 points and 4.8 rebounds per game and sophomore Eddie Davis is averaging 10.3 points and three assists per game.

Series History:
The Manatees are 2-1 against the Silver Storm, while against the Blue Wave they are 6-4.

SCF faced ASA Miami on December 16, 2016 where the Silver Storm won by a score of 92-85. The Manatees last win over the Silver Storm was on December 12, 2015 where the Manatees won.

Last time SCF faced FSCJ was last season where the Manatees won 86-79. The Blue Wave's last win over the Manatees was on November 16, 2016 by a score of 85-80 at Jacksonville.

It is uncertain that the game will air livestream, but fans can follow up to date with all three teams on Twitter:
SCF: @SCF_Basketball
ASA Miami: @ASASilverStorm
FSCJ: @FSCJMBB