2nd Herd Clips HCC, Goes 3-0 in the Suncoast

Despite blowing a 25 point lead, the SCF basketball team (17-4, 3-0 Suncoast) still managed to pull away with a win at Hal Chasey Gymnasium as they defeated Hillsborough (8-9, 0-2 Suncoast) 91-84. With the win, the Manatees are now 14-16 against the Hawks.

"We started off really good in the first half with our starters doing a good job knocking down shots and getting rebounds," said sophomore Max Bell-Ramos. "In the second however, we didn't come out strong enough to keep the 25-point lead and the other team (HCC) took advantage of that."

Four Manatees led the way in double figures for scoring. Sophomore D'Moi Hodge led the Manatees with 26 points (7-for-16 FG, 5-for-8 3PT, 7-for-9 FT), five rebounds, two assists, a steal and three blocks. Despite being two rebounds shy of a double-double, classmate Isiah Dasher followed Hodge with 18 points (8-for-17 FG, 2-for-2 FT), eight rebounds and four assists.

Freshman Marshall Kearing finished with a fifth double-double of 10 points (5-for-8 FG) and 10 rebounds while adding two assists, a steal and a block. Sophomore Christnoff Scarborough led the bench with a career-high 12 points (6-for-8 FG), four rebounds and two steals.

"I believe that today was a good game and everyone played as hard as they could," said Scarborough on the game.

"Today I played a good game," said Scarborough on his performance. "And throughout the whole game, I still continued to stay active."

Bell-Ramos and classmate Remy Robert II finished with seven points each. Bell-Ramos (3-for-7 FG, 1-for-2 FT) added three rebounds and an assist, while Robert (2-for-6 FG, 1-for-3 3PT, 2-for-3 FT) added a rebound and an assist.

"I felt good about today," said Bell-Ramos on his performance. "When one of our guys got into foul trouble, I stepped up with some of the others to help get us the win.

Redshirt freshmen Jaylen Jones (five points, five rebounds, three assists and a steal) and Calvin McCutcheon (four points, one rebound, two assists and two steals) and freshman Jordan Clark (two points, five rebounds and two assists) also contributed in the game.

Four Hawks also scored in double figures. Sophomore Michael Cole leads the Hawks with a double-double of 36 points and 14 rebounds to go along with three blocks, while classmates Derrick White Jr. followed with 14 points and four rebounds and Morgan Carter had 13 points and two rebounds off the bench and Joshua Jackmon rounded out the order with 10 points and four assists.

Notes:
This was the first time in program history the Manatees went 3-0 to start Suncoast Conference play.

"It feels good to start with the right foot," said Bell-Ramos on the strong start. "This feeling of winning gives us more energy to keep it on the same way of winning."

It's a great feeling to have a winning streak," said Scarborough. "Especially during conference play."

Hodge pushed his career points total to 1,131 and 533 points this season. He still needs 230 points to break James Life's single season scoring record and 211 for the all-time scoring record.

Dasher now pushes his career point total to 854 and now needs 146 to reach 1,000 career points.

Kearing's double-double was his fifth of the season.

Other Suncoast Scores:
#3 FSW (19-1, 2-0 Suncoast) defeated Victory Rock Prep at home by a score of 110-61.

Polk State (13-5, 1-1 Suncoast) defeated St. Pete College (9-11, 0-3 Suncoast) 69-64. The Eagles will travel to Tampa to face HCC Wednesday night, January 15 at 7:30 pm. The Titans will face HCC Saturday afternoon, January 18 at 4 pm at home.

Suncoast Standings:
1. SCF (17-4, 3-0 Suncoast)
2. #3 FSW (19-1, 2-0 Suncoast)
3. Polk State (13-5, 1-1 Suncoast)
4. Hillsborough (8-9, 0-2 Suncoast)
5. St. Pete (9-11, 0-3 Suncoast)

Up Next:
The Manatees will face their biggest challenges in the Suncoast as they travel to Fort Myers to face #3 FSW at the Suncoast Credit Union Arena Wednesday night, January 15 at 7:30 pm.

"We can expect everyone to be busting their tails off for 40 minutes," said Scarborough.

"We have a strong game against FSW," said Bell-Ramos. "We got to focus to come home with the victory and have the winning streak with us