RV 2nd Herd Sets for Rematch at Polk State

After suffering their first loss in conference play, the RV SCF basketball team (17-5, 3-1 Suncoast) will look to bounce back from it as they travel to Winter Haven to take on Polk State (14-5, 2-1 Suncoast) at the Winter Haven Health Center Wednesday night, January 22 at 7 pm. The winner of this game will claim the series of three games.

Last Time Out:
The Manatees are coming off of playing against #2 Florida Southwestern where they fell 96-69. It was their first loss in Suncoast play that ended their eight-game winning streak.

Inching Closer:
Sophomore D'Moi Hodge continues his strong role offensively and defensively. Hodge is averaging 26.6 points, 7.4 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 2.4 steals and 2.1 blocks per game. Hodge had 26 points, six rebounds, one assist, three steals and three blocks against FSW.

Hodge will be closing in on setting two SCF basketball records held by James Life: most points scored in a single season (762) and most points in a career (1,341). Hodge has 559 points this season and 1,156 in his career. He needs 205 points to break Life's single season scoring record and 185 for the all-time scoring record.

Dashing to 1,000:
Sophomore Isiah Dasher continues to inch closer to becoming the third player in program history to reach 1,000 career points and the second active player to do so. While he has 872 points in his career, Dasher is currently averaging 16.4 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game. Against FSW, the New Jersey native had 18 points, three rebounds and one assist with 14 of his points being at the free throw line.

*Side Note: I'm not 100% sure if D'Moi and Isiah are the second and soon to be third players to reach 1,000 career points and I want to say yes that they are, however as a journalist, I must try to get the full facts before we can confirm that they are.

Big Men, No Problems:
Freshman Marshall Kearing and sophomore Christnoff Scarborugh continue to do their part as the big man roles while rotating in the lineup.

Kearing is averaging 11.5 points, 7.2 rebounds and two blocks per game, while Scarborough is averaging 3.7 points and 2.7 rebounds per game. Against FSW, Kearing nearly had his sixth double-double as he had 13 points, nine rebounds and three blocks while Scarborough had four points and five rebounds.

Freshman Jordan Clark is averaging 12 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game despite scoring only four points with two rebounds and one assist against FSW.

Fun Fact(s):
SCF has not swept any member of the Suncoast Conference in a series.

Suncoast Standings:
1. #2 FSW (21-1, 4-0 Suncoast)
2. RV SCF (17-5, 3-1 Suncoast)
3. Polk State (14-6, 2-2 Suncoast)
4. St. Pete (10-11, 1-3 Suncoast)
5. Hillsborough (8-11, 0-4 Suncoast)

Scouting Polk State:
The Eagles are coming off of defeating Hillsborough 78-69 before falling to #2 FSW last Saturday where they lost by a score of 94-79. They currently are in third place in the Suncoast.

Sophomore Tekorian "TK" Smith leads the team averaging 17.6 points, 3.1 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game. Against HCC, the upcoming Georgia Southern transfer had 18 points and three rebounds and 18 points, two rebounds and five assists against FSW.

Classmate Malcolm Stevenson is averaging 15.6 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. The upcoming transfer to Queens University had 21 points and six rebounds and five assists against HCC and 25 points and six rebounds against FSW.

Freshman Clarence Jackson is averaging 14 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. Jackson had nine points and 10 rebounds against HCC and seven points and three rebounds against FSW.

Series History (2012-present):
The Manatees are currently 12-16 against the Eagles. Last time both teams met up was on January 4 to Suncoast Conference play at SCF where the Manatees won 78-72.

Promo:
The game at Polk State will be dubbed as a 'Blackout' as Polk State fans are encouraged to wear black to the game.

How to Keep Up:
Fans can keep up with both teams on Twitter

SCF: @SCF_Basketball
Polk State: @PolkStateHoops