SCF Falls to HCC

The SCF basketball team (18-7, 4-3 Suncoast) will settle their series with a rubber match as they fell to Hillsborough (9-12, 1-5 Suncoast) 90-79. With the loss, the Manatees are now 14-17 against the Hawks. Additionally, the loss put the Manatees in third in the Suncoast.

Offensively, only two players on the Manatees reached double digit scoring. It was sophomore D'Moi Hodge that led the team as he finished with 32 points (12-for-21 FG, 6-for-11 3PT, 5-for-7 FT), five rebounds, three assists, four steals and three blocks. Freshman Jordan Clark followed with 12 points (3-for-7 FG, 6-for-6 FT), three rebounds, two assists and one steal.

Sophomore Remy Robert II and freshman Marshall Kearing were the next closest to reach double digit scoring. Robert finished with nine points (4-for-7 FG, 1-for-3 3PT), two assists and a steal, while Kearing had eight points (3-for-8 FG, 2-for-2 FT), five rebounds, three assists and two blocks.

Sophomores Christnoff Scarborough and Max Bell-Ramos and freshman Michael Gavin had four points each, while redshirt freshman Jaylen Jones had three points. Scarborough added four rebounds, two steals and a block, Bell-Ramos added five rebounds and an assist and Gavin added three rebounds, four assists and two steals, while Jones added a rebound, an assist and a steal.

Sophomore Michael Cole led the Hawks offensively as he finished with a double-double of 34 points and 11 rebounds. Classmate Derrick White Jr. followed with 22 points and five rebounds, while classmate Joshua Jackmon rounded out the lineup with 16 points and nine assists.

The game started with a 6-0 run by the Hawks until a Hodge dunk put the Manatees on the board. Six minutes min into the first half, Hodge was able to cut the Hawks lead to one after a 3-pointer before Hodge gave the Manatees a 13-12 lead which was followed by a Clark floater for a 15-12 SCF lead.

The Hawks would then regain the lead and go ahead 27-19 before the Manatees started to try and creep up to cut the deficit. Eventually, the Hawks would take the first half 36-32.

At the start of the second half, the Hawks started to mount a double digit lead. The Manatees did try and continue to fight, but unfortunately the fight wasn't enough as the Manatees dropped a heart breaker.

Notes:
The team was without sophomore Isiah Dasher in the lineup. Dasher suffered an ankle injury during the game against St. Pete College. Dasher is still 99 points away from reaching 1,000 career points.

With his 32 points, Hodge now has 631 points this season and 1,228 points in his career. Hodge is 132 points away for most points in a single season and 114 away for most career points. Both record were held by James Life (762: single season record; 1,341: career points).

Other Suncoast Scores:
Polk State (17-6, 4-2 Suncoast) defeated St. Pete (10-14, 1-6 Suncoast) 95-86. The Eagles will return to action to take on Hillsborough (9-12, 1-5 Suncoast), while the Titans return home to face Impact Academy.

Updated Suncoast Standings:
1. #2 FSW (23-1, 6-0 Suncoast)
2. Polk State (17-6, 4-2 Suncoast)
3. SCF (18-7, 4-3 Suncoast)
4. Hillsborough (9-12, 1-5 Suncoast)
5. St. Pete (10-14, 1-6 Suncoast)

Up Next:
The Manatees return home for the next two home games as they welcome #2 Florida Southwestern to Hal Chasey Gymnasium. The game is dubbed as Meal Sponsor Recognition Night.