Lady Jets get Presidential sendoff to NJCAA National Tournament

South Georgia Technical College President Dr. John Watford met with the 2018 Lady Jets basketball team and coaches prior to the group leaving for the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division I women’s national basketball tournament in Lubbock, Texas. He presented the team with framed copies of a letter with words of encouragement from the 39th President of the United States, Jimmy Carter.
“First of all, I would like to thank you for the outstanding job that you and your teammates have done representing South Georgia Technical College,” said Dr. Watford, when he invited the Lady Jets and coaches to meet with him in the Presidential Conference room in the John M. Pope Industrial Technology Center on the Americus campus.
“Your sportsmanship as well as your hard work in the classroom and on the court have brought great honor to South Georgia Technical College as well as to Americus and Sumter County. We are very proud and excited to have you represent South Georgia Tech on a national stage,” said Dr. Watford, who added that he had a special treat for each of them before they left for Lubbock, Texas.
“I realize that none of you were born when Jimmy Carter, who lives right here in Plains, Georgia and Sumter County, was elected as the 39th President of the United States,” said Dr. Watford. “But when President Carter heard about your success, he took the opportunity to say congratulations and wish you good luck at the national tournament.
“As the 39th President of the United States, Jimmy Carter could have chosen to live anywhere in the world when he left office. But he decided to return to Georgia to the house in Plains where he and his family had lived before being elected Governor of Georgia and then President of the most powerful country in the world,” explained Dr. Watford. “And today, it is my pleasure to present each of you with a framed letter of congratulations from former United States President Jimmy Carter.”
Dr. Watford then read the letter dated March 9th, 2018 from the 39th President of the United States. “To: Coach Frey, Coach Conyers, and 2017 – 2018 Lady Jets, Congratulations on another outstanding basketball season! Your remarkable record is a reflection of your hard work and dedication. You have every right to be proud of all you have accomplished. Good luck in advancing to the NJCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Tournament on March 19, 2018. With warm best wishes, Sincerely Jimmy Carter.”
Dr. Watford then shared with the team two stories. “When you see a man at the top of the mountain, you know he didn’t fall there. It took a lot of hard work and effort to get to the top of the mountain. And when you see a turtle sitting on top of a fence post, you know he didn’t get there by himself. The moral of these two stories is that each of you have worked hard to achieve the success that you are enjoying today. But no matter how good or how hard you worked, you did not get here by yourself. Your coaches, your parents, and others have helped you to achieve this milestone. I challenge you to continue to work hard and be willing to give back when you reach that next level of success,” concluded Dr. Watford.
This is the South Georgia Technical College Lady Jets second consecutive trip to the NJCAA National Tournament in Lubbock, Texas and their fourth trip in five years. It is their fifth overall. The Lady Jets are currently 28 – 5 and 17 – 1 in the conference. They are ranked 23rd nationally and are the representatives for Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, and south West Virginia at the national tournament.
The 2017 – 2018 Lady Jets include: Head coach James Frey and Assistant Coach Kezia Conyers, Ricka Jackson from Ewa Beach, HI; Dakata Toney, Detroit, MI; Kayla Holmes, Stone Mountain, GA; Houlfat Mahouchiza, Nice, France; Cedeja James of Teaneck, NJ; Fatou Pouye, Kaolack, Senegal; Alyssa Nieves of Tampa, FL; Kanna Suzuki of Hamamatsu, Japan; Aubrey Maulden, St. Simmons, GA; Bigue Sarr, Kaolack, Senegal, Sceret Ethridge, Argyle, GA; Esther Adenike, Lagos, Nigeria; and Davesha Murray, Brunswick, GA.
All seven of the South Georgia Technical College Lady Jets sophomores earned the GCAA All-Academic Team honors. Those seven players include: Dakata Toney, Kayla Holmes, Houlfat Mahouchiza, Kanna Suzuki, Sceret Ethridge, and Esther Adenike. Sophomore Esther Adenike is also the GCAA Player of the Year and named to the Women’s Basketball Coaches All-American team.
The Lady Jets will face the 10th ranked team in the nation, Casper College from Casper, Wyoming. Casper is one of the largest and most comprehensive community colleges in that region. It was Wyoming’s first junior college. They are the Thunderbirds and are 31 – 2 and 24 – 1. They are the first place team from Region IX-North Division. Coach Dwight Gunnare is in his 10th season at the helm of the Thunderbirds and this is his third trip to the National tournament but first time since 2011. Casper finished fourth in 2010 and ninth in 2011. The Thunderbirds enter the national tournament on a 21-game winning streak, beating 2018 national tournament qualifier Western Nebraska in the Region IX finals.
The Lady Jets play the Thunderbirds at 5 p.m. on Monday, March 19th. The game will be broadcast live on WISK 98.7.