Jets and Lady Jets Split a Mid-Week Conference Matchup

ROME, Ga – The South Georgia Technical College Jets and Lady Jets split a pair of mid-week games when they traveled to Rome, Ga to take on the Georgia Highlands College Chargers and Lady Chargers recently in a conference matchup.

The No. 14 nationally ranked Lady Jets (17-3, 9-0) opened the night with a 60-53 win over the Lady Chargers (9-10, 5-3) to remain undefeated and in first place in the GCAA Division I Conference. The Lady Jets took an early lead and never let go. They outscored their opponent in every quarter except the fourth, when the Lady Chargers tried to make a late push, but fell seven points short.

Sophomore power forward Esther Adenike was the leading scorer of the night with 16 points. She went 6-for-15 from the field, made 4-of-5 free throws, had 10 rebounds and one blocked shot. Freshman point guard Cedeja James was the next highest scorer with eight points, four rebounds, three assists and one steal. Another freshman, Bigue Sarr, scored seven points and had six rebounds on the night.

Other scorers included Dakata Toney and Houlfat Mahouchiza, who both scored six points apiece, Ricka Jackson who scored five points and had six rebounds, Kayla Holmes and Sceret Ethridge who scored four points, Alyssa Nieves who scored three points and Fatou Pouye who played for four minutes and scored one point on a free-throw.

In the second game of the doubleheader, the Jets (10-7, 3-1) lost their first conference game of the season to the GHC Chargers (8-6, 2-0), who are now tied for first place with Gordon College in the GCAA Division I rankings. The Jets fell to second place in the rankings.

The Jets and Chargers played evenly throughout the first half, but the Jets took the edge and entered halftime leading 37-36. The Chargers made some well-placed shots and would outscore the Jets 51-45 in the second half, delivering the Jets’ their first conference loss by a score of 87-82.

Despite the loss, sophomore point guard Rico Simmons from Toombsboro showed his athleticism again by leading the team with 27 points. Simmons made just 8-of-25 shots from the field, but hit 5-of-6 shots from behind the 3-point line and made all six of his free-throws. He also had three rebounds, an assist and four steals on the night.

Adonis Green and Dawan Bass were the only other Jets to score in the double digits. Green, a freshman forward from Stockbridge, Ga, scored 13 points and also had nine rebounds and two blocked shots. Bass, a sophomore guard from Baltimore, MD, scored 11 points, had four rebounds, three assists and one steal.

Also scoring for the Jets were Marquel Wiggins, who scored nine points and had eight rebounds and one assist; Malik Wilson, who had two rebounds and scored six points; Devante Foster, who led the game with 15 total rebounds, also had two assists, two steals and scored five points; Monte Green scored five points, had two rebounds and one assist; Emeshuan Offord, who scored three pointes; Dominique Walker, who had two points and a rebound; and Durand Green, who made a free throw and had a rebound.

The Jets will have a shot to even up the series with GHC when they face the Chargers at home on Feb. 10 for a Sophomore and Alumni Day matchup.

The Jets and Lady Jets will return home for a conference doubleheader on Jan. 24 against the Titans and Lady Titans of Albany Technical College.