Gaston College basketball opens regular season on Thursday against nearby rival

The third year of Gaston College basketball since the school restarted athletics in 2021 will begin on Thursday at 8 p.m. at the Ashbrook High School gymnasium against a program with a similar background.

The Rhinos will host Cleveland Community College in that school's first basketball game since the 1970s.

Like Gaston College, Cleveland Community College fielded athletic teams in the 1960s and 1970s before both schools restarted their athletic programs in recent years.

Thursday's season opener for both teams will mark their third overall meeting as Gaston College swept Cleveland Community College during the 1969-70 season with victories at Gastonia's old Groves Gymnasium 121-90 on Dec. 18, 1969 and by a 122-114 margin on Feb. 4, 1970 in Shelby.

It'll be Gaston College's third season opener since restarting its program and this year's Rhinos will be led by interim head coach Jermaine Williams, assistant coach Blan Hodges and a roster of four returning sophomores and 11 newcomers.

Sophomores Michael Smith, Asil Hoyle, Jamal Ukaegbu and Ajaden Gray return from last year's team that finished 17-12 overall.

This year, they've been joined by freshman newcomers Branden Burnell, Tyheim Love, Kush Carter, Judah Ravenell, Jalante Edwards, Jaeshaun Murchison, Jaylon Craig, Mason Rivera-Lind, Chance Jefferies, Anthony Davis and Sabastian Taylor.

"I think we're trending in the right direction," said Williams, whose team has played a pair of weekend three-game scrimmages in Georgia and scrimmages against Clinton College, Columbia International and Franklin Prep. "We've got enough preseason games under our belt. The last two were good.
"I want to make sure we're ready for tip off on offense and defense. We've just got to get guys to lock in on our offense and defense."

After Thursday's opener, the Rhinos will return to action at Ashbrook on Nov. 8 at 8 p.m. against Davidson-Davie Community College.