Gaston College drops first game of weekend Thanksgiving Classic

Game 6: Nov. 25 vs. Henry Ford College at Davidson-Davie Thanksgiving Classic

Playing one of the top junior college basketball teams in the country was difficult enough for Gaston College on Saturday night at Davidson-Davie Community College's Thanksgiving Classic.

But having to do it after nine days off and falling behind by by double digits in the first 2 1/2 minutes made the Rhinos' task even more challenging.

In the end, Gaston College got within a single point of No. 6-ranked Henry Ford College in the first half and was within single digits in the second half before losing 88-73.

"It was a tough game," said Gaston College interim head coach Jermaine Williams, whose team dropped to 3-3 on the season. "They were and are tough - both on paper and in person."

The Hawks, who entered the game with a 4-2 overall record that included a 1-2 mark against nationally-ranked opponents, hit four of their first five 3-pointers, converted 11 of 19 in the first half and finished 16 of 34 overall.

"They got into a shooting groove early," Williams said of Henry Ford College, which entered the contest averaging 10 made 3-pointers per game. "We didn't stick our defensive assignments and they were able to establish 3-point shooting. Guys that were normally not 3-point shooters were making 3s."

Despite the Hawks' early hot shooting that gave them early leads of 13-2 and 16-4, the Rhinos closed with 30-29 with 5:31 left in the first half on a Tyheim Love layup.

Henry Ford, which finished sixth in the 2023 National Junior College Athletic Association Division II national championship tournament a year ago, closed the first on a 17-4 surge to take a 47-33 lead at the break.

Then, after the Hawks built as much as an 18-point lead in the second, Gaston College closed within 74-65 with 5:50 to play on Jalante Edwards' driving layup before the Hawks hit three 3-pointers in the next three minutes to stay comfortably ahead.

"We didn't have the proper intensity with on-ball defense and that allowed them to be too comfortable," Williams said. "We simply didn't pass the ball to each other as we should have and talked about.
"We made runs to make it interesting but for us to be and go where we want to go - championship-level, win conference and make it to the nationals - we have to share the ball and let it move with pure energy."

Kush Carter (20 points, 5 rebounds, 4 steals), Michael Smith (13 points, 10 rebounds), Jamal Ukaegbu (10 points, 5 rebounds), Edwards (8 points, 6 rebounds, 3 steals), Love (7 points), Asil Hoyle (7 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists), Judah Ravenell (4 points, 6 rebounds) and Ajaden Gray (4 points, 3 rebounds, 3 steals) led a balanced attack for the Rhinos.

Gaston College plays again on Sunday at 5:30 p.m. against Montgomery College of Rockland, Md.

"Thanksgiving games after the holiday or after a couple of off days are always rough," Williams said. "We will be back tomorrow and better than today."