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Jaylen Bates' 31 points was the highest single-game scoring effort in Gaston College history since December 1971.
Jaylen Bates' 31 points was the highest single-game scoring effort in Gaston College history since December 1971.
Posted: Jan 08, 2022

Gaston College opens second half of season with impressive home victory

Gaston College's basketball team needed a few minutes to shake of the rust of a 23-day layoff on Saturday afternoon against Charlotte's GaddisWatts Prep Academy.

Once the Rhinos did that, their offense and defense quickly got untracked in a 110-70 victory at the North Gaston High School gymnasium.

In the contest - Gaston College's third 100-point game of the season - sophomore Jaylen Bates scored 31 points for the school's first 30-point game since Julian Miller did so on Dec. 18, 1971 against USC Aiken.

The Rhinos, who resumed athletics this season for the first time in 50 years, improved to 10-5 overall entering Tuesday's Region 10 home game against USC Salkehatchie at 7 p.m. at North Gaston High School.

"When you're off three weeks and two days, you don't know what to expect," Gaston College coach David "Dickey" Nutt said. "But I think our guys did a good job. The real tests will start on Tuesday."

GaddisWatts led 6-4 after 1 1-2 minutes before Bates led the Rhinos on a 24-3 surge that effectively put the game away.

Bates had 25 points, four rebounds and three assists in a first half that ended with Gaston College on top 52-33. A 6-foot-7 sophomore, Bates finished the game with 31 points, eight rebounds, four assists and four steals for a Gaston College unit that had 23 total assists, forced 30 turnovers and outrebounded their opponent 63-46.

"It's a great feeling to be back," Bates said. "It's a great feeling being around my teammates and the family atmosphere we have going on here."

Joshua Johnson (19 points, 5 rebounds), Da'marco Watson (13 points, 5 assists, 3 steals), Dee Merriweather (12 points, 4 rebounds, 4 steals, 3 assists), Zavion Jackson (10 points, 9 rebounds), Dedrick Givens (6 points, 10 rebounds), Lenz Dupont (6 points, 4 rebounds) and Damon Davis (5 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists) rounded out a balanced Rhinos' attack.

"I was really proud of individual performances," Nutt said. "Jaylen Bates was just really outstanding. I thought Da'marco had some really good moments. A lot of others made big contributions as well."

USC Salkehatchie (9-6, 0-0) opens its Region 10 schedule at home on Sunday against defending champion Brunswick Community College. Gaston College (10-5, 1-1) has already played two Region 10 games.

"I'm really proud of our efforts," Nutt said. "We used this game to get some rust off in order to get ready for conference play. And I appreciate the fans that came out to watch us play."