Gaston College resumes Region 10 schedule with home game against USC Salkehatchie

As the newest member of Region 10 basketball, Gaston College was an unknown quantity entering the 2021-22 season.

But the Rhinos gained attention quickly with six straight victories to open the season and then a 78-75 win at six-time Region 10 champion Cape Fear Community College on Dec. 4 to open its conference schedule.

After a 69-56 home loss to 10-time Region 10 champion Spartanburg Methodist left Gaston College with a 1-1 conference record, the team is eager to return to action on Tuesday against USC Salkehatchie at 7 p.m. at the North Gaston High School gymnasium.

"We were eager to back in the swing of things after a long Christmas break," said Rhinos coach David "Dickey" Nutt, whose team improved to 10-5 overall with Saturday's 110-70 win over Charlotte's GaddisWatts Prep Academy in a contest that ended a 23-day layoff. "It was good to get back on the floor but we know that conference play will be a whole new level of competition. Tuesday will be a big challenge for us."

The Indians (9-7, 0-1) are coming off a loss to league-leading Brunswick Community College in their Region 10 opener on Sunday.

Brunswick's victory completed a 2-0 weekend that gives the Dolphins a 15-2 overall and 2-0 in the league; Brunswick won 68-60 at Denmark Tech on Saturday and 99-93 at USC Salkehatchie on Sunday.

Caldwell Tech (14-2, 1-0) and Spartanburg Methodist (11-2, 1-0) also have unbeaten league records with Gaston College tied for fourth place with Cape Fear (7-5, 1-1).

Sophomores Damon Davis (14.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.6 assists), Jaylen Bates (12.4, 6.8 rebounds), Kalil Camara (9.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.1 blocks) and Zavion Jackson (7.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.5 blocks) and freshmen Da'marco Watson (11.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 2.0 steals), Dee Merriweather (11.4 points), Naysean Baisy (8.1 points), Dedrick Givens (6.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.1 blocks), Josh Johnson (6.6 points) and Jared Funderburk (5.8 points) lead the Rhinos.

Bates had a season-high 31 points in Saturday's win over GaddisWatts Prep Academy, which was the first 30-point game in school history since the last year it fielded a team in the 1971-72 season.

Gaston College continues a four-game homestand at North Gaston High School that opens the second half of the season with a Region 10 game against Cape Fear Community College on Saturday at 2 p.m. and a non-conference game against Region 10 Division II opponent Louisburg on Sunday at 2 p.m.