Gaston College basketball season comes to an end in Region 10 quarterfinals

Facing the hottest team in the league on its homecourt in Thursday's quarterfinals of the Region 10 tournament wasn't a recipe for success for Gaston College.

Cape Fear Community College posted its seventh win in its last eight games with a 88-65 victory that ends the Rhinos' season with a 17-12 overall record.

"We fought so hard," Gaston College coach Jamie Rosser said. "Cape Fear has been playing well and has some talented all-conference players. And they were really tough today at home. They're peaking at the right time with a veteran team."

The host Sea Devils never trailed though the Rhinos made spirited rallies in each half to stay close until Cape Fear closed the game on a 31-13 surge after Gaston College closed to within 57-52 with 10:13 to play.

The No. 5-seeded Rhinos tied the game at 3 and was within one at 15-14 and within four at 32-28 with 3:58 left in the opening half.

After Cape Fear took a 43-32 halftime lead, the Sea Devils built a 13-point lead before Gaston College rallied within five points twice in the middle of the second half - at 50-45 and 57-52.

Jordan Guthrie, one of seven sophomores whose Rhinos' career ended in the loss, led a balanced Gaston College attack with 16 points and 4 rebounds. The other sophomores are Joshua Johnson, Dee Merriweather, DaMarco Watson, Dedrick Givens, Caleb McCarty and Kirk Scoggins.

Other standouts on Thursday were Tyree Bracey (9 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists), Yarayah Evans (9 points, 4 rebounds), Johnson (8 points, 5 rebounds), Jamal Ukaegbu (8 points, 2 rebounds) and Watson (8 points, 6 rebounds, 12 assists).

Gaston College was making its first postseason appearance since it restarted athletics last year.

All-Region 10 players Daniel Ransom (20 points) and Keishon Porter (17 points) led the No. 4-seeded Sea Devils (13-13).