Freshman center Dustin Stanley (Northwest Whitfield HS, Ga.) helped lead the way in Georgia Northwestern’s win in their NJCAA Region XVII opener Monday night. The 6-foot-5 North Georgia native dropped in 11 points, pulled down five boards, and rejected a pair of shots
When the Bobcats went to bed on November 22, 2013, they were 3-2 and six weeks away from NJCAA Region play tipping off. However, Georgia Northwestern took a five-game skid leaving them at 3-7 as region action finally arrived at The R.A.C. in Rossville, Georgia Monday night.
In the often spoken words of Georgia Northwestern Head Men’s Basketball Coach David Stephenson, that’s when they, “handled their business.”
Up only two, 28-26, at the break Monday night, the freshmen big men would come to life as the Bobcats took home their first win in nearly two months with a 58-52 win at home over NJCAA Region XVII opponent Southern Crescent (GA). 6-foot-5 center Dustin Stanley (Northwest Whitfield HS, GA) and 6-foot-4 forward LaDarius Watkins (East Hamilton HS, TN) combined for 23 points, 14 rebounds, and five blocked shots.
The other side of the two-headed Bobcat attack was the sophomore backcourt of Tavish Reynolds (Sonoraville HS, GA), Richard Olsen (Granger HS, UT), and Hunter Ivester (Trion HS, GA). The second-year trio combined for 28 points, nine assists, seven steals, and three blocks.
Holding the lead for most of the game, Georgia Northwestern (4-7, 1-0) would see double-digit leads come and go in the second stanza Monday. The Tigers (2-10, 0-1) would manage to keep it within a couple of possessions late in the game before the Cats would claw its way to a win in their region opener.
Next up on the slate for the Cats is a weekend trip to Oxford, Georgia where the Bobcats will match-up in a pair of games on the campus of Emory-Oxford.
For information on all Georgia Northwestern intercollegiate athletic programs, check out BobcatsCountry.com or e-mail the Bobcat Athletic Department at dstephenson@gntc.edu.
NJCAA Region XVII Box Score
Georgia Northwestern (58) – Richard Olsen 10, Watkins 2, Tavish Reynolds 11, Ivester 7, Bell 3, Cochran 2, Dustin Stanley 11, LaDarius Watkins 12.
Southern Crescent (GA) (52) – Ijelum 4, Ware 2, Rodney Gilbert 13, Anthony Calloway 21, Danish Freeman 12.
Halftime Score: 28-26, Georgia Northwestern