MGCCC basketball storms into break with momentum

Samara Dingiswayo (1) goes up for a shot against Southwest earlier this season.

PERKINSTON---It’s already a Merry Christmas from both Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College basketball teams.

Heading into the holiday break, the Gulf Coast men are 11-1 and riding a nine-game winning streak while the Lady Bulldogs are 8-3 and flirting with getting back into the NJCAA’S top 25 poll.

The men’s team has set out on defending back-to-back MACJC titles with a 2-0 South Division record. On Dec. 6, the Bulldogs took care of non-conference foe Bishop State 68-57 with JaMichael Hawkins leading the scoring with 19 points. Hawkins is averaging 13.7 points per game, second on the team behind the 19 points-per-game pace set by sophomore Angel Matias, who missed two games because of an ankle injury.

“The guys have jelled together nicely,” said Wendell Weathers, who’s in his 11th season as men’s head coach. “Our division games will be a true test of how good we can be.”

The Lady Bulldogs, 1-1 in South Division action, also stopped Bishop State 64-43 behind 19 points from Presley Owens, 15 from Shameika Hart, and 11 by Markia Nix.

“The team has played with a lot of energy and determination,” said Melanie Stone, who’s in her sixth season as head coach of the Lady Bulldogs. “I feel like our depth at some key positions will help us when we get into the tough parts of our schedule.”

Both teams jump back into action with non-conference games against Delgado at home Jan. 8 before diving back into South Division play Dec. 14 against archrival Pearl River.