After a sensational performance against the Georgia Southwestern Hurricanes at home, John Carrick and his Georgia College Bobcats will make the three-hour trek down I-16 to Savannah on Saturday and square off against the host Armstrong Atlantic State University Pirates (AASU).
GCSU (9-4, 2-1 Peach Belt Conference West division) was terrific in the rebounding effort this past Wednesday night in the 66-48 victory, pulling down a season-high 53 team boards, 38 of which were on the defensive side of the floor.
Seventeen of those rebounds went to senior center, Antoinette Reames (16pts), posting her fourth double-double of the campaign.
Teammate, roommate, and best friend Shandrea Moore also chipped in with a great offensive effort, putting in 16 of her own, while junior guards Shaquana Bleach and Chimere Jordan each had nine, respectively.
GCSU outscored the Hurricanes in the paint by 10 and off the bench by 16.
However, the story of the game was the defensive effort Georgia College implemented on GaSW’s senior forward Whitley Wiltz, holding her to under her season average in points at just 7. Wiltz was forced into early foul trouble by Reames, who was set to guard Wiltz all evening. Wiltz had just two points at the end of the first half, sitting most of the first period with foul trouble. Reames was whistled for just one personal.
Senior guard Brittany Reynolds was also held in check with just nine points (her season average is over 12) by Moore.
Here are the split numbers of the Hurricanes two star players compared to the Bobcats two premieres:
#15 Reynolds: 2-13 FG, 0-0 3pt, 3-7 FT, 9 pts, 7 reb, 1 asst, 1 blk, 2 stls
#20 Wiltz: 2-6 FG, 1-3 3pt, 2-2 FT, 7 pts, 7 reb, 0 asst, 1 blk, 0 stls
TOTAL: 4-19 FG (21%), 1-3 3pt (33.3%), 5-9 FT (55%), 16pts, 14 reb, 1 asst, 2 blks, and 2 stls
#10 Moore: 4-9 FG, 0-1 3pt, 8-10 FT, 16 pts, 2 reb, 4 asst, 0 blk, 2 stls
#44 Reames: 6-12 FG, 0-0 3pt, 4-8 FT, 16 pts, 17 reb, 1 asst, 5 blks, 1 stl
TOTAL: 10-21 FG (47.6%), 0-1 3pt, 12-18 FT (66.6%), 32 pts, 19 reb, 5 asst, 5 blks, 3 stls
GCSU won every category, except for three-point shooting! Any coach will take that any day of the week!
The task is daunting now, for the Bobcats. GCSU has struggled in games away from the Centennial Center this year, going 2-3. Away from the home pitch dating back to the 2005-2006 season through the end of last season, GCSU is just 14-33 (.297)
GCSU must find a way to play .500 basketball away from home this year if there is any hope to earn a NCAA tournament bid.
The Pirates are 6-6 on the season and 3-1 in the Peach Belt Conference East division. AASU is most previously off a 61-51 victory vs. Augusta State at home.
Armstrong Atlantic struggled to open the season, going 0-4 in their first outings, but have since then, hoisted the sails and gained speed. In their last eight games, AASU is 6-2, averaging 75.25 points per game. In the first four games, the Pirates were scoring just at a 66.5 clip.
So what has been the success for Armstrong? Simply, it’s been the strong post play, surrounded by consistent guards.
Armstrong has two top-25 scorers of the PBC anchoring the blocks down low. Sophomore forward Brooke Long (14.5 pts) is in sixth place in the PBC in scoring, but can also score from the outside as well. Long will most likely play the number four spot in the rotation during the matchup on Saturday.
At the number five with be junior forward Arpine Amirkhanyan (10.1 pts, 6.8 reb). Amirkhanyan is twenty-first in the league is points and thirteenth in rebounding.
Also, senior guard Lauren Hall (13.6 pts, 4.5 reb, 2.6 asst) must not be overlooked. Hall is third in the conference in three-pointers made per game at 2.58. Also, senior guard Portia Jones (12.4 pts, 5.3 reb, 2.3 asst) will present problems outside with Hall.
So with all this information, what will I be watching and think are the keys to victory for GCSU?
Obviously, the game is going to rely on strong post defense. Reames and sophomore forward Tammeisha Law will be active trying to put a hold on Long and Amirkhanyan. If Reames and Law can stay out of foul trouble, the Bobcats will be successful.
What worries me is throwing the strong guard play into the mix. If Armstrong decides to knife their way to the basket and force GCSU’s defense to collapse leaving the post open, Armstrong will have a big day.
The Bobcats must get great production in transition, offensively and defensively. It is imperative for GCSU to get early buckets and stop the basketball when getting back on D.
Look for there to be a potential for a lot of three-pointers in this game, both made and attempted. AASU is first in the conference in three-pointers made per game at 7.1, while the ‘Cats are a close third at 6.8.
Also, watch for both teams to key in on rebounding efforts. Armstrong averages just 40.4 rebounds per game (tenth in the PBC), while GCSU is ninth at 40.5.
If Reames can continue her success (9 pts per game and 11 rebounds per game in the month of January), if Moore distributes the ball effectively (6.2 assists per game in last five outings), if Chimere Jordan continues to be a crutch for this team (double figures in every game this year except four) and if GCSU focuses on defense first, then we shouldn’t walk the plank.
Put all this together, GCSU should find treasure against Armstrong Atlantic and sail away back to Milledgeville with a “dub-yah!”
Talk to you all at 1:20 on Country 102.3 FM in Milledgeville or online at http://www.country102fm.com/ (wkzr link)! Scott MacLeod will have the play-by-play, while yours truly will be the analyst.
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