Varsity Basketball - OC vs. Commerce

Girls Basketball – Trenetta Smith (4) and Latoria Royal (12) returning seniors for OC lead the way for OC’s victory over the Lady Tigers of Commerce 44-40 Tuesday night at home.



Team Captains Tanisha Eberheart (15), Latria Gambrell (23) and Emily Barnett (32). 

        Besides Smith’s 17 points for the game, making her OC’s top scorer, she had seven steals about half of which she turned in to points.  Royal, who had 11 points, was OC’s top player on the boards with 10 rebounds followed by Jessica Pulliam (14) with 5.  Pulliam also had 4 points for the game.

        The game started slow enough, the first quarter ending at 8-4 OC. The Pats really pulled away from Commerce in the second when Smith, Royal and Pulliam put in a collective 12 points with help from Morgan Dunsford (20) and Itika Howard (5) with a basket each.  Between Smith’s steals and Royal’s work under the boards Commerce could only answer OC’s 15 points with 5 of their own.

        After half-time both OC and Commerce hit the court with a more physical game.  OC players went to the line five times in the third.  Royal claimed the majority with three trips herself.  The increased pace also resulted in an increase in points for both teams.  Smith had two baskets while the remaining OC points came from the foul line from Royal, Pulliam, Dunsford and Howard resulting in a 33-19 quarter

        Commerce really turned up the gas in the fourth quarter becoming more physical still sending OC players to the line 8 times.  The Tigers cut into the scoring deficit putting up 21 points to OC’s 11.  But it was just short of enough when the final buzzer sounded giving OC a well-earned win.

        On the night Dunsford had 3 points and one rebound, Howard had 5 points and 2 steals.  Other OC players contributing to the win were Tanisha Eberheart with 2 rebounds and Jennah McElheney with a three pointer. 

        OC travels to Oconee County Friday, November 30 to play the Warriors at 7pm.   

        You can see all the pictures of the girls game here:  http://hdgp.photoreflect.com/store/thumbpage.aspx?e=8770023

 

Boys Basketball – The OC boys lost a tough played game against the Commerce Tigers Tuesday night 46-32. 

What a way to start a game!

        Throughout the game OC stayed within four points of Commerce.  For example, at the end of the first quarter the score was tied 8-8 until Commerce hit a three pointer at the buzzer.  Still, by halftime the score was 20-16 Commerce. 

        Xavier Eberhart (24) and Clay Ogle(11) both hit 3 pointers for OC in the first quarter.  Quen Laguines had a basket topping off OC’s 8 first quarter points. 

        In the second Ogle and Laguines both put points on the board along with Tay Watkins (5) sophomore Austin Hulin (21) resulting in a halftime score of 20-16 Commerce.

        The third quarter was kept close with good play from several Patriots.  Ogle kept Commerce honest with several steals and Derk Jones (15) came down with much needed rebounds for OC. 

        Eberhart and Watkins both put 3 pointers on the board.  Hulin and Ogle had a basket each while Dylan Pulliam (1) came off the bench and put a basket on the board.  The quarter ended 32-28 Commerce. 

        OC came down with couldn’t-get-a-basket-if-they-paid-the-Pope-itis in the fourth with only 4 points put on the board from Jones and Hulin to Commerce’s 14.      Not to mention Commerce found the range from the three point line. Resulting in a 46-32 Commerce final score.

        Coach Derricotte said that the starting line-up was still a work in progress and that there was still much work to do.  Nevertheless, OC played well against Commerce for three quarters. 

        OC next plays against Jefferson at Jefferson Tuesday, December 4^th at 7:30pm.   

        You can see pictures of the boys game here:  http://hdgp.photoreflect.com/store/thumbpage.aspx?e=8770037