Both the men’s and women’s basketball programs at Cape Fear Community College head into 2016 on a winning streak and with ambitions to keep building momentum into the second half of the season.
Leading the way is the Sea Devils women’s team, which has reeled off 10 straight wins after dropping the season opener in November. The Cape Fear Community College women, ranked No. 16 in the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II Top 20 poll, will bring their 10-1 record into the Schwartz Center to face conference opponent Lenoir Community College on Thursday, Jan. 14.
So far, the only loss on the women’s team schedule is to Region 10 conference rival Bryant & Stratton College from Virginia Beach, Virginia. The Sea Devils will rematch against the Bobcats on Feb. 13 in a Saturday home matchup at the Schwartz Center.
The Sea Devils women’s team is led by sophomore forward Jasmine Brown, who is averaging 12.8 points per game, and freshman forward Destiny Campbell, who has added another 12.5 points per game.
Freshman forward Desaree Green is leading the team in rebounding with 7.9 per game, with Brown adding 7.7 and Campbell chipping in 7.6 rebounds a game.
“I’ve been impressed with our ability to play pressure defense,” CFCC women’s team coach Chris Harris stated in a press release.
Of the Sea Devils wins, seven have been by more than 20 points. But against Harford Community College on Dec. 17, the Sea Devils trailed by 11 points before coming back to win 70-67 behind freshman guard Chrystall Jerome’s 19 points.
“I’m just really excited about the way our team responded after being down for the first time all season at halftime,” Harris said.
The men’s team started the New Year off right when it downed Port City Prep from North Charleston, South Carolina, by a score of 121-86, improving the Sea Devils record to 13-5.
The men’s team cruised into the holiday break in December after posting a streak of wins, including sweeping the Brunswick Community College Holiday Classic in Bolivia, North Carolina.
The Sea Devils started the tournament with a 88-83 win over Shelton State Community College on Dec. 16. CFCC defeated Caldwell Community College 81-62 the following day and won over Harford Community College 74-57 in the tournament’s final day.
“It feels great to head into the break knowing you have really improved over the past month,” head coach Ryan Mantlo stated in a press release issued after the game. “We really challenged ourselves with a tough schedule and think we are reaping some of the results from that now.”
In the streak of three wins to close out December, it was sophomore guard Michael Chambers leading the Sea Devils in scoring, with 24 points against Caldwell and 23 versus Shelton State. Chambers is averaging 13.4 points per game for the Sea Devils, while guard T.J. Evans leads the team with a 14.8 points-per-game average.
Sea Devils sophomore forward Tyrek Coger, who committed to transfer to Ole Miss next season, is putting in 12.8 points a game, the same average as freshman forward Alonzo Tyson.
The CFCC men’s basketball team hosts Richard Bland College on Saturday, Jan. 16 at 3 p.m. in the Schwartz Center.
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