Roadrunners basketball team goes 4-1 in first jamboree

The Roadrunners traveled to Dallas, Texas, to participate in the Dallas Blowout Jamboree Oct. 7-8. SFCC went 4-1 at the event. 

The scrimmages consisted of two 20-minute running clock halves. The clock only stopped during the last minute of each half. 

The Roadrunners took on Western Oklahoma in their first game. SFCC led 24-17 in the first half and held off a late charge from Western Oklahoma to emerge with a 52-50 victory. 

"The Western Oklahoma game was back-and-forth," said Roadrunners Head Basketball Coach Kevin Thomas. "It wasn't bad for our first game, but I could tell we have a lot to work on. It was a great opportunity for our guys to play another team." 

Sophomore guard Willie Jimerson Jr. led the Roadrunners in scoring with 19 points on seven of 12 shots from the field. He also pulled down a team-high seven rebounds. Freshman guard Onteral Woodson Jr. added 10 points. Jimerson and Woodson dished out two assists apiece. Freshman forward Jamar Kemp registered a team-high three steals. 

SFCC defeated San Jacinto 55-47 in their second contest. Woodson led the team in scoring with 12 points. Sophomore guards Vonny Irvin and Jimerson contributed eight points apiece. Sophomore forward Amir Smith pulled down a team-high seven rebounds. Irvin and Jimerson dished out a team-high three assists each. Irvin led the team in steals with four. 

"We competed a little bit harder in that game and had balanced scoring," said Thomas. "It was close for the majority of the game, but we were able to pull away in the last five or six minutes." 

In their final contest on Friday, the Roadrunners took on Jacksonville from Texas. SFCC trailed by as many as 12 points but came back and emerged with a 46-45 win in overtime. 

"Our guys were able to battle their way back," said Thomas. "We were able to get an offensive rebound and draw a foul in sudden death overtime. Amir stepped up and knocked down the free-throw to win the game." 

Jimerson led SFCC in scoring with 16 points and pulled down a team-high eight rebounds. Freshman forward Tyrone Gibbs added 10 points. 

The Roadrunners took on Barton County in their first game on day two. Barton defeated SFCC 54-43. 

"We turned the ball over too much in that game," said Thomas. "Their zone defense bothered us quite a bit. That is something we have to work on this week since we'll see a lot of zone defense because of our personnel." 

Irvin led SFCC in scoring with 11 points. Woodson and Jimerson scored 10 points apiece. Sophomore guard Corey Mendez pulled down a team-high five rebounds. Irvin dished out a team-high five assists, and Jimerson added four. 

SFCC closed out the jamboree defeating Trinidad State 53-51. The Roadrunners were led in scoring by Jimerson with 16 points on four of six shots. Mendez contributed 14 points. SFCC was on the boards with four players pulling down three rebounds apiece. Jimerson dished out a team-high five assists. 

"We led by 17 or 18 points," said Thomas. "Trinidad State made a run at the end shooting three-point shots and had a chance to beat us. We were fortunate to hold on and win that game. We have to do a better job of finishing teams off."

SFCC will play in the Johnson County Jamboree on Oct. 16. They will face Johnson County, Highland and Southeast Nebraska. 

David Rohrbach

SFCC Athletics