Good hoops are on the way.
THURSDAY, Tallahassee State College men’s basketball will host Panhandle Conference foe Chipola College at the Bill Hebrock Eagledome. Alert at 7:30 p.m.
The match was originally scheduled for Wednesday, but Tallahassee Winter Storm I postponed it for a day.
Chipola is ranked 17th in the ranking Latest National Junior College Athletic Association Division I rankings.
The TSC Eagles (15-6, 1-2 in Panhandle) return to action after an 89-81 road victory over Panhandle opponent Gulf Coast State last Saturday. The Chipola Indians (16-4, 1-1 in Panhandle) also beat Gulf Coast State in their previous game, 60-57 on Jan. 15.
“It should be a good, tough game,” said TSC head men’s basketball coach Corey Hendren, who is in his second year. “So we are preparing for what we know will be a battle. We will have to be ready to compete and try to eliminate any habits or qualities that could cause us to lose this match.
“So we have to take care of the ball, rebound and be a disciplined team if you want a chance against Chipola.”
Eagles vs. Indians is always entertaining basketball.
For example, in the 2022-2023 season, the teams completed a three-game trilogy, which ended with them. share part of the Panhandle championship. Last season, Chipola swept TSC, but all were close games.
Additionally, Chipola eliminated TSC from the Florida College System Activities Association District I/NJCAA men’s basketball semifinals last March with a score of 73-68.
“Knowing what to expect could be beneficial,” Hendren said. “But I think everyone has improved from last year. We know there will be a battle against these teams every night. We’re just trying to rack up the days and compete at a high level in the Panhandle Conference.
Tallahassee State College basketball to learn more about itself vs. No. 17 Chipola College
TSC has a three-headed monster on its team this year.
Julius Clark, a sophomore forward, leads the Eagles with 15.7 points per game in his second season with TSC. Sophomore guard Julius King Jr. is good for 14.6 points per game. Tahj Johnson, also a sophomore forward, averages 10.6 points and leads TSC with 6.8 rebounds.
Other key players named by Hendren were Justin Britt, Cole Crissman and Alex Jasquith.
“We have depth this year and a lot of guys have impacted games at different times,” Hendren said. “I think that’s one of our greatest strengths: depth. We can play several guys who can play different ways depending on who we’re facing that night.
Thursday’s game against Chipola can assess where this TSC team is and who they are through 22 games.
And a ranked win can spark a run for the TSC Eagles in the tough Panhandle Conference.
“It’s always a good indicator,” Hendren said. “If you can win a game like that at home and gain momentum, it can be big for the year. And it gives you an idea of where you are and what you need to be. Each match gives you an idea of where you are heading and whether your team is continuing to grow in the right direction.
Match Info Tallahassee State College vs. Chipola Panhandle
When: Thursday at 7:30 p.m.
Or: Bill Hebrock Eagledome
Live Statistics: Here
Gerald Thomas, III is a multi-award winning journalist for his coverage of the Florida A&M Rattlers at the Tallahassee Democrat.
Follow his award-winning coverage on RattlerNews.com and contact him by email at GDThomas@Tallahassee.com or on the app formerly known as Twitter @3peatgee.
This article was originally published on Tallahassee Democrat: TSC basketball ready to ‘fight’ against Panhandle foe Chipola College
