The Schoolcraft College men’s basketball (#17th) team is experiencing an excellent run this season, reaping the rewards of rigorous weekly work by both the coaching staff and the athletes. With two more crucial victories this past week, the Ocelots have extended their winning streak and moved to 3-0 in the MCCAA Conference, maintaining their undefeated record at home.
01/14 vs. Mott Community College
81 – 69
Last Wednesday, January 14th, the Ocelots visited the Bears for their second conference game. While the home team was seeking their first win after an opening loss, Schoolcraft stepped onto the court focused on maintaining their undefeated status. The Ocelots’ superiority was evident in how they managed the score throughout the forty minutes, winning the first half 39-31 and maintaining intensity in the second half with a 42-38 split.
Offensively, the spotlight was on the trio of Booker Washington, J’Vohn Walker, and Tyler Robinson, who scored 17, 16, and 15 points, respectively. Beyond their scoring prowess, the influence of the paint was once again a decisive factor in controlling the game. Their dominance in rebounding, totaling 41 boards, highlighted the team’s effectiveness on both ends of the court and stifled any consistent comeback attempts by the Bears.
01/17 vs. Wayne County Community College
70-55
On Saturday, January 17, the Ocelots returned home to face the Wild Cats in their third conference game. The opponent came in confident after a victory over Jackson Community College, and this confidence translated into a tightly contested first half, where Schoolcraft went into halftime trailing by a narrow 30-35 margin. However, their return for the second half showcased the squad’s strengths. The Ocelots overpowered the visitors in the final half, closing the second-half score with an impressive 40-20 differential.
Tyler Robinson and J’Vohn Walker led the offensive charge with 18 points each, while Amir Perryman demonstrated accuracy by converting 6 of 7 free throws. Rebounding control was even more pronounced in this matchup, with the team collecting an impressive 48 total boards, including 33 defensive and 15 offensive. One of the standout performers was Rael Cochran, who displayed a balance between defensive and offensive actions to record a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds, sealing the victory.
On the Clock
Closing the second week of conference play with a 3-0 record, Schoolcraft demonstrates consistency and an own playing style, boasting an offensive average of 78.9 points and a dominant presence in the paint with 43.7 rebounds per game.
Now, the team prepares for a tough week, where they will face the current second and third-place teams in the standings.
On Wednesday, January 21, the challenge will be on the road against Oakland Community College, ranked 16th nationally, who will be seeking redemption after suffering their first loss last Saturday.Â
To conclude the week on Saturday, January 24, the Ocelots will host the Henry Ford team at home at 3 p.m. This will be another high-level test that will demand technical and physical preparation, as winning these direct matchups is an indispensable step for teams eyeing a successful postseason.
The expectation is for intense games that will test the team’s evolution in their quest to maintain their top position in the MCCAA and gain recognition in the NJCAA national rankings.
