SGSC Hawks Secure GCAA Title; NJCAA Tourney Bound

SGSC Hawks Secure GCAA Title; NJCAA Tourney Bound
March 17, 2025

 

The top ranked Hawks trailed the entire game but finally took the lead with just over eight minutes left to play and that is where the experience of being the regular season champion paid off holding on to defeat the Bobcats and capturing the title 70-67.

The only clear cut team coming into the GCAA Men's Basketball tournament appeared to be the South Georgia State Hawks as the number one seed. Ties were broken to determine seeds two through eight. That is how close and how much parity there was throughout the conference this year. Do not let the seventh seed of the East Georgia State Bobcats be taken out of context, they were part of a four team group requiring a tiebreaker to settle seeds three through seven. So the Hawks facing the seventh seed Bobcats was not as big of a stretch as seen on paper. 

To get to the title game, the Hawks defeated the Chargers 70-57 in the late semifinal game on Friday night. The Bobcats traveled to Albany Tech to win their quarterfinal game on Tuesday and defeated Gordon State 82-70 in the early semifinal matchup. 

The Hawks trailed throughout the first half going into halftime down 31-27. After constantly battling throughout the second half the Hawks finally took the lead with 8:00 left to play. South Georgia State capitalized on a few turnovers and some clutch baskets to nail down a hard fought 70-67 win.  

Tournament MVP Justin McCarter's had 20 points and 8 rebounds, Chandler Thomas contributed 17 points and 9 rebounds, Ashton Pannamon 12 points, 12 rebounds, six assists and four steals led the way for the Hawks to the title. Jalen Gallman's 21 points and Jaylen Harris 20 points led the Bobcats. 

Justin McCarter was named the tournament MVP. Ashton Pennamon was also named to the All-Tournament team from SGSC. Jaylen Harris and Zay Howard from EGSC, Cameron Baldwin from Georgia Highlands and Christian Burnett from Gordon State were the other members selected.

With the win, the Hawks were named the NJCAA Southeast District Champions and receive an automatic bid to the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) National Tournament in Hutchinson, Kansas March 22-29.            

Seeding for the national tournament took place yesterday during the NJCAA Division I Men's Basketball Selection Show with the Hawks being selected as the #21 seed and will take on #12 Angelina College on March 23rd at 6:30 EDT.