by Caitlin F. McCarthy
Executive Staff
Tiger fans packed home Juhan Gymnasium on Jan 18, eager to watch the men’s basketball team, lead by head coach Bubba Smith and assistant coach Bradley Pierson, play SAA (Southern Athletic Association) rival Centre College. Eagerly cheering on the notoriously successful Sewanee team, the fans were shocked to see the Tigers lose to the Colonels 46-85.
Prior to this tough match-up, the highly talented Tigers had won every home game of the season – 14 straight wins on the Mountain! From the beginning, this was a challenge for the Tigers, starting in the first ten minutes of the game when Centre took a 20-9 point lead.
However, guard-forward Leo Born (C’16) was notgoing to let his team get pushed around. Scoring an awesome basket, the Tigers finally were able to break into double digits, enraging the Colonels.
Anger fueled Centre’s team and they were able to score an interruption-free 13 points. The Tigers pressed on, racing up and down the court, looking for passes, making solid blocks, communicating, attempting shot after shot. Despite all of this, the Colonels could not be beat.
Every small victory, whether it be a notable block, outrunning the opponent, or making a basket, only further inspired Centre’s men’s team who returned each time better and stronger. As the buzzer rang, disappointed fans and players alike saw the final scoreboard: 85-46, with a win by the Colonels.
Despite this hard loss, there were several notable marks for the Tigers. Guard Jorden Williams (C’17) scored a third of Sewanee’s points for the game, making this the tenth game in a row in which he has made points ranging through the double digits. Another guard, Clay Born (C’17) likewise scored a highly impressive 11 points on Centre. Lastly, the Tigers made eight of the nine free throws shot.
The last game for the month of January takes the Tigers to Memphis to hopefully crush the Rhodes Lynx on January 31. Sewanee athletics invites all fans to come cheer on the men’s basketball game at their next home game versus Berry College on Feb 7.