STOCKBRIDGE, Ga. — The Social Circle Redskins fell in its season opener to Stockbridge 59-69 Tuesday afternoon, however the group holds optimism because the group continues to gel.
Social Circle went on the highway for his or her first official recreation of the season and have been met with an undefeated Tigers squad. The 4-0 begin is a change of tempo for Stockbridge, a group that went 3-22 only a yr in the past.
Within the moments following the tip off, the Redskins discovered success from one in all their key gamers a yr in the past — Derrick White
White knocked down a pair of three pointers within the opening body. It was matched by Tivan Department, who transformed a pair of pictures from the perimeter, too.
Nevertheless, the Redskins and Tigers entered the second quarter with a 15-15 tie.
As soon as the second quarter started, so did a number of errors for Social Circle.
Stockbridge managed to trigger a number of turnovers off the Redskins on the transition. As Social Circle gamers have been getting the ball down the courtroom, the Tigers superior to get the steals that led to a number of factors.
Turning and getting down the courtroom is one thing head coach Norman Jones famous after the sport as a pivotal space of Tuesday’s matchup.
“I feel we took care of their press properly, we simply should work on turning , as a result of we aren’t seeing that again aspect,” Jones mentioned. “If we see that flip absolutely, we see the again aspect. Now, it’s a two-on-one break. We are going to work on that in apply. I feel in comparison with what we did final yr, we dealt with the press pretty properly.”
A 3 pointer from White earlier than halftime trimmed the lead, however the Tigers nonetheless led 34-23.
All through the second half, the Tigers nonetheless managed to carry round a 10-point edge, however the Redskins didn’t go away quietly.
After scoring 15 factors within the third quarter, Social Circle erupted for 20 factors within the last body. A big a part of that was sophomore Le’Son Nelson, who impressed within the season opener.
“It’s solely going to get higher. Le’Son is barely a tenth grader working the system,” Jones mentioned. “Derrick solely had one turnover. He took care of the ball, had six rebounds and three assists. He performed properly. It’s simply new faces — chemistry constructing. We will probably be okay.”
Social Circle bought inside 9 factors within the last quarter, however finally fell 59-69 to the Tigers to start the season.
Nelson and White led the Redskins with 23 and 19 factors, respectively. One factor specifically that Nelson confirmed on Tuesday was his effectivity on the free throw line, because the sophomore completed an ideal nine-for-nine on free throws.
With a robust opening recreation from White and Nelson, Norman can be anticipating the affect of gamers akin to Ean Mulkey and Jameccus Hardge, who returned to basketball apply this week as a consequence of Social Circle’s soccer group having an prolonged run into the playoffs.
Though Mulkey and Hardge performed on Tuesday, neither participant was within the beginning line up.
The Redskins transfer to 0-1 and can have the remainder of the week to arrange earlier than taking over the Eastside Eagles at residence on Saturday, Nov. 30.
In what is barely his second season as the pinnacle coach at Social Circle, Jones in contrast the place this present group is now to the place final yr’s group was firstly of the season.
“For almost all, everyone seems to be shopping for in,” Jones mentioned. “The soccer guys are again too, [since] we made somewhat run into the playoffs in soccer. Now that we get these guys going and acclimated we will probably be okay. Now we have a troublesome second recreation towards Eastside, however I feel we will probably be okay. We simply have to apply and maintain working.”
