Basketball Opens 2023 at Home Vs Hocking

The Bobcats basketball programs finished the 2022 calendar and are rested and ready to flip the page to 2023. While the women's season hasn't gone as they had planned, they have had some bright spots through out the first half of the season. Pre-season all OCCAC selection Sophomore Abby Spalding has picked up right where she left off at the end of her Freshman year, averaging a double double with 17 points and 11 rebounds per game. Abby is currently tied for second in the conference in scoring, and sits in 3rd in the conference in rebounding so far this season. Freshman Destinee White has burst onto the scene as well, averaging 13 points good for 9th in the OCCAC, as is her 3 assists per game. 

The men's basketball team is knocking down the gym doors as they attempt to get back on the floor and reclaim the top of the conference standings. They took #13 NJCAA ranked Lakeland down to the wire in their last action of 2022, ultimately losing that match up, and the top of the conference, 85-77. The men currently sit firmly in second place in the OCCAC with a 4-1 conference record, 5-6 overall record, and look to close the gap on Lakeland (4-0) Saturday as they face Hocking College at Sister Diana Stano Arena. The storyline for the men so far this season has been exceptional team offense, led by Freshman sharp shooter Jalen Barnes. Barnes is currently averaging 20pts per game, good for third in the conference, but right behind him is Larry Reynolds and Tareeq Roper both averaging 15 points per game. Barnes's shooting was on display a few weeks ago as he set the school record for 3 pointers in a game (8) and became the 4th player in program history to score 30 plus. Barnes and Roper are both in the top 10 in the OCCAC in assists at 4 and 3 per game respectively. The Bobcats are in a tough part of their schedule coming off of the break as Hocking is third in the conference with a 2-1 record, but area 13-3 overall and have recieved votes in the NJCAA polls. They are the conferences top scoring offense averaging nearly 90 points per game, and feature was one of the best scoreres in the OCCAC in Trevell Adams. Adams is second in the conference in scoring with 24 points per game, trailing only Jaidon Lipscomb who the Bobcats saw in their last matchup against Lakeland. Tomorrow's games will start at 6pm (women) and 8pm (men) at Sister Diana Stano Athletic Center at Ursuline College. They can also be watched live on Youtube Channel CatTv BSCOH.