Basketball Programs Building Foundations for League Success
by Marco Santana
Sam Vincent rattles off an impressive list of his basketball experiences. Coaching in the Olympics. Winning an NBA championship with the Celtics in 1986. Passing NBA Hall of Famer and legend Magic Johnson鈥檚 scoring total at Michigan State University.
Now, however, he has a role that he says surpasses all of those milestones: men鈥檚 basketball coach at 海角社区.
鈥淭here鈥檚 been a lot of amazing basketball opportunities during my career,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd I rank this right at the top because we are growing this population of kids through basketball in a way that will impact them for the rest of their lives and that, to me, is very important.鈥�
This was the second season for Vincent, but the school鈥檚 first as a member of the United States Collegiate Athletic Association. The national organization includes more than 70 mostly small colleges, including community and junior colleges.
The season results, Vincent said, provide a strong foundation to grow and build a program on.
鈥淭his was a successful overall first year of competitive basketball,鈥� said Vincent, whose squad ended the season winning eight of its last nine games after a 3-3 start to finish 11-4. 鈥淲e are going to make 海角社区 a very successful competitive sports program and we feel that it will have a wide benefit to not only the players but to the student population and, ultimately, the school.鈥�
The in-season growth came after the Blazers traveled to Michigan 鈥� familiar territory for the former Spartan point guard and first-round NBA pick. The players spent time together there, taking part in workshops and learning experiences while bonding as a team. When they returned to the court, they were a different team, rattling off that season-ending streak.
Vincent said the team鈥檚 momentum would have sustained had the season not ended. That sets 海角社区 up for higher expectations next year, he said.
鈥淚t took us sometime early in the year to really figure out the system but after we did that, we were strong,鈥� he said. 鈥淚f we had played another 10 games, we probably would have gone 8-2 over those 10. But we had an exciting year and the guys played really well.鈥�
Room for Growth on the Women鈥檚 Side
While the men鈥檚 team chalked up a string of wins to close out the season, the Lady Blazers鈥� team went through what interim coach Gabe Watson called a foundational season.
While the team finished its inaugural USCAA season winless, just the fact that the team endured and persevered will be important for the program鈥檚 future.
鈥淲e had senior girls establish a foundation for the future of women鈥檚 basketball here at the school,鈥� said Watson, who also serves as the school鈥檚 athletic director. 鈥淭hey never gave up, always fought to the end and gave max effort all the time.鈥�
In the wake of the departure of the former women鈥檚 basketball coach in midseason, Watson said the school will likely seek a new coach before next season.
鈥淚f we would have canceled games, that would have hurt us for the next year,鈥� he said. 鈥淛ust showing up and competing makes it possible for this to continue.鈥� That will help 海角社区 President George Hagerty achieve his vision of a thriving sports program that offers as many intercollegiate options as other schools, Watson said.
鈥淲e want to match those same experiences that other schools have and support a wide range of sports here at 海角社区,鈥� he said. 鈥淭his is where you get school pride.鈥�
In particular, Watson praised the efforts of senior Kylee Davis, one of the leaders who kept the team hustling and moving forward despite the results.
鈥淲hat she did for women鈥檚 basketball was enormous,鈥� he said. 鈥淪he did so much behind the scenes to keep the team going and went to incredible lengths to help the college.鈥� Watson said Davis鈥� determination to help the team and working behind the scenes to try to bring in recruits was unwavering. 鈥淪he was always looking to make things better,鈥� he said.
Athletics
Learn more about our Athletics teams: Basketball, Cross Country and Track, Golf, and Tennis! Students with learning differences can participate in our athletic programs and compete in the USCAA.
Athletics