Pioneers Edge Aiken Tech To Advance In Region Tourney
Article and photo by Tim Hicks / Denmark Technical College
DENMARK, SC -- The SMC Pioneers men's basketball team advanced to the second round of the Region X tournament Thursday night and will play Cape Fear Community College Friday night in Round 2 of the battle for the 2011 region title.
The matchup between SMC and Cape Fear is at 6 pm and will be hosted at Voorhees College.
The Pioneers picked up a tight 65-61 win Thursday in a fierce game against Aiken Technical College.
SMC never got ahead of the ATC Knights, but doggedly trailed by as much as seven to eight points – no more – during the first half. The first half ended with ATC at 31 over the Pioneers' 25 points.
The Pioneers began closing the gap four minutes into the second half with a series of points to come within three points of ATC's 35 tally.
Five minutes into the second half and SMC was within one point of ATC and a tie. Nine seconds later, sophomore CJ Gleaton (Pendleton HS) sank a two-pointer for SMC to pull ahead with a score of 36 to 35.
At 11:45 into the second half, sophomore DJ Glover (Calhoun County HS) helped the surge with a three-pointer to make the score 43 to 39. Another two points for Aiken made the score 43-41.
ATC added more to its score as Contravious Heard hit a two-point tray at 10:35 in the game for a tie of 43-43.
SMC missed the opportunity to pull ahead as freshman Mario Pendarvis (Summerville HS) missed two free throws at 10 minutes into the second half.
With 6:09 minutes left, the teams when 44 seconds with another tie at 49-49 points.
SMC broke that with 4:20 in the game with a 54-49 score. ATC answered back with two points with three minutes left in the game. However, SMC responded with two free throws by C. J. Gleaton to make the score 60-57 with 1:07 left in the game.
By the buzzer Aiken Tech added four points, but the Pioneers sank three free throws and a two-pointer to leave a final score in their favor of 65-61.
SMC players receiving Region X honors for 2011, which were announced prior to the tournament, include:
- Mario Pendarvis, All-Region 2nd Team
- Tim Budd, All-Region 3rd Team
Spartanburg Methodist College has 14 intercollegiate teams that compete in Region X of the National Junior College Athletic Association, which includes colleges in the Carolinas, Virginia, and West Virginia.
The College is in its 100th academic year of providing a quality education to students in a Christian environment. More than 90 percent of SMC graduates continue their education at other institutions of higher learning.
For more information please contact athletic director Mark Perdue at (864) 587-4237.
