By Staff
FROM STAFF REPORTS
It was not Gadsden State's shooting that was in a zone. It was the host Cardinals' zone defense that proved too much for the Jefferson Davis Community College Warhawks to overcome in Saturday's 78-60 season-opening loss.
JDCC had control of the game for much of the first half, as it had as much as an 11-point lead at one point and still maintained a 34-30 lead at halftime.
Gadsden State switched to a zone defense late in the first half and it the impact had devastating results for the Warhawks. The Cardinals went on a 23-0 blitz and allowed JDCC just two points over the first 10 minutes of the second half.
The Warhawks shot just 32 percent from the field (22-for-67) and only 23 percent from the three-point line (seven-for-30).
Donald Smith led three Warhawks in double figures with 15 points, while Tim Rodgers tallied 11 and Justin Owens had 10.
JDCC gets a home rematch against Gadsden State Saturday at 2 p.m.
At Gadsden State
JDCC 34 26 - 60
Gadsden State 30 48 - 78
JDCC (2FG-3FG-FT-TP) Smith 1-4-1-15; Rodgers 3-1-2-11; Owens 4-0-2-10; Johnson 3-0-1-7; Kelly 1-1-0-5; McKinney 1-0-0-2; Tunberg 0-0-1-1 (Totals: 15-7-9-60)
GADSDEN STATE (2FG-3FG-FT-TP) Reed 7-0-5-19; Smith 3-2-4-16; Rich 3-1-2-11; Thompson 4-0-3-11; DuPree 2-1-1-8; Rove 3-0-0-6; Lane 2-0-0-4; Johnson 1-0-1-3 (Totals: 25-4-16-78)