By Justin Jarrett
LowcoSports.com
All the hype in the preseason surrounded the USCB men’s basketball team, which was coming off a run to the Peach Belt Conference tournament final and was picked to finish second in the league by opposing coaches.
But the USCB women have emerged as one of the PBC’s best early-season stories, and with three conference road wins already to their credit, the Sand Sharks are rounding into a potential surprise contender.
Coach Sharon Versyp’s women let one get away at home Wednesday against Augusta, watching an early 11-point lead slip away in a 78-72 loss, but they bounced right back with another comeback win on the road Saturday, pulling past Middle Georgia 62-59 to improve to 3-1 in PBC play.
The men have turned things around after dropping their first two PBC contests on the road, one by a single point to reigning champion USC Aiken and the other in a lopsided loss at Lander with a short-handed bench. Coach Ron Fudala’s team got back to its winning ways with a stellar defensive effort in an 80-60 win over Augusta despite being down two key players, and the Sand Sharks stayed hot with a 93-85 win at Middle Georgia on Saturday.
Australian point guard Evan Kilminster has been the driving force this week, putting up an efficient 14 points with 10 rebounds and five assists against the Jaguars and following it up with a team-high 22 points against the Knights. Kilminster shot 11-for-13 from the floor this week, including 7-of-9 from 3-point range.
The Sand Sharks are on the road at Georgia College on Wednesday before breaking for the holidays. Their next home games are Jan. 7 against Flagler College with the women’s game tipping off at 5:30 p.m.
