With just one regular-season game left on the schedule, both USCB Sand Sharks basketball teams remain among the top contenders to claim the Peach Belt Conference Tournament title — and it looks like both of their journeys might start in The Cove.
Coach Sharon Versyp’s women have already secured a first-round home game March 4, and coach Ron Fudala’s men can make it a doubleheader with a win Saturday at North Georgia or a Middle Georgia loss in one of its last two games.
The USCB women maintained their hold on second place in the standings with a 76-53 rout of Clayton State on Saturday, avenging a disappointing road loss on Jan. 3. Lydia Gattozzi was the star on her Senior Night, pouring in a season-high 25 points on 10-of-15 shooting to lead four Sand Sharks in double digits.
The Sand Sharks men could still finish anywhere from second to fifth in the PBC standings, and they need a top-four finish to earn a first-round matchup at The Cove. They kept that hope alive and well with a 105-82 blowout of Clayton State on Saturday, as six Sand Sharks hit double digits in scoring with Qurahn Anderson providing a game-high 21 in just 19 minutes. Dom Eason had 16 points and seven rebounds, and Kevaughn Price added 14 points on his Senior Night.
The Sand Sharks wrap up the regular season at North Georgia on Saturday. USCB swept the Nighthawks at The Cove on Jan. 17, but the men’s game was a two-point contest and the women’s game was decided by just four points.
PBC BASKETBALL STANDINGS
WOMEN
PBC OVL
Columbus St. 16-2 22-3
USCB 14-5 18-10
Augusta 13-6 18-8
North Georgia 12-6 17-11
Middle Georgia 9-9 16-9
Clayton St. 7-11 10-15
Lander 7-11 9-16
Georgia Southwestern 6-12 10-15
Georgia College 6-12 10-16
Flagler 5-13 10-16
USC Aiken 5-13 8-18
MEN
PBC OVL
Lander 15-3 20-5
Columbus St. 13-5 19-7
USCB 13-6 19-8
North Georgia 12-6 18-6
Georgia College 11-7 16-10
Georgia Southwestern 9-9 16-10
Flagler 9-9 15-11
Augusta 7-12 12-17
USC Aiken 6-12 11-15
Middle Georgia 4-14 8-17
Clayton St. 1-17 2-24