Four sophomore players, Jonathan Bibbs, Trent Maddox, Anthony Metzler and Deon Banks were honored by starting the game together, alongside Charlie Byers, in a momentum building game against Cuyahoga Community College on Feb 25.
The game was Sinclair’s from the start with the team hitting their first four shots from distance. Resident big man Banks took two of those shots, hitting both. Banks normally wouldn’t take those shots, head coach Jeff Price said, but “If he thinks he can make em— doggone it, I’m his biggest cheerleader. Sometimes players do extraordinary things.”
The Pride took a three-point lead into halftime (39-36), but soon found themselves down early in the second half.
After some key three point baskets by Byers, Metzler and Maddox, the Pride worked the ball into the hands of JaBriel Coaston and what turned out to be an unguardable post-game.
The Pride iced the victory with some clutch free throws, a category in which the Pride are nationally ranked (4th overall), according to Price.
The final score was Sinclair 83, Cuyahoga 77 with Byers leading Sinclair with 21 points and Coaston notching a double-double, 20 points, 11 rebounds.
Sinclair finished the game shooting 50 percent from three, making 11/22 attempts.
“Tonight we shot the ball really well,” Price said. “But when it came down to the end of the game, I told our guys ‘do what we do.’ And that’s make free throws.”
As for the players finishing their Sinclair careers, Price said “it’s always hard” to see players leave Sinclair. And Price gave specific praise to Bibbs, saying “he sacrificed more than anyone else on the team this year.”
“He went down there and played all year, didn’t say a thing about it and just battled,” Price said. “He’s just a warrior down there and I don’t think people give him enough credit for what he’s done for the team this year.”
Price said he was anxious to start the Division 12 Tournament after the win against Cuyahoga. The tournament starts on March 6 with the first round being played at home sites, according to Price.