The Tartan Pride Men’s Basketball Team came short against Cuyahoga in Circleville, Ohio by a score 79-72 in what Coach Price called a strange game. Even though the score was close, it seemed to be a struggle to even get within seven points of Cuyahoga.
“It was not a typical Sinclair game. I don’t we think we even made a basket for the first three minutes of the ball game. We had our normal shots from our normal guys and they just didn’t go in,” said Price.
The Pride shot a dismal 36 percent from the field, got out done being rebounded by 16, let Cuyahoga score 40 points in the paint. From watching previous games, they sometimes wouldn’t even let opponents get in the paint let alone score in it. Even with all those working against the Pride, they still kept it close down the stretch.
“The crazy part about this whole thing and why it is sad that this team is not playing is they were good enough to withstand all those systems failing. Could you imagine if you are in a hospital and your kidneys are shutting down, your lungs are shutting down, and you are still like ‘well, I’m still talking to you’. As much as everything failed, these guys stuck with it and kept doing everything they could,” said Price.
Even with falling well short in the tournament, the Pride still had an incredibly successful season, on and off the court. A 27-2 regular season record is nothing to sneer at. The team also had a humbling experience visiting Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, where they talked with amputees and other soldiers in rehabilitation. They also visited D.C and the Arlington National Cemetery to see the Changing of the Guards as well as seeing the Lincoln Memorial and Reflecting Pool.
With seven sophomores getting ready to graduate, all good things must come to an end. Steven Perriere, Reshardd Harris and Manny Powell are going to be hard to replace, but Price still has some work to do before they move on.
“We still got a couple more community service projects to do and we got to get all seven guys graduated. That’s the next rung in the ladder—we need to get all seven guys to graduate,” said Price.
Coach Price was named OCCAC Coach of the Year, while forward Harris was named OCCAC Player of the Year. Powell earned 1 team All-Conference and All-District along with Harris, while freshman Akiean Frederick earned 2 team All-District.
Price is going to miss this team a tremendous amount. He has said previously that this team has set the standard for all Sinclair teams in the future and the past. At the end of the day, the ultimate goal is to get students to get done what they need to here and move on. All seven guys are set to graduate, as well as planning on visiting potential four-year colleges.
“You’re trying to get them to go [to a four year college]—that’s why you recruit them. So when they go to do well at other places, that makes you feel good,” said Price. “Plus, knowing they will emerge back into your life.”
Matthew Summers
Sports Editor