By Preeteesh Peetabh Singh
Dialog reporter
Huskies shooting guard Jermaine Elem attacks the net during the exhibition game against the College of Charleston Cougars on Aug. 11, 2012. The Cougars went on to win 92-45. Photo by Michael Sefancic
The Huskies took on the College of Charleston Cougars, a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I team from South Carolina, United States, in an exhibition basketball game on Aug. 11.
The pre-season game was played at the Alex Barbier Gym in the St. James campus of George Brown College (GBC).
The Cougars looked like a more cohesive unit as they coasted to a 92-45 win over the Huskies. They led from start to finish, posting quarter leads of 30-11, 49-24 and 76-32.
Huskies guard Frank Gyamfi, an 85 per cent free throw shooter last season was good on 11 of 15 in the loss to Charleston.
Gyamfi had a game-high 13 points for GBC followed by Salissou Abdulkader with eight. Dwayne Harrison posted 14 rebounds to go along with his five points.
Huskies captain, Dwayne Harrison talked about the positives from the game. He said, “It was a good learning experience for the boys. The Charlestons were stronger, tougher and at a different level altogether, but our boys fought well.”
Jonathan Smith, the new head coach for men’s basketball team, was disappointed but not disheartened with the result of the first major game under his coaching. “GBC has a great amount of talent. These young men work extremely hard, and are working hard to learn a new system and coaching style. Work ethic is important factor and we are very hopeful that it will be used both on and off the court. I was extremely proud of our team and how we matched the intensity of our NCAA counterparts. It was a great learning experience for all of us and we can only learn from participating in these kinds of events”, he said.
Smith was pleased with segments of George Brown’s trap game, one of the Huskies priorities for the upcoming season which begins on Nov. 2 with a home court game against Centennial College. The trap game includes forcing opposing teams to commit fouls. The goal is to go to the free throw line 35 times a game.
In his praise for the college, he also pointed out the terrific facilities that GBC provides to its students in terms of sports and training. He plans to make GBC basketball games a great event for all to enjoy. He called in for more participation and hoped that students will come out to support the home team and watch the game as their sixth man.
The Huskies next game is scheduled for Sept. 28 at 8 p.m. in the Alex Barbier Gym vs. the Metro Police.
