Virginia Peninsula Community College men’s basketball team had its best shooting game of the season to upset The Apprentice School 88-72 on Wednesday, Dec. 10.
The Gators (8-4 overall) were particularly efficient in the first half, shooting 62% (23 for 37) from the field, making 64.5% (20 for 31) of their 2-pointers and 50% (3 for 6) of their 3-pointers. It resulted in their highest scoring half of the season and a 57-32 lead at the break.
“We just got a lot of transition baskets,” said VPCC coach Chris Moore. “I felt we could have even shot a little bit better. We blew some layups I thought we could have made.”
They cooled off in the second half, but not by much, shooting 44.44% (12 for 27) in the final 20 minutes to finish the night at 54.7% (35 for 64). For the game, the Gators were just 3 for 12 (25%) on 3-pointers and 15 for 29 (51.7) on free throws, so their effectiveness on 2-pointers (32 for 52 for 61.5%) was key.
“We didn’t shoot the ball well from 3,” Moore said, noting he was without one of his best long-distance shooters, Chris Cyrus (illness). “But I think it shows we’re able to score without taking a bunch of 3s. It’s a huge bonus for us …to see success with us shooting only 12 3s.”
The Gators, who have won 7 of 9, stretched their lead to 31 nine minutes into the second half and led by at least 20 points until the last two minutes of the game. Apprentice’s largest lead was two points early in the first half.
Jayden Sepulveda (Landstown High School) came off the bench to lead the Gators with 18 points, with four teammates scoring in double figures. Jordan Watlington (Menchville) had 15 points and 11 rebounds, Jakobe Reed (Woodside) added 13 points, Dominique Fields Jr. (Indian River) added 13 points and 13 rebounds, and Emmanuel Angila (Kempsville) scored 10 points. His layup at the 14:29 mark of the first half put the Gators in front for good at 10-8.
“I think it was a team effort,” Moore said.
The Gators are 3-7 all-time vs. the Builders, winning three of five after losing the first five in a series that started in 2016. VPCC returns to action Sunday, Dec. 14, at Gaston College in North Carolina. The Rhinos beat the Gators 93-68 at SafeHaven Empowerment Center in Newport News on Dec. 6. They begin a six-game homestand Dec. 18 vs. Monroe University of the Bronx. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
For the Builders (4-5), Jahlil Hope had 15 points, Devon Brown added 14 points and 11 rebounds, and Shamon Rosser chipped in with 12 points. They shot 42.6 overall, made 13 of 24 free throws and just 1 of 15 3-pointers.
For more information on athletics at the College, go to www.vpccgators.com.