CAMDEN — By PATRIC FLANNIGAN
Sports editor
The Southern Arkansas University Tech Rockets and Lady Rockets performed well in the first SAU-Tech Tip Off Classic last weekend, with both teams winning its games.
The Lady Rockets defeated Coahoma Community College 71-57 on Friday and defeated Southern University -Shreveport 88-79 on Saturday. The Rockets beat CCC 69-61 Friday before defeating SUS 90-85 in the Classic’s finale.
Lady Rockets Coach Andre Williams said he was happy with his teams performance during the weekend.
“We worked really hard,” Williams said. “I’m thankful for the victory. Not so happy about the turnovers though. So we gotta go back to the lab and work on that.”
The Lady Rockets led Southern by as many as 22 points before the Lady Jaguars made a run towards the end.
“We are going to go back look at the film and make some adjustments,” Williams stated.
“We definitely wanna start strong and finish strong.”
Williams praised Tyquesha Selby who had three consecutive steals on defense that changed the tempo of the game and also recognized McKenna Christler who was three for three from the three-point line before missing one.”
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Rockets Coach Marty Levinson spoke with the Camden News about how the Classic went.
“It’s been great,” Levinson shared. “You never know how it’s gonna be when you are opening up a program. We didn’t play flawless. It was up and down just like a typical JUCO game.
“We took care of the ball tonight and we shot it well but the one thing that I think is going to be our identity is competing and playing defense. When you compete and chase down loose balls and have each others back, good things will happen. We preach it every day and it really makes me feel good when the kids go out and execute.”
Levinson’s intensity carried over to his players during the tight game with Southern. Hustle plays are required so when one of his student athletes failed to jump on a loose ball, he reminded him of that.
“We are pretty consistent with demanding that kinda stuff every game, every possession and it kinda becomes a habit.” Levinson explained. “That was just one of those things that’s gotta be instinctual. If you are thinking ‘I should get on the floor’ it’s too late. It’s gotta be a natural reaction.
“One of our guys thought he was going to pick it up and go through with it and the other guy kinda came through there and dove on him. I wasn’t the only one. I confronted him but the other four teammates were reminding him to get on the floor. So they are holding each other accountable, they are holding themselves accountable. That’s just one of the fundamental rules that we have. If the balls on the floor you better be the first one on it.”
Northwest Mississippi Community College will come in to gown tonight for Mens and Womens games starting at 5 p.m. tonight at the historic Shaddock Field House on the campus of the Ouachita County Recreational Center. NWMCC mens team was coached by Bubba Skelton before he resigned before the start of the season. Now, it is coached by interim head coach Shane Oakley.
“They were like 22-4 last year and they were right there at the end of the season,” Levinson shared about the team.
“Coach Skelton had been there for a long time. He is a legend. It’s gonna be a dog fight in here on Tuesday night, but that’s what we want. We want to play the top teams. I told my team that out game against Southern was great because it was down to the wire and we gotta learn to close games.”
Both Williams and Levinson extended their deepest gratitudes for the community for its support during the Classic.
Both coaches said that the student athletes are working hard everyday to make sure they represent the school the right way.
“It’s been awesome,” Levinson said. “The guys feel your energy. Come back and check us out.”