Seawolves Edge VTC to Earn Spot in YSCC Championship

Concord, NH - In tonight's YSCC semifinal matchup between the top seed Seawolves and the fifth seed Knights of Vermont Tech, SMCC used their size and depth to wear down the Knights and walk away with the 61-57 triumph.

Seawolves' big man Carlos Gonzalez (Lewiston, ME) set the tone early for SMCC, scoring the first six points of the game and nearing a double-double in the first half with eight points and ten rebounds. The two teams were even in nearly every statistical category throughout the first half; each team had 17 rebounds, both teams connected on only one three point shot and both had five or less turnovers. The even play resulted in a 28-28 tie entering the break. 

The second half would be no different than the first with back and forth play and neither team able to gain a substantial lead. The largest lead of the half came at the 14:56 mark when the Knights were on top 40-33. The Seawolves netted eight unanswered points, including back to back three pointers from Chase Soares (Falmouth, MA) and Josh Tuplin (Bath, ME), to regain the lead at 41-40. The difference in tonight's tightly played second half was Seawolves' forward Tyheem Simon (Queens, NY) who went a perfect 5-5 from the floor and 4-6 from the free throw line to drop 14 points and help the Seawolves hold onto the lead late in the game and grab the 61-57 win. 

Simon led the Seawolves with 16 points and Gonzalez added a double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds. Atencio Martin (Kittery, ME) netted 10 points while Soares and point guard Jordan DeRosby pitched in with eight apiece. 

The Knights were led by Jamal Hughes who scored a game high 18 points.

The Seawolves will be facing the College of St. Joseph's VT in the YSCC championship tomorrow at 2:30pm at NHTI.