Chipola Comes Up Short

After going 4-8 last year in conference play and missing the State Basketball Tournament for the first time in many years, the Chipola Indians returned to familiar ground this season. They captured the Panhandle Conference Championship, made a returned appearance in the State Tournament and then made it all the way to the Championship game. Unfortunately their bid to return to the land of State Champions came up one game short as the Indians fell to Panhandle Conference rival Tallahassee last Saturday night by a score of 61-52.

Chipola began tournament play on Thursday and won a hard fought, and costly, 71-65 victory over St. Petersburg College. The contest was brutally physical as the two teams combined for a total of 56 fouls and 69 free throws. The Indians took an early 11-3 lead but then saw the Titans storm back to overtake them and hold a 33-24 halftime lead. Chipola continued to trail much of the second half until Shamarr Bowden began to heat up from the outside. His four second half 3 pointers helped the Indians take the lead and hold on for a 6 point win. The win was costly though as starting center Keith DeWitt went down with an elbow injury and spent the rest of the tournament with his arm in a sling.

To read the rest of the story visit our virtual paper by clicking on this link!

Pirates Sail Over Hornets

The Sneads Pirates set their sails early on and then cruised to a 19-4 win over Cottondale on Tuesday night in high school baseball action. Devin Hayes went the distance for Sneads as he picked up the win. Hayes also helped his own cause with a two run home run in the second inning.

The Pirates plated three runs in their first at bat as Aaron Green doubled. Garrett Harris and John Locke both reached base and that set up a 2 RBI single by Trevin Hall. Locke came home to score on an error and the Pirates led 3-0. Cottondale failed to score in their at bat but the Pirates added more runs in the second. Green led off with a single and Harris reached on an error. Locke was then hit by a pitch to load the bases. Hall hit into a fielder’s choice but that brought Green home to score. That is when Hayes stepped to the plate and sent one deep over the left center field fence. That put the Pirates up 7-0 going to the bottom of the second.

Cottondale got three runs in their second at bat as Caleb Toole reached after being hit by a pitch. Aaron McClain singled and Devin Thomas reached base on a fielder’s choice that scored Toole. Patrick McClain then ripped a 2 RBI double to score Aaron McClain and Thomas. That made it a 7-4 ball game after two complete innings. But the Pirates exploded in the third inning to put the game out of reach.

To read the rest of the story visit our virtual paper by clicking on this link!

STATE JUCO BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT BEGINS MARCH 2 AT CHIPOLA

The top 16 community college basketball teams in Florida will begin arriving in Marianna Tuesday for the Florida Junior College Men’s and Women’s State Basketball Tournament set for March 2-5 in Chipola College’s Milton H. Johnson Health Center.

Some 400 basketball players along with coaches, cheerleaders and fans will fill nearly 200 hotel rooms during the tourney. Teams will begin practice Tuesday in the Johnson Center and in local high school gyms. Each team is assigned a local host family to help with any need that may arise during the tournament.

Numerous Division I College coaches and recruiters also are expected to scout the talent in the competition. Tournament officials estimate that more than $250,000 will flow into the area during the tournament from food, lodging, recreation and incidental expenses.

Women’s action begins Wednesday, March 2, at 1 p.m., as Indian River takes on Central Florida. At 3 p.m., Pensacola meets Daytona. The 6 p.m. game features Northwest and St. Petersburg. Santa Fe and Miami Dade play in the 8 p.m. nightcap on Wednesday.

The men’s tournament tips off Thursday, March 3, at 1 p.m. as Central Florida takes on Brevard. At 3 p.m., Tallahassee takes on Polk. Chipola faces St. Petersburg in the 6 p.m. game. Palm Beach and Daytona meet in the 8 p.m. nightcap on Thursday.

Men’s and women’s semi-finals are set for Friday, March 4, with women’s games at 1 and 6 p.m. and men’s contests at 3 and 8 p.m. The State Championship title games are set for Saturday, March 5, with the women at 5 p.m., and the men at 7:30 p.m.

Waste Management is official host sponsor for the event. The Jackson County Tourist Development Council awarded a grant to help promote the tournament. The Florida Lottery is also a major sponsor of the event.

Tournament passes—$25 for adults and $15 for students—will get fans into all 14 exciting tournament games. Single session tickets—two games—are $10 each.

For ticket information, call 718-2220, or visit the official tourney web site at: www.chipola.edu

CHIPOLA HOSTS NORTHWEST TUESDAY, FEB. 1

Chipola hosts Northwest Florida, Tuesday, Feb. 1, in the Milton H. Johnson Health Center. The women’s game tips off at 5:30 p.m. followed by the men’s game at 7:30 p.m.

The Indians improved to 19-2 on the year 5-0 in panhandle play with a 78-57 win over Gulf Coast on Jan. 25. Marcos Knight led Chipola with 17 points and 9 rebounds. Geron Johnson had 17 points and 5 rebounds. Elijah Pittman scored 10 points and pulled down 6 rebounds. After the first round of conference play, the Indians have beaten all Panhandle teams at least once.

The Indians scored a 71-67 win over Tallahassee on Jan. 18. Chipola beat Northwest 56-55 on Jan. 15. The Indians outlasted Pensacola 76-67 on Jan. 11. Chipola opened league play with a 68-64 win over Gulf Coast on Jan. 8.

In the Jan. 25 Men’s FCCAA State Poll, Chipola (19-2, 5-0) moved in to first place. Palm Beach (20-2) is second. Central Florida is third (19-5). Northwest Florida State (17-4, 2-3) is fourth. Pensacola State (15-8, 3-3) is fifth. Tallahassee (17-7, 3-3) is eighth.

The Lady Indians improved to 17-6 on the year 3-2 in Panhandle play with a 55-46 win over Gulf Coast on Jan. 25. Jasmine Shaw led Chipola with 18 points and 3 rebounds. Carleeda Green had 12 points and 4 rebounds. Sara Djassi added 9 points and 3 rebounds.

Chipola scored a 55-47 win over Tallahassee on Jan. 18. Shaw led Chipola with 15. Carleeda Green had 14. Jeniece Johnson scored 13 points. Chipola fell to Northwest, 57-49, in Niceville on Jan. 15. Chipola lost a close 73-66 game to top-ranked Pensacola on Jan. 11.

The Lady Indians opened league play with a 64-59 win over the Lady Commodores on Jan. 8 marking the first time that Chipola coach David Lane’s Lady Indians beaten the Lady Commodores in Panama City.

Chipola (17-6, 3-2) moved to third in the FCCAA State women’s poll. Pensacola (23-0, 6-0) is first. Northwest Florida State (17-4, 2-3) is second. Gulf Coast (13-7, 2-4) is fourth. Tallahassee (12-7, 1-5) is fifth.

Both Chipola teams travel to Pensacola, Jan. 29 before returning home to host Northwest Florida on Feb. 1.

For the latest scores and stats, visit www.chipola.edu or call 718-2CJC.