Titans Squash Tampa Bay International Academy

By  //  January 6, 2013

BCC Off To Best Start In 13 Years

BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – Brevard Community College head men’s basketball coach Jeremy Shulman was able to sum things up good naturedly.

Freshman Devontay Clark scored 16 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as BCC took down Tampa Bay International Academy in men’s basketball on Saturday. (Image courtesy of BCC)

“I was really pleased with our effort,” he said after Saturday’s 98-47 cakewalk over Tampa Bay International Academy at the Melbourne Campus gym. “We were very up tempo. I thought we played very hard. I thought we played very unselfish for the most part and they still left some stuff for me to yell at them in the locker room about.”

The victory moved BCC to 13-3, continuing its best start in 13 seasons and adding another brick to the foundation for what Shulman and the Titans hope will be a successful Florida College System Activities Association Southern Conference season.

But before BCC opens conference play on Jan. 12 at archrival Indian River State College it faces two non-conference games: a rematch at tough and talented Polk State College on Monday – BCC rallied to defeat Polk 83-74 on Nov. 28 in Melbourne – and a Wednesday visit to Webber International in Babson Park for a rematch with the junior varsity team it clobbered 121-57 on Dec. 5.

In that vein BCC was never threatened on Saturday, leading 54-25 at halftime. Shulman was able to substitute liberally and one player to answer the call was freshman and Palm Bay Heritage High graduate Devontay Clark who was one of three Titans with a double-double.

Clark scored 16 points and grabbed 10 rebounds – also adding five steals. Sophomore co-captain Addison Spruill scored 21 points and grabbed 10 rebounds and sophomore Gary Gaskins added 15 points and 11 rebounds.

Sophomore Nyles Evans scored 17 points and recorded seven steals.

After the game Clark was all smiles.

“It feels pretty good, it’s my first one of the season,” Clark said of the double-double. “I thought it was pretty good. I’m getting in a lot better shape, trying to do right.”

The transition from high school to college has been an adjustment for Clark.

“Defense, the rotations, help side, stop and drop, I had to learn it all,” he said. As for his offense: “I’m all right I guess,” he said.

Clark’s effort drew praise from Shulman.

“DC (Clark) was unbelievable, that was great,” Shulman said. “That’s what I was hoping for from DC. JD (freshman Jordan Smith) I thought was really good, (sophomore) Luka (Pajkovic) was really good for the most part. Guys I was expecting more from second semester really stepped up.”