Gulf Coast women take over top spot in NJCAA poll

The Gulf Coast Lady Commodores haven’t looked down from atop the NJCAA Top 30 since Feb. 13, 2008.

That changed this week. Thanks to four wins over ranked teams, including three over then No. 13 Monroe, and losses by much of the Top 10, Gulf Coast was ranked No. 1 in this week’s poll.

“I think it would be good for this team,” Gulf Coast coach Roonie Scovel told the Panama City News Herald. “They worked hard. I’m glad these kids have got it. It’s theirs to lose.”

The Lady Commodores (4-0) were ranked No. 7 last week.

Northwest Florida State claimed that same position this week, a jump of 15 positions.

Other Florida teams ranked nationally include Pensacola at No. 13 and Chipola, which fell from No. 3 to No. 22.

FCCAA Players of the Week: Nov. 17

Women

Josette Campbell, Northwest Florida State

Sophomore – Guard/Forward – London, England

Northwest Florida State College’s Josette Campbell is this week’s FCCAA Women’s Basketball Player of the Week. Campbell, a sophomore from London, England, averaged 25.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.5 steals in victories over Daytona State College and Florida State College at Jacksonville. Against Daytona State on November 13, she posted 31 points, nine rebounds, six assists and four steals in the Lady Raiders’ 77-59 win. The next day, she added 19 points, seven rebounds and two assists in her team’s 33-point victory. For the week, Campbell shot 48.6 percent (18-of-37) from the field and 50 percent (7-of-14) from the three-point stripe. 

 

Men

Ricardo Ratliffe, Central Florida

Sophomore – Forward – Hampton, Va.

Central Florida Community College’s Ricardo Ratliffe is this week’s FCCAA Men’s Basketball Player of the Week. Ratliffe, a preseason NJCAA all-American, averaged 38.0 points, 15.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 2.0 steals and 2.5 blocks in two games for the nation’s top-ranked Patriots. He opened the week with a 36-point, 11-rebound night against Hillsborough on November 10. Three days later, he was even better against the College of Coastal Georgia, scoring 40 points and pulling down 19 rebounds while hitting 17-of-23 field goal attempts. For the week, Ratliffe shot 75.0 percent (30-of-40) from the floor, 42.9 percent (3-of-7) on three-point attempts and 65.0 percent (13-of-20) from the free throw line.

 

– From FCCAASports.com

New FCCAA polls released: 11/17

Women

Rank	Team	Record	Pts	Pvs
1.	Gulf Coast (11)	4-0	128	1
2.	Pensacola	5-1	106	4
3.	Northwest Florida State (1)	4-0	105	3
4.	Chipola (1)	3-2	81	2
5.	Santa Fe	5-0	72	5
6.	Central Florida	5-0	58	6
7.	Tallahassee	3-2	52	7
8.	Indian River State	2-1	51	8
9.	Miami Dade	1-1	20	10
10.	Daytona State	2-3	14	–

Also receiving votes: Florida State College at Jacksonville 9, Brevard 8, Palm Beach 6, Hillsborough 5.

Dropped from rankings: No. 9 Brevard

Men

Rank	Team	Record	Pts	Pvs
1.	Central Florida (12)	5-0	131	2
2.	Northwest Florida State (1)	5-0	114	3
3.	Chipola (1)	5-0	108	4
4.	Gulf Coast	4-0	93	5
5.	Tallahassee	3-1	83	1
6.	Broward	4-0	76	7
7.	Santa Fe	5-1	54	9
8.	Polk State	3-2	21	–
9t.	Palm Beach	4-1	19	–
9t.	St. Petersburg	3-1	19	–

Also receiving votes: Pasco-Hernando 12, Miami Dade 11, Daytona State 10, Pensacola 6, St. Johns River 6, Indian River State 4, State College of Florida 2, Hillsborough 1.

Dropped from rankings: No. 6 Miami Dade, No. 8 Indian River State, No. 10 Hillsboroug

New FCCAA polls released: 11/09

Preseason polls meant nothing during the first week of the season.

Both the men and women’s FCCAA Top 10 had shake-ups among them, as Miami Dade, ranked second to start the season in the men’s poll, lost its only game of the first weekend and dropped to No. 6. Hillsborough’s loss also cost it a few spots, falling from seventh to 10th. Polk dropped out and was replaced by Indian River State at No. 8

The women’s poll saw Tallahassee and Indian River State fall from Nos. 5 and 6, respectively to Nos. 7 and 8. Daytona State didn’t waste time falling out of the Top 10 and was replaced by Brevard, 2-0.

Without further ado…

Men

(How the polls work: Ranking, Team, first-place votes, record, points, last week)

1. Tallahassee (9) 2-0 132 1

2. Central Florida (4) 3-0 115 3

3. Northwest Florida State (1) 3-0 104 4

4. Chipola 1-0 92 5

5. Gulf Coast 2-0 74 6

6. Miami Dade 0-1 65 2

7. Broward 3-0 61 9

8. Indian River State 2-1 35 –

9. Santa Fe 3-1 22 8

10. Hillsborough 1-1 20 7

 

Women

1. Gulf Coast (10) 2-0 143 1

2. Chipola (2) 1-1 114 2

3. Northwest Florida State (2) 2-0 110 3

4. Pensacola 3-0 108 4

5. Santa Fe 3-0 85 7

6. Central Florida 2-0 68 9

7. Tallahassee 1-2 49 5

8. Indian River State 0-1 46 6

9. Brevard 2-0 23 –

10. Miami Dade 1-1 21 10

PJC’s Allen, SJR’s Tillman named FCCAA players of the week

Pensacola’s Deana Allen (So., G, Houma, La.) started this season where she left off in 2008-09. The standout sophomore  point guard scored at least 25 points in all three Lady Pirates wins last week, including a season high of 28 against Alabama Southern. Allen averaged 26 points, six assists, six steals and 4.6 rebounds last week.

Clarence Tillman (So., G, Orange Park, Fla.) started the season on a tear, averaging 25.3 points and 6.7 rebounds for St. John’s River as the Vikings started the season 3-0.  In the November 1 season opener against the College of Coastal Georgia, Tillman hit 13-of-18 field goal attempts en route to 28 points, six rebounds and four assists in St. Johns’ 97-93 victory.

Josh Giles Classic tips off Monday at Polk State

The fifth annual Josh Giles Tip-Off Basketball Classic is set for Monday through Nov. 18 at Polk State College.

The cost is $4 or $2 for students and seniors.

The schedule is as follows:

Monday

• Santa Fe vs. Auburndale, 5 p.m.

• Lake Wales vs. Agape Christian, 6:30 p.m.

• Lakeland vs Haines City, 8 p.m.

Nov. 17

• Santa Fe vs. Agape, 5 p.m.

• Lake Wales vs. Lakeland, 6 p.m.

• Lake Region vs. Winter Haven, 8 p.m.

Nov. 18

• Auburndale vs. Winter Haven, 6:15 p.m.

• Lake Region vs. Haines City, 7:45 p.m.

 

From The News Chief

 

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