VGCC Vanguards end season at conference tournament
The 2013-2014 Vance-Granville Community College men’s basketball season came to an end with a first-round loss in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region X Division II tournament.
The Vanguards lost to the Lenoir Community College Lancers, 84-77, on March 6 at the conference tournament, held in Hickory. The VGCC squad put on a spirited performance, at one point coming back from a 15-point deficit to take the lead. Vanguard Jordan Bunting of Macon led the team in scoring with 29 points, while also posting 12 rebounds and 6 blocks. Christian Creswell of Henderson also had 12 rebounds. Jarrett Ballard of Henderson was the team leader in assists (10) while also putting up 9 points. Ronald Evans of Durham and Keyante’ Lindsey of Oxford scored 17 points apiece.
Lenoir CC went on to lose to nationally-ranked Richard Bland College in the next round, 97-94. Wake Technical Community College won the conference championship March 9 in an overtime upset of Louisburg College.
“Region X is extremely competitive, with two of the top ten teams in the nation coming from our conference,” noted VGCC head men’s basketball coach Michael Woody. “The Region X Tournament draws college recruiters from throughout the southeast United States annually. The VGCC men’s basketball team represented the school, the community, and their families admirably by displaying an intestinal fortitude that will serve the young men personally and propel our basketball program to a respectable and competitive state next season and in seasons to come.”
One Vanguard, Jarrett Ballard, earned national recognition by finishing the regular season ranked ninth in assists in NJCAA Division II (with 173 total assists).
The last five games of the season featured strong performances by all five regular VGCC starters: Ballard, Bunting, Creswell, Evans, and Lindsey.
On Feb. 15, VGCC suffered a heartbreaker at home, losing 76-75 to Tidewater Community College. Evans was the top scorer in that game, with 32 points. Bunting had the most rebounds (15) of any Vanguard and was the second-highest in points (18). Creswell added 12 points and 6 rebounds.
When VGCC lost to Lenoir CC in Kinston on Feb. 19 by a score of 119-82, Ballard led the Vanguards in scoring (26 points) while also making 8 assists. Creswell made 17 points while leading the team in rebounds (10).
The Vanguards hosted Patrick Henry Community College on Feb. 22, leading at halftime but eventually losing to the visitors, 88-79. Lindsey was the leader in scoring (23 points), followed closely by Evans (21 points). Creswell was the top rebounder (11) and contributed 12 points.
In the team’s last home game of the season, VGCC lost to Guilford Technical Community College on Feb. 26, 108-75. Bunting led his teammates in both scoring (29 points) and rebounding (20) in that game. Lindsey was also a major contributor that evening, with 10 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists. He and Treyvon Rogers of Henderson tied for the second-most rebounds. Evans put up 25 points.
VGCC’s final regular-season contest was another trip to Lenoir CC on Feb. 28, as the Lancers’ visit to Henderson had to be rescheduled due to inclement weather. Although it was a one-point game at halftime, Lenoir CC pulled away to win by a score of 91-70. For the second consecutive game, Bunting was the team leader in points (21) and rebounds (17), while he also blocked 3 shots. Creswell contributed 13 points and 8 rebounds.
