Jets split decisions in Veterans Classic in Tampa, FL

November 14, 2016
Andre Kennedy (1) scored 59 points over the weekend and Pat Welch (15) came up with 32 points in the two games at the Veterans Classic in Tampa, FL.
Andre Kennedy (1) scored 59 points over the weekend and Pat Welch (15) came up with 32 points in the two games at the Veterans Classic in Tampa, FL.

The South Georgia Technical College Jets came away with one win and one loss in the Veterans Classic in Tampa, FL over the past weekend. They opened with a 105 – 78 loss to Daytona State College but came back on Saturday and defeated Miami Dade College 129 – 122 to move to 2 – 3 on the season.
“We played two more very good teams this past weekend,” said South Georgia Technical College Jets head coach Travis Garrett. We lost a tough game to the twelfth ranked Daytona State team on Friday but came back and won 129 – 122 in an up and down affair against Miami Dade.”
Andre Kennedy, the sophomore forward from Albany, Georgia, was impressive in both games as he scored 21 points and had nine rebounds against Daytona State and then had a career high of 38 points and 12 rebounds in the win over Miami Dade.
“I think we are heading in the right direction,” said Coach Garrett. “We are continuing to get healthier. We look forward to getting better this week in practice as we prepare for Southern Crescent on Friday, November 18th at the Applebee’s Okefenokee Classic at South Georgia State in Waycross.”
In the Jets opening game, they fell behind 54 – 32 in the first half but continued to battle back in the second half and were outscored only 51 – 46 to walk away with a 105 – 78 loss. Kennedy was the top scorer with 21 points. Mike Boone, a freshman guard from Charlotte, NC, added 14 points and Bobby Jackson, a sophomore forward from Dacula, GA closed out the double-digit scoring with 13 points. Pat Welch, a returning sophomore guard added nine points.
After that loss, the Jets came back and managed to secure a 129 – 122 victory over Miami Dade. The Jets were up 70 – 51 at the end of the first half, but Miami Dade came running back in the second half to outscore the Jets 71 – 59 which made the final 129 – 122 in favor of the Jets.
Kennedy had 38 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Jets in that game and then Pat Welch added 23 points. Ed Jones, a sophomore forward from Fairburn, GA added 21 points. Jalen Thomas, a freshman guard from Columbus, closed out the double digit scoring with 17 points. Mike Boone had a good game with nine points and 14 assists.
The Jets will continue with their road games this weekend when they travel to Waycross for the Applebee’s Okefenokee Classic at South Georgia State College. They will face southern Crescent at 6 p.m. on Friday, November 18th and then take on Combine Academy on Saturday at 2 p.m.
The Jets and the Lady Jets will both return home to a Thanksgiving Classic tournament the next weekend. They Jets play November 25th and 26th and the Lady Jets will play on the 26th and 27th.
The Jets are scheduled to play at 4 p.m. on Friday, November 25th against St. Petersburg College and then at 4 p.m. on Saturday, November 26th at 4 p.m. against the College of Central Florida. The Lady Jets will play at 6 p.m. on Saturday against Motlow State and then again on Sunday at 6 p.m. against Pensacola State.