Hill College men’s, women’s basketball begins 2020-21 season
Jessyca Brown
Friday, January 22, 2021 9:05 AM
Athletics
Hillsboro, TX
With an unprecedented delay in their seasons due to COVID-19, it’s no surprise the Hill College men and women’s basketball teams are eager to start competing this week. The men’s first game was Wednesday, Jan. 20, and the Lady Rebels have their first tip-off Friday, Jan. 22.
Women’s Basketball
The Hill College women’s basketball team had a great finish to its 2019-20 season placing third in the Northern Texas Junior College Athletic Conference (NTJCAC) with an overall 20-11 record. The Lady Rebels also made their sixth consecutive appearance at the 2019-20 NJCAA Region V Tournament.
And now, Head Coach Scott Hyland said his team is ready for the season.
“We won all four scrimmages we played in the fall, but more importantly, our newcomers got a taste of how we play, as well as the demands of our program and the game at this level,” he said. “Of course, getting a taste of winning is nice, too.”
The women’s season begins with three home games this weekend, two of which will take place during the Hill College Classic Jan. 22-23. On Friday, Jan. 22, Cisco and Dallas Christian College will tip off at 5 pm, and the Lady Rebels will take the court against Eastern Oklahoma State at 7 pm. On Saturday, Jan. 23, Cisco and Eastern Oklahoma State will play at noon, and the Lady Rebels will face Dallas Christian College at 2 pm. The women will end the weekend with a game against Coastal Bend on Sunday, Jan. 24, at noon.
Hyland said his team will keep games exciting and fans engaged this year by playing fast.
“We platoon 5-in/5-out about every minute and a half and want to maintain a fast tempo,” he said. “The girls play hard, and it’s fun to watch.”
Sophomores Andreea Mancha and Destanee Roblow are returning this year and are expected to have a big season. Both were honorable mention All-Conference players last season, and Roblow was the conference’s second leading rebounder averaging 8.8 per game. Sophomore Tyquanna Ross is healthy after battling injuries last year and is looking good for this season.
“The beauty of how we play is that on any given night any one of our players can have a big night,” said Hyland. “There are several others that could jump out and have an impact. We’ll have to see who steps up consistently.”
Hyland said that although COVID-19 has changed many things, it hasn’t changed the focus of his coaching staff or players.
“Our goal is to focus on ourselves and what we do both on and off the court and not worry about our opponent,” he said. “We want to do what we do better than what our opponent does what they do. Off the court, we focus on staying healthy and thriving in the classroom.”
Men’s Basketball
After a 16-14 finish last season, the Rebels won six scrimmages by double-digits in the fall except in their game against No. 14 Odessa, which they won by seven points.
Head Coach Swede Trenkle said his coaching staff and team have been eager to get the season underway.
“The team has responded well to preparing and getting better every day, and we are looking forward to actually getting to play games,” he said. “We have a great bunch of players who work hard every day, and it is great to finally compete with them again.”
The Rebels kicked off the 2020-21 season at home on Wednesday with a 121-41 win over DFW Prep.
“Our team plays very hard in every position and is capable of scoring in many different ways, which could be seen in last night’s game,” said Trenkle. “Five of our guys scored double figures led by Chase Lane, Raschard Green and Quin Anderson with 15 points. All 13 of our players played last night, and all of them scored.”
Trenkle and his team hope to maintain their high scores as they take on Odessa at home on Friday, Jan. 22. The Rebels will play at Northern Oklahoma Enid on Sunday, Jan. 24, at 2 pm. The conference opener will be at Weatherford College on Wednesday, Feb. 3, and the first at-home conference play will be against McLennan on Saturday, Feb. 6, at 4 pm.
In light of the recent challenges and set-backs the Rebels and college athletic teams across the nation have faced due to COVID-19, Trenkle said he has encouraged his guys to enjoy every moment of this season.
“Enjoy each other and the brotherhood we are making,” he said. “Not everyone gets to play and compete, so enjoy and be thankful for being able to go through the journey.”
The college and both teams are prepared for schedule changes and modifications given the current environment. Fans are encouraged to check the college athletics Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/HillCollegeAthletics and the athletics website at https://www.hillcollege.edu/Athletics/ for updates.
Hill College Women’s Basketball 2020-21 Roster
# Name Position Year Hometown
1 Andreea Mancha PG SO Alvin, TX
3 Destanee Roblow P SO Teague, TX
4 Jada Williams PG/W FR* Arlington, TX
5 Mariya Scott PG FR College Station, TX
11 Tyquanna Ross W SO Ennis, TX
15 Jasmine Bailey PG SO Waxahachie, TX
20 Skye Thomas PG FR San Antonio, TX
21 Kamill Rangel W SO Katy, TX
22 Kecie Langley W SO Burleson, TX
23 Kecie Langley W FR Kerens, TX
24 Laylah Davis W FR Ft. Worth, TX
32 Kaiden Lemaire W FR Lovelady, TX
43 Brendeja Holloman P FR Mt. Vernon, TX
Hill College Men’s Basketball 2020-21 Roster
# Name Height Year Hometown
0 John Buggs III 6'3 RS FR Homer, LA
1 Cameron Bush 6'1 SO Little Rock, AK
2 Bryce Lattimer 5'10 SO Atlanta, GA
3 Joshua Noton 6'3 SO Ontario, Canada
4 Chase Lane 6'4 SO East Hampton, NJ
5 Quin Anderson 6'2 FR Greenville, TX
10 Raschard Green 6'3 RS FR Nassau, Bahamas
11 Mykel Thomas 6'3 FR Orlando, FL
14 Hanniel Quattara 7'0 FR Ivory Coast
15 Carter Hull 5'9 FR Trophy Club, TX
21 Chris Fetuga 6'6 FR Tampa. FL
22 Khuath Gatkuoth 6'7 SO Omaha, NE
33 Jamal Fuller 6'5 FR Ontario, Canada
35 Isaac Weaver 6'6 FR Durham, NC
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