By Shawn Wansley
JCJC Sports Information Director

ELLISVILLE – Basketball was the main topic at Jones County Junior College here on campus Thursday afternoon.

The school held its annual “Basketball Media Day” in Bobcat Gymnasium. Lady Bobcat head coach Sandra Sumrall and men’s head coach Don Skelton were on hand to discuss the upcoming season. Pictures of both teams and all of the players were taken, along with video. A video special on JCJC Basketball Media Day will air soon on www.jcjc.tv.

Both teams will be defending state championships. Both teams won the league crowns in front of the home folks at Bobcat Gym last February.

“With us having some success last year, we hope to springboard this year, not only with the players, but the fans and build support,” said Skelton, who is in his second season with Bobcats. “We had a lot of excitement in here last year, especially during the second semester and the state tournament.”

Sumrall enters her 11th season as head coach of the women’s team. She is pleased with the way the team has progressed in preseason.

“The girls have been working very hard,” she said. “Our sophomores are stepping up and showing good leadership. But we have a long ways to go and a lot of work to do. But the players always give good effort.”

The Lady Bobcats went 23-7 and advanced to the Region 23 semifinals last year.

Returning sophomores include Dominique Evans of South Jones, Ashley Lee of Taylorsville, Brigit Taylor of Jackson Jim Hill and Erica Moore of Grove Hill, Ala. Erin Griffin, a 6-foot-2 center, and Sooby Cooks of Quitman are also sophomores on the team.

The JCJC men’s team posted a 24-5 mark, was ranked at various times in the NJCAA ratings and reached the quarterfinals of regional play.

The Bobcats will be led by second-team NJCAA Preseason All-American Brandon Wilson, a 6-foot-5 sophomore forward from Carroll High School in Rayville, La. He averaged 17.3 points, 7.7 rebounds and shot 66.1 percent from the floor last season.

Other key sophomores will be Wayne County forward Todd McDonald and Heidelberg sophomore guard Kendrick McDonald. Stringer ‘s Devin Brown and Justin Buxton are also returning sophomores, while Tyrone Brinson is a 6-foot-6 sophomore transfer from St. John’s River Community College (Fla.).

The Bobcats open the season at East Mississippi Community College on Monday and entertain Delgado Community College (La.) in their home opener on Thursday, Nov. 5. Women’s tipoff will be at 5:30 p.m. for both dates, followed by the men’s contests at 7:30 p.m.