February 17, 2008
Pensacola surprises Gulf Coast
News Herald (By Josh Weinfuss ) - It wasn’t only that Gulf Coast couldn’t send its six sophomores off with a victory on Sophomore Night Saturday against Pensacola. The Commodores’ 75-53 defeat to the Pirates also cost them a chance at a 20-win season and a possible .500 finish in the Panhandle Conference. And all against a Pensacola squad that entered winless in the conference at 0-9, and was 12-14 overall. “I’m very discouraged, very upset for our sophomores that they had to go out this way at home,” Gulf Coast coach Jay Powell said. “We did not play very intelligently, and forced a lot of shots in the first half.”
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February 14, 2008
Commodores get big win
News Herald (By Josh Weinfuss ) - Before the season, Jay Powell said he would turn around Gulf Coast’s men’s basketball program. The Commodores’ 72-67 win over Tallahassee at the Billy Harrison Field House on Wednesday night did just that. It gave Gulf Coast sole possession of third place in the Panhandle Conference, a vast difference from the preseason prediction by league coaches. Both teams have games left against lastplace Pensacola. Gulf Coast finishes against Chipola on Feb. 23, and Tallahassee completes its season against Okaloosa-Walton. All five Panhandle coaches voted Gulf Coast (18-10, 4-6) to finish last in the league, including Powell. Wednesday’s win gave Gulf Coast the season series against Tallahassee (17-8, 3-7). The Commodores won the last time the teams played in Panama City on Jan. 9, 57-54.
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February 10, 2008
Raiders win in rout
News Herald (By Adam Pruiett ) - The Okaloosa-Walton College men’s basketball team has viewed a postseason berth as an afterthought, and that’s exactly what it was after the first half Saturday at Raider Gym. The sixth-ranked Raiders jumped on visiting Gulf Coast, controlling the first half before putting together one highlight-reel worthy play after another in the second half of a 99-56 Panhandle Conference victory. After a two-year absence, OWC (23-2, 8-1) is heading to the state tournament. While Gulf Coast will be absent, the Commodores already have improved on last year’s one-win conference record.
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February 3, 2008
GC MEN, WOMEN VICTORIOUS
News Herald (Josh Weinfuss) - A number of patterns continued Saturday night in Panhandle Conference basketball, and not all of them were beneficial to Gulf Coast. Not even for the topranked Lady Commodores, who won 75-42 to improve to 24-0, 9-0. Gulf Coast’s men’s squad snapped its four-game losing streak by extending Pensacola’s to seven with an 86-66 win. The Commodores are 17-9, 3-5, while the Pirates slumped to 12-12, 0-7.
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February 2, 2008
GC MEN NEED A VICTORY AGAINST PJC
News Herald (Josh Weinfuss) - The men want to stop the bleeding. The women won’t stop winning. It feels like old times at Gulf Coast. Gulf Coast’s basketball teams travel west to take on Pensacola Junior College. The Commodores (16-9, 2-5) will try to stop a four-game losing streak today at 7:30 p.m. Their last win came Jan. 12 against the Pirates (12-11, 0-6), who still are looking for their first Panhandle Conference win. Since that time, Gulf Coast has been overpowered by two nationally ranked Top 10 teams and a tough Tallahassee squad.
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January 31, 2008
NO. 1 FOR A REASON
News Herald (Josh Weinfuss) - By the time Chipola guard Mario Little casually dropped in a finger roll with 1 minute, 15 seconds left Wednesday night, the scoreboard was on its way to recording top-ranked Chipola’s 66-51 win over Gulf Coast. But the Commodores’ fourth straight loss wasn’t a replay of last weekend’s blowout to Okaloosa-Walton, or even the type of shellacking most teams receive from the No. 1 team in the country. “A lot of teams would’ve folded the tents after Saturday night,” Gulf Coast coach Jay Powell said. “They did not do that. They competed.” Powell said the problem wasn’t effort, but the Indians’ more talented roster. For that, Powell takes responsibility. Gulf Coast’s (16-9, 2-5) largest deficit was 17 points twice in the first half. The Commodores cut it to 41-29 at halftime. They chipped away at that lead, bringing it down to eight with 14:10 left in the game on Arian Maliqi’s free throw. Malik Alvin converted a three-point play for Chipola and hit another basket to push the lead back to 13. It lingered around that mark until the Indians hit six consecutive free throws to go up by 17.
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January 30, 2008
GC LOOKS TO DETHRONE NO.1 CHIPOLA
News Herald (Josh Weinfuss) - One blowout was enough for Gulf Coast coach Jay Powell. Since the Commodores were scorched by the Okaloosa-Walton Raiders, 97-61, on Saturday, Powell has been searching for ways to avoid another one-sided loss to top-ranked Chipola tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Billy Harrison Field House. “One blowout’s too many for me,” Powell said. “The reason why I could sleep (Sunday) night was because I don’t think the guys ever just gave up and gave in.” After last weekend’s game, Powell was down but not discouraged about the Commodores’ performance. OWC hit a school record 21 3-pointers, some of which came on shots that made even Powell’s jaw drop. He gave the Commodores (16-8, 2-4) Sunday off, and they got back to work Monday. “It’s been a while since I reminded them of three goals that we set for our team on the first day of school ... to be the toughest, most aggressive and smartest team in America,” Powell said. “There have been a lot of nights that we have come close to being one of those teams, but we did not do that at all Saturday.
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January 27, 2008
OWC TOO MUCH FOR GC
News Herald (Josh Weinfuss) - A glimpse of how Tay Waller’s Saturday night went: With 4 minutes, 5 seconds left in Okaloosa-Walton’s 97-61 win over Gulf Coast, the sophomore guard kissed a 3-pointer off the backboard from 22 feet as he drifted left in midair. Waller made almost everything he put up. Actually the Raiders made almost everything they attempted. OWC (20-2, 5-1) produced a school record 21 3-pointers on 32 attempts for a 65.6-percent clip against Gulf Coast (16-8, 2-4) in their Panhandle Conference matchup.
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January 23, 2008
GC WOMEN HANG ON, MEN FALL
News Herald (Josh Weinfuss) - Brad Reese’s 30 points weren’t enough for Gulf Coast to win its first road conference game this season. The Commodores (16-7, 2-3) came within three points with two minutes left, but didn’t get any closer against the Eagles (16-4, 2-3). “They got up on us big in the first half,” Gulf Coast coach Jay Powell. “We fought back, but they just had more.” With point guard Ben Vega out with a strained medial collateral ligament, Powell opted for a starting lineup all 6-foot-6 or taller featuring center Mirnes Islamovic, Darryl McGhee, Dmitry Pirshin and Arian Maliqi.
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January 22, 2008
GC HITS THE ROAD
News Herald (Josh Weinfuss) - Gulf Coast’s second swing through the Panhandle Conference schedule begins tonight at Tallahassee for the men’s and women’s basketball teams. The Commodores, led by first-year head coach Jay Powell, have defied expectations after past losing seasons. Gulf Coast (16-6, 2-2) will try for its second win over Tallahassee (15-4, 1-3) this season at 7:30 p.m. at the Eagle Dome. In their first meeting, the Commodores took an early lead and held off the Eagles in a 57-54 win.
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January 16, 2008
INDIANS RALLY WITH LATE RUN
News Herald (Josh Weinfuss) - Top-ranked Chipola didn’t believe how much this year’s Gulf Coast men’s basketball team has improved. It almost cost the Indians. They needed a 14-0 run in the second half Tuesday to kick start a 79-68 win over the Commodores at the Milton H. Johnson Health Center. “I knew that Coach (Jay) Powell was going to have his team ready,” Chipola coach Greg Heiar said. “He preaches the right thing. It’s toughness and play-hard ability. He has them doing the right thing.
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January 15, 2008
1 AND 1 BONUS
News Herald (Josh Weinfuss) - It has gone on like this for more than 40 years. Gulf Coast and Chipola have been bitter rivals. For the most part, though, the basketball always has been good. “Their games were wars,” said Chipola Athletic Director Dale O’Daniel. “It was what rivalry and school spirit was all about. Somehow we lost some of those things.” Tonight, that rivalry will be part of a night rarely seen in junior college basketball. The Gulf Coast Lady Commodores and the Chipola men’s team, both ranked No. 1 in the nation, will play under the same roof on the same night.
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January 13, 2008
GC MEN SOAR FOR SECOND CONFERENCE WIN
News Herald (Josh Weinfuss) - Gulf Coast started hot, finished hot and has become one of the hottest teams in the Panhandle Conference after a 75-64 win Saturday over Pensacola at the Billy Harrison Field House. “We were hoping we’d be 3-0 at this time,” Gulf Coast coach Jay Powell said. “We kind of blew that when we went to OW” Jan. 5 and lost 73-62. “The last two the men have played hard.” The Commodores (16-5, 2-1) won those last two conference games. Only top-ranked Chipola can also say that. Saturday night, Gulf Coast showed signs that it’s growing up.
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January 10, 2008
MEN TAKE ANOTHER STEP FORWARD
News Herald (Josh Weinfuss) - Wherever Gulf Coast needed him to be, Mirnes Islamovic was there Wednesday night. The third-year sophomore grabbed the most important of his eight rebounds with 52 seconds left to help seal a 57-54 Panhandle Conference win over Tallahassee at the Billy Harrison Field House. It was Gulf Coast’s first win over TCC since Jan. 11, 2005, a span of eight games.
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January 6, 2008
PANHANDLE MEN'S TITLE UP FOR GRABS
Freedom News (Adam Pruiett ) - College men’s basketball team may be one of the most explosive in the country, but Saturday night the Raiders had to summon one of their best defensive efforts. Facing a rejuvenated Gulf Coast Community College under first-year coach Jay Powell, No. 19 OWC used stingy defense and key 3-pointers in the second half to hold off the Commodores, 73-62, in the teams’ Panhandle Conference debut.
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January 4, 2008
PANHANDLE MEN'S TITLE UP FOR GRABS
News Herald (Josh Weinfuss) - Strap in. Hold on tight. This may be one of the closest Panhandle Conference races in awhile. Four teams have been ranked nationally this season. The five schools have a combined 71-11 nonconference record. “In my 11 years it’s absolutely the most balanced and competitive and equal conference that I’ve seen since I’ve been in the league,” Okaloosa-Walton men’s basketball coach Bruce Stewart said.
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December 17, 2007
GC's OFFENSE MISSING IN LOSS
News Herald (Staff Reports) - A day after playing one of its worst defensive games but still winning, the Gulf Coast men’s basketball team played one of its worst offensive games Sunday against SantaFe Community College — making less than 30 percent of its shots in a 72-66 overtime loss. “We just didn’t shoot very well,” said Gulf Coast head coach Jay Powell. Only two players scored in double-figures, with Brad Reese’s 23 leading the way. But even Reese didn’t shoot well, hitting only 8 of 23 from the field. Ben Vega had 15 points; no other Commodores had more than six. Had it not been for a 14-6 advantage on the offensive boards and a 19-14 advantage in forcing turnovers, Gulf Coast likely would never have sniffed overtime. The disparity in chances was stark: Gulf Coast had a 74-54 edge in field goal attempts, but made three fewer than SantaFe. “It was just a very poor night on the offensive end,” Powell said. The loss is the second to Santa Fe this year; the first was a 71-68 decision on Nov. 23 at Gulf Coast. It was the Commodores’ first loss of the season after a 6-0 start. P.J. Turner scored 12 points to lead a quartet of Santa Fe players in double figures. Mavin Davis added 11, and Blake Hyden and Francis Aihe scored 10 each. “They seem to have our number,” Powell said. Gulf Coast is now 12-3 and doesn’t play again until the Panama City Holiday Classic, when they host the nation’s No. 5-ranked junior college team, Vicennes College, at 7 p.m. Dec. 28. The Commodores also play Georgia Perimeter the following night.
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December 16, 2007
GC TOPS MANATEE
News Herald (Staff Reports) - It was like a shooting gallery in the first half of Gulf Coast’s 95-85 win over Manatee on Saturday. If it had been the county fair, they’d have run out of stuffed animals to give away. For a coach trying to develop a defensive mentality, it must have felt like he was the target. “It was horrendous,” Commodores head coach Jay Powell said. Manatee shot nearly 57 percent from the field in the first half, including 6 of 9 from 3-point range, but Gulf Coast responded with 53-percent shooting for a 53-48 lead. “Thank goodness we shot well in the first half, because we didn’t play any defense in the first half,” Powell said. If there was an upside, things are different at Gulf Coast from past years. The Commodores didn’t play all that well, but they still won. “I do know that we come out every night and compete,” Powell said of his team, 12-2. The win total ensures Gulf Coast’s best record in three seasons, and it still has 16 games remaining. Brad Reese, who was 11 of 11 from the free-throw line, led five Commodores in double figures with 21 points. Arian Maliqi had 13 points, Gabriel Charley added 12, and Ben Vega and Byron Walker each had 10. Aaron Mitchell had 20 points to lead Manatee. Gulf Coast dominated the boards, outrebounding Manatee 43-27. Mirnes Islamovic led the Commodores with nine rebounds. Walker added eight. Gulf Coast plays Sante Fe at 1 p.m. CST today in Gainesville. The Commodores won’t practice again until Dec. 26, Powell said. Gulf Coast hosts a Christmas tournament starting Dec. 28, when it plays the nation’s No. 5 team, Vincennes College.
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December 9, 2007
GC MEN EARN 11TH VICTORY IN 2OT
News Herald (Staff Reports) - Brad Reese scored 25 points and Byron Walker added 22 points and grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds, as Gulf Coast beat Central Florida in two overtimes. Reese (10 of 17) and Walker (10 of 16) both shot well, leading four players in double-figures. Ben Vega had 15 points and Mirnes Islamovic added 14. Vega also had five assists. Central Florida was led by Shahee Martin with 23 points. Central Florida jumped to a 13-point lead in the first half, but Gulf Coast cut it to 41-39 at halftime and it stayed close the remainder of the game. “We showed a lot of resiliency to come back,” said Gulf Coast coach Jay Powell. Gulf Coast (11-2) plays Manatee Community College in Gainesville on Saturday.
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December 5, 2007
GCCC EARNS 10TH WIN
News Herald (Staff Reports) - Brad Reese scored a team-high 17 points to lead the Gulf Coast Community College men’s basketball team to an 82-66 win over Enterprise-Ozark Tuesday night. Arian Maliqi scored 15 and Ben Vega 10 for Gulf Coast. The Commodores led 45-28 at halftime. They defeated Enterprise-Ozark for the second time this season. Gulf Coast improved to 10-1 on the season. The Commodores face Seminole on Friday at 6 p.m. CST. They wrap up the weekend against Central Florida on Saturday.
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November 16, 2007
COMMDORES VISIT LYNN HAVEN ELEMENTARY
GCAthletics.com (Steve Merchant ) - Gulf Coast Women's Basketball, Men's Basketball, and Men's Baseball players recently visited Lynn Haven Elementary School. The athlete's fielded questions from the students from "what is it like to be a college athlete?", to "what country are you from?", to "what is your day like?". The Commodores that participated were from left to right, Norris Harvey (Assistant Basketball Coach), Byron Walker (MBB), Brad Reese (MBB), Jeleesa Williams (WBB), Daryl McGhee (MBB), Ben Vega (MBB), Arian Maliqi (MBB), Dmitry Pirshin (MBB), Curt Trexler (Baseball), Jonathan Murner (MBB), David Schulze (Baseball), and Ben Francis (Baseball).

December 2, 2007
GC MEN TOP IMG ACADEMY
News Herald (Brad Milner) - Dmitry Pirshin led four Gulf Coast players in double figures with 16 points, as the Commodores defeated IMG on the final day of a tournament held at Chipola College. IMG defeated Pensacola, a Panhandle Conference opponent for Gulf Coast, on Friday. Jonathan Murner (Bay) and Mirnes Islamovic scored 11 points each, while Darryl McGhee (Walton) scored 10. Gulf Coast coach Jay Powell called the output “a total team effort,” and added that defeating IMG a day after its win over PJC reinforced that the 19th-ranked Commodores (9-1) can play with anyone. “I think it will help our men start believing a little bit,” Powell said. “They see that if we stick together, play good defense and unselfish basketball that we can compete with the teams in our conference.” Gulf Coast travels to Enterprise-Ozark on Tuesday.
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December 1, 2007
GC MEN TOO TOUGH FOR GENESIS ONE
News Herald (Pat McCann ) - Brad Reese led four players in double figures with 21 points as Gulf Coast dominated Genesis One 104-83 Friday in a men’s junior college basketball tournament hosted by Chipola College. The Commodores (8-1) took a 45-30 lead into intermission punctuated by Darryl McGhee’s dunk moments before halftime. McGhee, a 6-foot-8 sophomore post player, had 15 points and 10 rebounds. “It really might have been” McGhee’s best game this season, GC coach Jay Powell said. “He finished around the hoop and went to the boards for us. “He had a big dunk as time ran out in the first half to give us some momentum going into halftime.” Ben Vega added 18 points and Byron Walker 11 for the Commodores. Terrance Joyner, who has signed with the University of Arkansas, led the losers with 22 points. Gulf Coast will play IMG Academy at noon today at Chipola.
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November 25, 2007
GCCC DEFENSE KEY TO VICTORY
News Herald (Staff Reports) - Arian Maliqi scored 31 points in Gulf Coast’s 94-82 victory over New York TCI on Saturday in the Commodore Thanksgiving Classic at the Billy Harrison Field House, but it was the defense of Brad Reese and Jonathan Murner down the stretch that made the difference. With the two teams battling basket for basket and eight minutes remaining, Gulf Coast coach Jay Powell had Reese and Bay graduate Murner take turns defending Jamel Jackson, who already had 25 points for TCI. Jackson didn’t score again. “Those two guys just went out and did a great job on him,” Powell said. The victory raised Gulf Coast’s record to 7-1 and took a little of the sting out of Friday’s 71-68 loss to Santa Fe. Maliqi was 12 for 18 from the field, including 3 of 8 from 3-point range, to lead five players in double-figures for the Commodores. Reese, Ben Vega and Mirnes Islamovic each had 12 points, and Byron Walker added 11. Walker had 10 rebounds to lead Gulf Coast. “For the second night in a row, we didn’t shoot the ball that well,” Powell said. “But we penetrated better tonight than last night.” Gulf Coast made 44 percent from the field and 22 percent from behind the 3-point line. After taking a 39-36 halftime lead, Gulf Coast exploded for 55 second-half points. The two teams combined for 101 points in the second half. Jackson led New York TCI with 25, leading a quartet of players in double-figures. Khalid Gerard scored 19, and Kevin White and Diloo Brown had 14 each. Gulf Coast plays Alabama Southern on Friday at noon at Chipola College.
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November 24, 2007
GC MEN RANKED #18 IN THE NATION
News Herald (Brad Milner) - On Wednesday, the GC Commdores recieved a #18 national ranking. On Friday, a spirited second-half comeback fell short for the Gulf Coast men, as they fell to Santa Fe for their first loss of the young season. Santa Fe led 37-26 at halftime behind 40-percent shooting from the field. Gulf Coast shot 32 percent to fall into the hole, but improved to 13 of 31 in the second half during the comeback. Brad Reese led Gulf Coast with 15 points. Ben Vega scored 11 and Gabriel Charley 10 for the Commodores (6-1). P.J. Turner paced Santa Fe with 15 points, while Francis Aihe and Roderick Emanuel added 12 points apiece. Blake Hyden (11 points) and Jarrell Douglass (10) also were in double figures. Gulf Coast faces New York TCI today at 6 p.m.
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November 18, 2007
GC MEN REMAIN UNDEFEATED
News Herald (Josh Weinfuss) - For the second straight game, Gulf Coast limited an opponent to less than 35-percent accuracy as the Commodores downed Coastal Georgia Community College in a game played at Okaloosa-Walton CC. Gulf Coast improved to 6-0 as Brad Reese scored 17 points and Arian Maliqi 16. Just as critical, GC limited Coastal Georgia to 21-61 shooting, 34.4 percent form the floor. “Our men played well defensively,” GC coach Jay Powell said. “We still have to start playing more intelligently on the offensive end.” Mirnes Islamovic added nine points and nine rebounds for the Commodores, who held a 41-35 edge on the boards. Piers Finch topped the Georgians with 12 points, all coming on 3-point baskets. Gulf Coast entertains Santa Fe CC on Friday in its men’s and women’s Thanksgiving tournament.
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November 17, 2007
GC MEN STILL ON A ROLL
News Herald (Josh Weinfuss) - Gulf Coast improved to 5-0 with a victory over Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College at Okaloosa-Walton. Gabriel Charley led the Commodores with 17 points and 8 rebounds. Byron Walker had 12 points, Arian Maliqi 11 and Darryl McGhee 10. LeMario Bennett had 12 points for ABAC, which was held to 22 first-half points and 32.8-percent shooting. “We did play defense,” Commodores coach Jay Powell said. “ABAC tries to slow you down, but at the same time our guys played even better defense, and holding people to where they’re missing more than two of every three shots is pretty good defense.” Gulf Coast plays Coastal Georgia today at 5 p.m. at O-WCC.
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November 14, 2007
WALKER SIGNS NLI WITH ALABAMA STATE
News Herald (Josh Weinfuss) - Ribs and football sealed it for Byron Walker. During his official visit to Alabama State, the Gulf Coast sophomore transfer indulged in both American pastimes with Hornets men’s basketball coach Lewis Jackson and his wife, ASU women’s basketball coach Freeda Freeman-Jackson, and both their teams. It was then that Walker knew he wanted to attend ASU. He will sign a national letter of intent Thursday morning at the Billy Harrison Field House, joining three Lady Commodores who will play Division I basketball next season. “I thought it was the best thing for me and my family,” Walker said. “I thought they showed they wanted me, and my father always told me to go somewhere where they show they want you.” Walker is averaging eight points and five rebounds this season. He came to Gulf Coast from Kennessaw State, a D-I school located about 30 minutes north of Atlanta, Walker’s hometown. Moving closer to his family was a major factor. Alabama State is located in Montgomery, Ala. “He’s a young man that could have a bright future ahead of him if he has the proper work ethic,” Gulf Coast men’s coach Jay Powell said. “I told him I can help him get back to Division I basketball. I’m keeping my word.” He also was recruited by Stony Brook, Troy, Wichita State, Coastal Carolina, Murray State, Savannah State, Ball State, Fordham and some Division II schools, but the opportunity to compete for a starting spot at the power-forward position at the historically black school was appealing. “I grew up in the South and I’m real big on family and I thought it was real great,” he said.
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November 11, 2007
COMMODORES STAY UNBEATEN
News Herald (Staff Reports) - Brad Reese scored 18 points, making 3 of 5 from 3-point range, as the Gulf Coast men’s basketball team improved to 4-0 with a 77-55 win over the state’s third-ranked junior college team, Central Florida Community College, on Saturday at the Billy Harrison Field House. Reese was one of five Commodores in double figures. The others included Darryl McGhee with 14, Mirnes Islamovic 13, and Ben Vega and Arian Maliqi with 11 each. McGhee and Maliqi led Gulf Coast with six rebounds each. Vega led the team with four assists. “The men played hard and I’m proud at their effort right now,” said Gulf Coast head coach Jay Powell. “I see some things that we need to work on, but I see a bright future for us.” Ricardo Lewis led Central Florida with 19 points. De’Andre Duncan and Marvin Dibble had 10 points each. Gulf Coast returns to action at 5 p.m. Friday against Abraham Baldwin College, in a game that will be played in Niceville.
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November 10, 2007
GC MEN IMPROVE TO 3-0
News Herald (Staff Reports) - Mirnes Islamovic scored 14 points to lead four Commodores in double-figures as Gulf Coast beat Seminole Community College at Billy Harrison Field House to remain undefeated after three games. Gabriel Charley, Darryl McGhee and Arian Maliqi each added 10 points for the Commodores. Gulf Coast raced to a 34-10 halftime lead against Seminole, which made only three field goals in the first half. Free throws helped keep the game from becoming a complete blowout: Seminole made 12 of 22, including 9 of 14 in the second half; Gulf Coast made 2 of 3 free throws for the entire game. Matt Stillwell scored 13 points to lead Seminole. Gulf Coast hosts Central Florida Community College today at 4 p.m.
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November 6, 2007
FRESHMAN CHALLENGE
News Herald (Josh Weinfuss) - Gulf Coast’s Brad Reese made sure he stood out on both ends of the court in the Commodores’ 90-74 win over Enterprise-Ozark at the Billy Harrison Field House on Tuesday. The freshman, who led all scorers with 26 points, was challenged defensively by Gulf Coast coach Jay Powell before the game with a matchup against Deondre Young, Enterprise’s top scorer. Reese responded on both sides, of the ball with 10 of the Commodores last 25 points to help them pull away for the win and holding Young to only 12 points. “I think I played great on the offensive and defensive side of the ball,” Reese said. “The team played great.” Gulf Coast (2-0) has scored 90 or more in its first two games this year. On Saturday, the Commodores defeated Marion Military Institute 99-59. In his first collegiate game, the Laurel Hill product was nervous before tipoff, but Reese was calmer during his second game and Gulf Coast benefited when Enterprise-Ozark went to full-court pressure about the midway point of the first half.
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November 4, 2007
GC MEN DEFEAT MARION MILITARY INSTITUTE TO OPEN SEASON
News Herald (Josh Weinfuss) - Jay Powell’s head coaching debut at Gulf Coast (1-0) was a success as his Commodores cruised to a 99-59 win over Marion Military Institute. Gulf Coast held the Alabama school to 20 points in the first half and increased its own first-half total of 49 with 50 in the second half. Sophomore Arian Maliqi led the Commodores with 17 points and Gabriel Charley had 15. Dmitry Pirshin and Mirnes Islamovic each had 13. Sophomore Darryl McGhee led both teams with nine rebounds.
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November 1, 2007
LOOKING THE PART, Commodores start with Questions, Optimism !
News Herald (Josh Weinfuss) - In his seventh month as Gulf Coast’s new men’s basketball coach, Jay Powell has started to settle into life as a head coach. He dresses the part with his footwear apparel sweatsuit. His office fits the part with basketball decorum and a library stocked with books about basketball strategy and history. Days away from his first game as a college head coach, the 27-year-old Benton, Ky., native hasn’t let that all get to his head. As Powell tries to take Gulf Coast out of a nineyear-long rut that has seen only one winning season since 1999, he has remained mindful of the Commodores 7-23 record last season. “People ask questions: Are you going to be able to beat Chipola? Are you going to be able to beat Okaloosa-Walton? Are you going to be able to beat Tallahassee? Are you going to be able to beat Pensacola?” Powell said. “I think not to be too rude, but I think it’ll be very foolish of a coach to sit here and say we’re going to be right there in first place. Well, hogwash. “I do know that we’ve put together a talented group.” Powell’s seen the unforeseeable future before. He doesn’t know who will stay healthy or eligible or interested. Last year, the Commodores lost center Mirnes Islamovic to a knee injury weeks before the season started, and players puddlejumped into suspensions for their grades. A healthy Islamovic anchors five returning sophomores from last year’s squad, including last season’s leading scorer, Darryl McGhee, who averaged 10.4 points per game, and its leading rebounder, Dmitry Pirshin, who averaged 6.9 per game. Guard Ben Vega averaged 9.6 points and 2.7 assists. Forward Arian Maliqi shot 31.9 from behind the 3-point line, and averaged 9 points. The group was handpicked by Powell to play on this year’s squad. “When you come in as a new coach, you don’t know exactly how returning players are going to respond to you,” Powell said. “I’ve been very pleased with all five of those guys. They haven’t caused me any grief; they haven’t given me problems by saying, ‘Oh, this isn’t how the previous coach did things.’ There hasn’t been any of that nonsense, and I appreciate that.” This year’s team may be a polar opposite to last year’s. The Commodores’ newcomers play an above the rim style of basketball that Powell has matched with a fast-break offense and hard-nosed defense. Powell said he has a zone defense and half-court sets that he will use throughout the season in situations that warrant them. In his first recruiting class, Powell landed sophomore Byron Walker, a transfer from Kennesaw State, and freshman Brad Reese, a transfer from Southeastern Louisiana. Powell also signed Bay graduate Jonathan Murner. As of now, Powell hasn’t settled on a starting five. He said there’s still three or four guys battling for the starting point guard job, and he will go with a seven- or eight-man rotation to start the season. “They like to get after people which will go along with philosophy of teams I like to coach and players I like to coach,” Powell said of the freshmen. Gulf Coast starts its 30-game schedule Saturday at home against Marion Military Institute, and plays its first four games in eight days. Powell thinks his schedule, which features games against 16 teams in the Top 50 of NJCAA’s preseason poll, is among the country’s best. “Are we going to be able to beat those people this year? Maybe, maybe not,” Powell said. “It’s too early to tell. I know that we’ve got along way to go but we’re going to get there."
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October 16, 2007
COMMODORES OPEN SEASON AT HOME
The Gulf Coast Commodore Mens Basketball team led by new Head Coach Jay Powell, will open their 2007-08 campaign, Saturday November 3rd vs Marion Military Institute. Game time is 3:00 PM. According to Coach Powell, "This is an exciting time for Gulf Coast Community College Men’s Basketball program.  We have five men returning from last year’s squad that have found a new energy and dedication to doing things to the best of their ability.  Each of these men are determined to turn Gulf Coast into a hard-working winning program.  The seven newcomers are also making great strides in their ability to reach maximum potential.  We strive as a program for constant improvement, and of course, without constant 100% effort that cannot come."

Mens Schedule
Mens Roster

August 21, 2007
COMMODORES BEGIN 2007-08 CAMPAIGN OCTOBER 1
The Gulf Coast Commodore Mens Basketball team led by new Head Coach Jay Powell, will begin their 2007-08 campaign October 1 with their first day of practice. “I’m excited with the possibilities that these guys have,” Powell said. “They have good talent as far as basketball players. They have high character. They’re coming in and they want to prove to this community that Gulf Coast men’s basketball is a winning program.

March 3, 2007
HATS OFF
NEWS HERALD (Josh Weinfuss) - Jim Hatfield didn’t expect the clock to run out like this. Thirty-eight years after coaching his first game at Lyman High School in Orlando, Hatfield put down his clipboard for good following Saturday night’s regular-season finale for Gulf Coast Community College. His retirement from coaching men’s basketball came on his own terms, something he never expected. Earlier this season, the 63-year-old said he’d probably die on the court, coaching and teaching as he had for the past four decades. Health concerns led Hatfield to decide this season would be his last. Whatever optimism he had about continuing, pragmatism erased. “I’m just exhausted,” Hatfield said. “This job is a very demanding job, and I have just reached the point where — I know what you got to do. I know what you got to do to be successful in this program, to be successful in any program. When you know what you got to do and you can’t do those things, then you look at yourself. “You can’t look at anybody else. You look at yourself and you say, ‘Well I’m not doing the job that I know that I need to do.’ It’s time. It’s time to step down.”

Hatfield is suffering from trigeminal neuralgia, a painful nerve disorder that extends from the top of his head to the chin. He also had two arterial stents to prevent blockage put in last season, making seven that have been inserted over the years. Citing his health and the rigors of coaching, Hatfield said retiring was the easiest decision he’s ever made. Colleagues, opposing coaches and former players haven’t been shy about expressing their sadness in his leaving. They said the game is losing an ambassador and shared one common message: Hatfield was one of the good guys in coaching. “I knew that basketball was going to lose an outstanding person and coach,” former Kentucky coach Joe B. Hall said. “Jim has been good for the game. He’s been someone that loved it and worked hard to protect it. And it’s always a disappointment when someone with his ability and his love for the game gets out. I hate to see him hang it up.”

That love for basketball started in the third grade and never faded. Hatfield was part of what many consider the old guard of college basketball. He was an assistant to Hall, recruited the same states as Texas Tech coach Bob Knight when Knight was at Indiana, and scoured the country recruiting with former Louisville assistant Jerry Jones. Even after leaving coaching in the mid-1980s to work as a consultant for Athletic Management Group, his basketball friendships remained solid. Hatfield’s career wasn’t limited to American hardwoods as he spent three years as head coach at the University of Virgin Islands. His network of international contacts was evident on this year’s Gulf Coast squad, which had three players from Europe and Australia in its starting lineup. One of his assistants at Gulf Coast, Jackson Dolor, played for Hatfield at UVI. But it didn’t matter where Hatfield was, he maintained a charisma indigenous to the region that was instilled in him while growing up in Tennessee. “He really cared about his players,” said Kermit Davis, head coach at Middle Tennessee State and a player on Hatfield’s 1980-81 Mississippi State team. “He was a real fair coach. I learned a lot. I really enjoyed my year for coach Hatfield.”

Davis, who’s father also coached at Mississippi State, credited Hatfield with helping him become a Division I coach. Even after a career short on regrets, Hatfield admitted he still thinks about never winning a national championship as a head coach. Although he’ll never achieve that goal, Hatfield talked about the most glamorous prize in college basketball like a child realizing he didn’t get a coveted birthday present: Vacantly disappointed, but eternally hopeful. Even during his second straight losing season at Gulf Coast, Hatfield never dwelled on negatives. That attitude helped him become one of the best recruiters of his time. “I think he was a very hard worker,” Knight said. “I think he was a very good judge of talent.”

Hall saw that ability in Hatfield when he gave the 29-year-old his first Division I coaching job as an assistant in 1973. That was the first of two stints with the Wildcats. Hatfield returned to Kentucky for Hall’s last two years, 1983-84 and 84-85, before a 13-year hiatus from Division I. Better known for following Adolph Rupp at Kentucky than for winning the 1978 national championship, Hall said he learned more from Hatfield than he thought Hatfield learned from him. Hall said Hatfield’s positive attitude rubbed off the most. But it was his ability to recruit high school standouts in the early 1970s that fast-tracked Hatfield’s career. One of the most coveted recruits was Rick Robey from Louisiana, who Hatfield helped lure to Kentucky. He then added Jack Givens, Mike Phillips and James Lee to that 1974-75 freshmen class which as seniors won the ’78 NCAA title. It was the recruitment of Robey that landed Hatfield his first head coaching job. In 1975, during the second year of death penalty probation, the University of Southwestern Louisiana, now the University of Louisiana-Lafayette, was impressed by Hatfield and courted him to rejuvenate a decimated men’s basketball program.

At 31, Jim Hatfield was one of the youngest head coaches in college basketball history. “Not many people were interested in that job because of starting over with no players, no schedule, no recruiting,” Hatfield said. “I took that job, and I found in taking that job that probably the best kind of job to take is one where there’s nothing there and what you do establishes what you expect and what you want done in the future.” Hatfield soon landed prized recruit Andrew Toney and within four years the Ragin’ Cajuns won the Southland Conference title with Hatfield named conference coach of the year. Mississippi State swooped in and lured Hatfield away during a three-day span. Hatfield proved his initial success at USL wasn’t a fluke when he had the Bulldogs ranked No. 13 by UPI and they were invited to a postseason tournament for the first time in 20 years. While in Starkville, he coached future NBA players Jeff Malone, Ricky Brown and Wylie Peck. Hatfield returned to Division I in 1998 as an assistant coach for Murray State before taking the Gulf Coast job in 2003.

Overall, 18 of Hatfield’s players went on to professional basketball, with a handful currently playing in the college ranks. Six former players are college coaches and one former student-assistant was part of Hatfield’s final staff. Jay Powell began his coaching career as a student-assistant at Murray State, where Hatfield was the top assistant under Tevester Anderson. Instead of using Powell as a gofer, Hatfield taught Powell the intricacies of recruiting, scheduling and scouting. “He’s one of the men that kind of got coaching a respectable, proud profession many years ago,” Powell said. “His relationship with me and the way he taught me was one of equality. He knew better than I did but he didn’t act like he was better. I really appreciated that.”

Just as his pupils got their start watching Hatfield walk the sidelines, Hatfield got his first taste of Division I coaching working next to a legend. While at Kentucky the first time, Hatfield shared an office with Adolph Rupp. Once a week Rupp came in to pick up his mail and would fascinate an impressionable assistant with stories. But now, as Hatfield has realized and Rupp before him, the game will move on without him. “Things are a lot different, but I enjoyed that,” Hatfield said. “I was a basketball junkie and I enjoyed that. “I guess that’s what I see now. I see how I used to be so excited and energetic and put the time in to do those things, and I’m not able to do those things anymore which tells me it’s time.”
News Herald Article

February 28, 2007
GULF COAST MEN NET TWO ON CONFERENCE SQUAD
NEWS HERALD (Josh Weinfuss) - Two Gulf Coast Commodores were named to the All-Panhandle Conference men’s basketball team selected by league coaches and announced Tuesday. Freshman Darryl McGhee was named to the 12-player first team and sophomore Marcus Nicks to the 12-player second team. Since GCCC coach Jim Hatfield inserted McGhee into the starting lineup, the 6-foot-7 forward led the Commodores in scoring with 10.4 points per game. He also averaged 4.6 rebounds. Nicks, a transfer point guard, directed the Commodores’ offense in his only season of junior college basketball. He averaged a team-high 5.3 assists and was second in scoring with 10.2 ppg. Gulf Coast finished the season 7-23 overall and 1-11 in the conference. Chipola’s Jamarcus Ellis was named Panhandle Conference player of the year. Chipola’s Michael Vogler, a Bay High graduate, made the second team. The Indiana-bound sophomore averaged 15.6 ppg. The Indians led the conference with eight overall selections — five on the first team and three on the second. Tallahassee was next with three on each team, including preseason national player of the year Dustin Scott. Okaloosa-Walton had five total and Pensacola had three players named to the second team.

First-Team Chipola: Jamarcus Ellis, DeAndre Thomas, Victor Dubovitsky, Ed Berrios, Johnnie Harris Tallahassee: Dustin Scott, Jermaine Dixon, Andre McMillan OWC: Josh Hunter, Tay Waller, Keith Ramsey Gulf Coast: Darryl McGhee Second-Team OWC: Lashun Watson, Jeremy Dunbar Tallahassee: Antwon Lawrence, Andy Buechert, Shamar Coombs Chipola: Mario Little, Mario Edwards, Michael Vogler Pensacola: Vernon Carr, Lasha Parghalava, Myles Taylor Gulf Coast: Marcus Nicks

February 25, 2007
HATFIELD'S REIGN ENDS
NEWS HERALD (Josh Weinfuss) - If Jim Hatfield thought the past 38 years were a ride, he didn’t know what was coming against Okaloosa-Walton. Far out of contention for a state tournament berth, and further away from a run at the Panhandle Conference championship, Gulf Coast (7-23, 1-11 PC) came into Saturday night’s game with two thoughts: Honor the sophomores and send Hatfield out with a win. They were nearly able to do both in an 88-75 loss to OWC (23-5, 8-4 PC) at Billy Harrison Field House on Sophomore Night. Late Friday, the Commodores head coach announced he would retire from basketball because of health issues. With Hatfield’s family looking on and his son Jimmy sitting on the bench next to him, the fourth-year coach started four of the five sophomores, and nearly ended his career with an upset. “That’s what happens when you give effort,” Hatfield said. “You never know what’s going to happen.” The Commodores wouldn’t let the Raiders run away with the game early on. They took a 9-7 lead off a Rob Blei 3-pointer with 16:39 left in the first half. After the fourth tie, at 26-26 with just under 9 minutes left, Gulf Coast extended its lead to as many as eight before OWC came back to tie the game again at 35. Gulf Coast kept the upset talk alive at halftime, trailing by one. But OWC was too strong in the second half, and Tay Waller was too hot. The freshman guard hit one of his 10 3-pointers with 16:27 left in the game to put the Raiders ahead for good. He finished with 39 points. “What a performance,” Hatfield said. After OWC took the lead, Gulf Coast stayed within single digits until Waller hit another 3-pointer with 8:34 left put the OWC lead at 10. Gulf Coast’s Jerome Ellis, missed Saturday’s game due to academic issues. Nicks led the Commodores with 19 points including five 3-pointers and McGhee scored 16. Payne added 12. Both teams ended their season on Saturday. After the game, an emotional Hatfield reflected on his coaching career, “I’m proud of my family. I’m proud of Gulf Coast,” Hatfield said. “Thank you for the ride.”
News Herald Article

February 24, 2007
GCCC'S HATFIELD TO RETIRE
NEWS HERALD (Josh Weinfuss) - Gulf Coast men’s basketball coach Jim Hatfield will retire after more than 38 years in coaching, athletic director Gregg Wolfe announced Friday afternoon. Tonight’s game against Okaloosa-Walton will be Hatfield’s last. Heading into tonight, Hatfield has a 48-66 record in four years at Gulf Coast. Before he came to the Panhandle, he was an assistant coach at Murray State and later at Kentucky, under coach Joe B. Hall. He also was a head coach at Southwestern Louisiana and Mississippi State. “He’s always taken great pride in his teams’ academics and athletic successes,” Wolfe said. “We will miss his leadership on and off the court.” This season the Commodores are 7-22, and have just one Panhandle Conference victory. Hatfield’s last two seasons have been marred by injury. Last year, he coached a six-man squad for the latter half of the conference season. In 2005, Hatfield went 19-10, his best season at Gulf Coast.
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February 22, 2007
COMMODORES BEAT AT THE BUZZER
NEWS HERALD (Josh Weinfuss) - A Pensacola buzzer-beater kept Gulf Coast from winning its second Panhandle Conference game Wednesday night. With 11.9 seconds left, Gulf Coast freshman Darryl McGhee hit a putback to tie the game at 73. As hopes of overtime started becoming realistic, Pensacola’s Tyler Cannon hit a high-arcing 3-pointer from the corner as time expired for a 76-73 win. Ben Vega led the Commodores with 25 points. Jeremy Payne scored 14 and Jadranko Jusufagic had 13. Gulf Coast replaced PJC in last place in the league at 1-10 and 7-22 overall. The Pirates are 2-10, 11-18. “It was a heck of a game from start to finish,” said Gulf Coast head coach Jim Hatfield said. “He just makes a desperation 3 from deep in the corner. The guys played really hard.”
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February 18, 2007
TALLAHASSEE DEFEATS GULF COAST MEN
NEWS HERALD (Josh Weinfuss) - Tallahassee built a 29-14 lead and wasn’t threatened as the Gulf Coast men’s team fell to 1-9, 7-21. The Commodores trailed 37-23 at halftime. Marcus Nicks had a game-high 20 points to pace Gulf Coast with Darryl McGhee adding 14. The Eagles improved to 9-2 in the Panhandle Conference and clinched a berth in next month’s FCCAA state tournament with the triumph.
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February 15, 2007
CHIPOLA HOLDS OFF GULF COAST
NEWS HERALD (Josh Weinfuss) - The basketball cupid missed Gulf Coast on Valentine’s Day. And Gulf Coast missed its shot to knock off No. 3 Chipola at Billy Harrison Field House, 68-56. With under 6 minutes left in the game, Gulf Coast started to chip away at Chipola’s lead, but every time, the Indians repelled the Commodores. The Commodores pulled within 10 points with 2:33 left in the game, but couldn’t get any closer despite a run of 3-pointers by Jeremy Payne and Arian Maliqi. “Our guys made a run,” coach Jim Hatfield said. “I think our kids played well. They fought. They really fought.” Payne led the Commodores with 15 points, all on 3-pointers. Freshman Darryl McGhee added 14 points and five rebounds. Maliqi, who finished with eight points, had seven rebounds. Gulf Coast was without freshman center Jadranko Jusufagic. The Australian was suspended for Wednesday night’s game because of academic issues, Hatfield said. He didn’t comment on when Jusufagic would return. Gulf Coast is 7-20 overall and 1-8 in the Panhandle Conference, while Chipola remains in first place at 26-1 and 9-1. Gulf Coast plays at Tallahassee on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. CST.
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February 8, 2007
GC MEN LOOSE TO RAIDERS
NEWS HERALD (Josh Weinfuss) - Gulf Coast lost its second straight game on Wednesday night at Okaloosa-Walton. This loss starts another streak for the Commodores, who ended a two-game winning streak on Saturday. Those wins snapped a 13-game losing streak. The Commodores were led by freshman Darryl McGhee, who scored 21 points on 10 for 19 shooting and had seven rebounds. Ben Vega added 14 points and Marcus Nicks had 12. Gulf Coast dropped to 1-7 in the Panhandle Conference and is 7-19 overall. OWC is now 5-3 PC and 20-4 overall. Leading OWC was Tay Waller with 20 points. Jeremy Dunbar had 16 and Lashun Watson added 15. Josh Hunter had 12 rebounds and nine points.
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February 4, 2007
MENS STREAK ENDS - COMMODORES FALL TO TALLAHASSEE
NEWS HERALD (Josh Weinfuss) - Gulf Coast’s bid for a three-game winning streak ended Saturday night in a 93-68 Panhandle Conference loss to Tallahassee in men’s basketball at Billy Harrison Field House. It wasn’t until midway through the second half that the Eagles begin to run away with the win, but in the end they made it look easy. Despite a halftime buzzerbeater by Tallahassee’s Shamar Coombs that put the Eagles (21-4, 6-1) ahead by six, Gulf Coast’s (7-18, 1-6) home crowd was murmuring at halftime about the possibility of an upset. Considering that the Commodores built a modest two game winning streak against a club team from North Florida and Pensacola Junior College, there was reason for hope. Tallahassee quieted that talk by taking a 12-point lead three minutes into the second half. From there, Gulf Coast struggled to stay within striking distance and finished the game looking like the team that had a recent 13-game losing streak. “You can’t come out that way to start the second half,” Gulf Coast coach Jim Hatfield said. “That’s tough like that.” What started the talk of an upset was a first half that saw Gulf Coast take three leads and stay within a possession of the lead until shortly before halftime. The Commodores went up 4-2, 13-11 and 16-15 before Coombs made a basket with 11:19 left in the first half to put Tallahassee ahead for good. Four Commodores scored in double figures, led by point guard Marcus Nicks. The sophomore scored 19 points with three 3-pointers. Ben Vega scored 13 points and Darryl McGhee added 12. Jerome Ellis had 10.
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February 1, 2007
COMMODORES DOWN PIRATES FOR CONFERENCE WIN
NEWS HERALD (Josh Weinfuss) - Gulf Coast went from one streak to another on Wednesday night. After losing 13 in a row, the Commodores won their second consecutive game, 70-53 against Pensacola at the Billy Harrison Field House. “It’s been a long time,” coach Jim Hatfield said. More importantly for the Commodores, it was their first conference win. Saturday’s 100-62 win over North Florida’s club team was recorded as an overall win but not a league victory. With the win, Gulf Coast improved to 7-17 overall, 1-5 in the Panhandle Conference, and traded spots in the standings with Pensacola, which fell to last place in the conference at 1-6 in the league and 10-14 overall. The offense was spread around eight Commodores, including four who scored in double figures.
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January 28, 2007
COMMODORES END STREAK WITH WIN OVER NORTH FLORIDA
NEWS HERALD (Josh Weinfuss) - Gulf Coast’s men’s team did not play a conference game Saturday because North Florida doesn’t have a men’s program. It defeated a club team from the Madison school 100-62 as Jeremy Payne scored 25 points. The Commodores improved to 6-17 and play Pensacola next at home January 31 @ 7:30 PM.
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January 24, 2007
CHIPOLA DEFEATS COMMODORES
NEWS HERALD (Josh Weinfuss) - For 19 minutes of the first half, Gulf Coast was leading the nation’s third-ranked team. The Commodores had Chipola on its heels until a late basket gave the Indians a 32-30 lead at halftime. Then, reminiscent of its second half start against Okaloosa-Walton, Gulf Coast coughed up four turnovers in its first five possessions. Arian Maliqi scored 17 points and Ben Vega added 15 in the Commodores’ 12th straight loss. Freshman Darryl McGhee added 13. Gulf Coast fell to 5-17 overall and 0-5 in the Panhandle Conference. Chipola improved to 21-1 and 4-1 in league play. For the rest of the second half the Commodores were able to keep the Indians within reach, trailing by less than 15 points. But a late surge by Chipola capped the spread at 20.
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January 21, 2007
COMMODORES FALL TO OWC
NEWS HERALD (Josh Weinfuss) - Everything about Saturday night’s Gulf Coast and Okaloosa-Walton men’s basketball game was supposed to be lopsided. But the only thing tilted in their Panhandle Conference matchup was the foul differential. Gulf Coast overcame a 31-12 disadvantage in freethrow attempts to come within nine points with just more than 5 minutes left, only to fall 93-82 to No. 6 OWC at Billy Harrison Field House. For the first 10 minutes of the game and the last 10, Gulf Coast’s performance belied its 12-game losing streak. It wasn’t until the 8:20 mark of the first half that OWC took a double-digit lead, and by the last few minutes Gulf Coast again pulled within nine.
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January 18, 2007
COMMODORES DEFEATED BY PIRATES
NEWS HERALD (Josh Weinfuss) - Life isn’t getting any easier for the Commodores. Three games into the Panhandle Conference season and Gulf Coast can’t seem to find a way to win. Gulf Coast lost its 11th straight game, 93-68 to Pensacola Junior College at the Louis A. Ross Health and Sports Center. The loss dropped the Commodores not only to 5-15 overall and 0-3 in conference play, but to the last place in the Panhandle Conference.
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January 14, 2007
TALLAHASSEE DOWNS COMMODORES
NEWS HERALD - Tallahassee Community College used a record-setting effort from its defense to win its 12th straight game, beating Gulf Coast Community College, 86-39, at the Eagledome on Saturday evening. The 39 points set a mark for the fewest the Eagles have ever allowed in a Panhandle Conference game.
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January 11, 2007
CHIPOLA DOWNS COMMODORES
NEWS HERALD (Josh Weinfuss) - Of all the weapons top-ranked Chipola has, a local may have stolen the show Wednesday night. Bay High School graduate Michael Vogler had seven steals and seven points in the Indians’ 88-63 win over Gulf Coast at Billy Harrison Field House. For 39 of the 40 minutes, Vogler had the local spotlight to himself. With the outcome long since decided, Gulf Coast coach Jim Hatfield looked to another former Bay standout, Rodney Hayes. As time ran out, Hayes guarded Vogler with a smile on his face as their former coach, Matt Anderson, looked on from the stands. Vogler’s seven steals were important, but didn’t break the game open for the Indians.
News Herald Article

January 10, 2007
COMMODORES OPEN CONFERENCE SLATE WITH CHIPOLA
NEWS HERALD (Josh Weinfuss) - There might not be much discussion this year as to who will win the two Panhandle spots in the state tournament. The Chipola Indians and Okaloosa-Walton Raiders have dominated conversations during the pre-conference season, leaving little to wonder about the favorites. But Tallahassee is coming off a national runner-up performance and is out to prove that last year wasn’t a fluke. “Chipola is really good,” Gulf Coast coach Jim Hatfield said. “OW is really good. I think Tallahassee has been up and down. PJC has struggled. You could be looking at a team with four or five losses making it to the tournament.” Although the talent level may be up with two teams ranked in the Top 13 nationally, the difference between top to bottom appears drastic. Gulf Coast: Jim Hatfield’s fourth season as coach of the Commodores started like his third ended: injuries, injuries and more injuries. Even though only one, Mirnes Islamovic’s torn ACL, was season-ending, the other injuries slowed the progression of a young Gulf Coast squad. Heading into conference play, the Commodores’ eight freshmen have logged minutes usually reserved for sophomores, but because of the injuries, they were forced to grow up fast. After a rocky start, Gulf Coast, which is anchored by an international front line of Dmitry Pirshin, Jadranko Jusufagic and Arian Maliqi, won five of six. Since then the Commodores (5-12) have dropped their last eight heading into the Panhandle Conference opener. Jeremy Payne has provided the scoring for the Commodores, and with the return of Jerome Ellis from wrist surgery, the Commodores could pack a scoring punch. “Once conference play starts everything is different,” Hatfield said. “Just one game at a time. Nobody will go through the league undefeated. We’ll see what happens. I like our chances with this lineup.” That lineup features four freshmen, the three big men and wing Darryl McGhee, and is led by Marcus Nicks who leads the state in steals.

December 31, 2006
JAGS TURN BACK COMMODORE BID
NEWS HERALD (Josh Weinfuss) - During this weekend Gulf Coast men’s basketball coach Jim Hatfield learned one thing about his team: It can play with anyone in the country. He also learned it can’t beat them. For the second straight night the Commodores had a top team on its heels but failed to pull out the win. Ahead 53-48 with 8 minutes, 8 seconds left, Gulf Coast let No. 11 Georgia Perimeter regain the lead and eventually fell 69-59 in the Vision Bank Classic at Billy Harrison Field House. A slew of turnovers and poor freethrow shooting prohibited the Commodores from pulling away, and aided a late 11-0 run by Jaguars.
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December 30, 2006
COMMODORES TAKING STEPS TO IMPROVE
NEWS HERALD (Josh Weinfuss) - It wasn’t a win, but Friday afternoon’s loss to Three Rivers (Poplar Bluffs, Mo.) was a step in the right direction for the Gulf Coast men’s basketball team. The Commodores fell 72-70 in the first game of the Vision Bank Classic at the Billy Harrison Field House, extending their losing streak to six games. But that doesn’t bother coach Jim Hatfield at the moment. “Honestly, this sounds stupid, but we’re not concerned” about winning, he said. “We want to win. But we want to get better. And get healthy. I like where we are.” Hatfield shuffled his starting lineup, inserting freshman Darryl McGhee for sophomore Jeremy Payne. Other freshmen also helped carry the Commodores (5-10).
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December 18, 2006
COMMODORES DEFEATED BY VIKINGS
NEWS HERALD (Eric Jorgensen ) - Gulf Coast put the defensive clamps on St. Johns River’s starting lineup Sunday afternoon. If only the Commodores could have done the same to the Vikings’ bench players. St. Johns River reserves scored 49 points as the Vikings beat the Commodores 92-74 on Sunday in the final day of the Central Florida Shootout. Dexter Clark scored 16 points in less than 17 minutes off the bench for St. Johns River, and Gerald Kohn added 14 in 16 minutes. Another reserve, Mark Marlar, added 12 points.
News Herald Article

December 17, 2006
COMMODORES DROP 4TH STRAIGHT
NEWS HERALD (Eric Jorgensen ) - Ben Vega scored 19 points, despite playing only 23 minutes with foul trouble, but it wasn’t enough as Gulf Coast lost to Seminole 79-67 on Saturday, the first day of the Central Florida Shootout. Marcus Nicks and Jerome Ellis each added 12 points for the Commodores, who struggled shooting, hitting only 29 percent of their shots in the first half and 41 percent for the game. Gulf Coast was even worse from 3-point range, hitting just 6 of 25. Nicks had four of the six 3-pointers. The Commodores, despite a cold first half, trailed only 33-29 at halftime. It helped that Seminole was nearly as cold in the first half, hitting just 34 percent of its shots.
News Herald Article

December 8, 2006
COMMODORES TO FACE CENTRAL FLORIDA
NEWS HERALD (Josh Weinfuss) - There’s two ways to look at the recent stretch for Gulf Coast’s men’s basketball team. It’s either lost three of its last four or won five of its last eight. On Saturday at 4 p.m. the Commodores will look to get back on track against Central Florida Community College at Billy Harrison Field House in Gulf Coast’s first single game of the season. Last weekend, Gulf Coast fell to Alabama Southern and ABAC in Marianna. The young Commodores (5-6) feature four double-figure scorers, three of which make up their front line. Jadranko Jusufagic is averaging 15 points per game and 7.6 rebounds, while Jeremy Payne scores 12.3 a night and Arian Maliqi adds 10.6. Running the Commodores offense for coach Jim Hatfield is Marcus Nicks, who is averaging 5.1 assists per game and 11.8 points. For the Patriots (5-3), De’Andre Duncan is averaging 13.5 points off the bench and Eli Crawford adds 9.9 points off the pine as well. Ed Keyes leads Central Florida with 6.6 rebounds per game. After Saturday’s contest, the Commodores have a week off before a tournament in Ocala.

December 3, 2006
ABAC DEFEATS GULF COAST
NEWS HERALD (Eric Jorgensen ) - Ben Vega scored 20 points, and Jeremy Payne and Darryl McGhee each added 10, as the Commodores fell to the ABAC Stallions 89-64 in the Panhandle Classic at Chipola College in Marianna. Only three other players scored for Gulf Coast, which fell to 5-6 for the season. Dmitry Pirshin had eight rebounds for the Commodores. Arian Maliqi led with four assists Abraham Baldwin had five players score in double figures, led by Jerrenda Wheeler’s 19 points. The Stallions raced to a 51-36 halftime lead and never looked back. Gulf Coast plays its next game at 4 p.m. on Saturday at home against Central Florida.
News Herald Article

December 2, 2006
COMMODORES FALL TO ALABAMA SOUTHERN
NEWS HERALD (Brad Milner) - The Commodores fell to Alabama Southern 67-63 in the Chipola College Panhandle Classic in Marianna. The Commodores squandered a sevenpoint halftime lead, going cold from the field in the final 20 minutes. Gulf Coast was 8 of 26 and 2 of 9 from 3-point range in the second half. It was 14 of 37 and 5 of 17 on 3-pointers in the first half. The victory was Alabama Southern’s first in six tries this season under head coach Rob Williams, who formerly coached at Bay and Chipola. Gulf Coast dipped to 5-5. Jeremy Payne hit five 3-pointers to lead the Commodores with 18 points. Arian Maliqi added 10 points and six rebounds and Jadranko Jusufagic chipped in 10 points and four rebounds. Alabama Southern’s Daryl Davis led all scorers with 21 points and eight rebounds. Ken Mitchell scored 16 and Cortez Lundy 14 for Alabama Southern. Gulf Coast plays Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (8-2), which defeated Pensacola 89-81 on Friday, at noon today. Alabama Southern plays Pensacola at 2 p.m.
News Herald Article

December 1, 2006
COMMODORES TO PARTICIPATE IN CHIPOLA PANHANDLE CLASSIC
The Gulf Coast Community College Commodore Mens Basketball team will participate in the Chipola Panhandle Classic this weekend (Dec 1-2). The Commodores will open up with Alabama Southern on Friday (12/1) at 2:00 pm and ABAC on Saturday (12/2) at 12:00 noon. All games will be played at the Milton H. Johnson Health Center on the campus of Chipola College in Marianna, Florida.

November 26, 2006
GULF COAST DEFEAT WALTERS STATE IN A THRILLER
NEWS HERALD (Josh Weinfuss) - There’s no better education then getting thrown into the fire. That’s what the Gulf Coast freshmen learned Saturday night against Walters State. In a 73-68 thriller, two freshmen hit four free throws with less than 14 seconds left to secure the Commodores’ victory. Jadranko Jusufagic hit both ends of a 1 and 1 to put the Commodores ahead 71-68. After a Senators’ miss, Arian Maliqi hit his two 1 and 1 free throws to seal the 5-point win. In the last game of the Panama City Toyota Classic at Billy Harrison Field House, the Commodores continued their tear through the last six games, of which they’ve won five. But this last win could have been the tightest of the year. “Obviously we would feel a lot better if we blew them out,” said freshman Marcus Nicks. “It’s a test to know where we are, where we stand as a team.” Nicks finished with 13 points and seven assists. Heading into Saturday night, Gulf Coast coaches knew Walters State (6-5), a 2006 national tourney team, would challenge the young Commodores squad (5-4). But Gulf Coast’s big men passed the test. “We’re going to play exciting, aggressive basketball,” said coach Jim Hatfield. Hatfield isn’t looking at Saturday’s win as an upset. He just sees it as getting better one game at a time. Down 8 at halftime, the Commodores came back with solid shooting behind the arc, including four straight 3-pointers to start the second half. Two of which came off the hands of Jeremy Payne, who scored 15 points on five 3-pointers, and added eight assists. With 7:30 left in the game, freshman Darryl McGhee hit a layup to put Gulf Coast ahead for good 57-56. Nicks then hit three consecutive 3-pointers to give the Commodores a 66-60 lead with 2:46 left. “It was close. They played zone and we just worked the ball in the crease of the defense,” Nicks said. “I had confidence and I just let it go.” Jusufagic scored 12 points on 4 for 9 shooting and grabbed seven rebounds, spending quality minutes on the perimeter. This season he’s been averaging about 36 minutes per game. The third piece of Hatfield’s front line, Dmitry Pirshin, added 12 points. Hatfield wasn’t sure which Commodores team would show up Saturday night, after losing its first game in five tries on Friday. “With this team,” he said, “you never know.”
News Herald Article

November 25, 2006
GULF COAST MEN FALL TO SNEAD STATE
NEWS HERALD (Josh Weinfuss) - Once Gulf Coast was down Friday night, it couldn’t get back up against Snead State. In the nightcap of the Panama City Toyota Classic at Billy Harrison Field House, the Commodores struggled offensively and fell to the Parsons 82-69. “I gotta give credit to Snead’s defensive play,” Gulf Coast coach Jim Hatfield said. Just as crucial was four Commodores fouling out as a total of 64 personals were called. Snead State (5-0) had 33 and Gulf Coast (4-4) 31. Hatfield did not blame the officiating, which drew less than stellar reviews from the vocal crowd, but said the timing of the calls didn’t suit the play. “There was no rhythm to the game,” Hatfield said. “Didn’t know what was going to be a foul.” The Commodores lost freshman Dmitry Pirshin early, the Russian scoring four points. Darryl McGhee followed, then Ben Vega. The last Commodore to join Hatfield on the bench was of Jadranko Jusufagic. With 4:15 left in the game, Jusufagic, better known as J.J., received a technical which resulted in his fifth personal. He finished with a team-high 17 points. Arian Maliqi scored 15 points, but the next highest Commodore was William Christian with nine. The Parsons clamped down on defense from the opening tip to end Gulf Coast’s four-game winning streak. Snead State bolted to a 17-1 lead and increased the margin to 33-11 with 6:15 left in the first half. From there, freshman Christian five of his nine points to help cut Snead’s lead to 43-26 at halftime. Midway through the second half, Gulf Coast was able to rally within 51-43, but the closest the Commodores could come was 57-50. Jeremy Payne helped spark the comeback by taking two charges. Gulf Coast also diminished its comeback chances shooting 17 for 34 from the free-throw line. In the earlier men’s game Friday, Seminole defeated Walters State 57-52. The Commodores entertain Walters State this evening at 7 p.m. Seminole will meet Snead State at 3 p.m.
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November 22, 2006
COMMODORES HOST TOYOTA CLASSIC
NEWS HERALD (Josh Weinfuss) - Taking on stiff competition early in a season can be a confidence bruiser for some inexperienced squads. But three early losses against some of junior college’s elite programs has been a blessing thus far for the Gulf Coast men’s basketball team. After suffering a threegame sweep in their first tournament of the season, the Commodores rattled off four straight wins to enter this weekend’s Panama City Toyota Classic at Billy Harrison Field House 4-3. “Playing really good people out in Missouri when we started the season helped us get better and we made progress,” Commodores coach Jim Hatfield said. “Like we’ve said, we have so many new guys it’s a work in progress.”

The Commodores slowly are developing into the squad last year’s team wasn’t — a healthy one. Injuries to key players before the season started hampered early progress. But with the return of Arian Maliqi from an ankle sprain and Jerome Ellis nearly back from lacerating tendons in his left wrist, Gulf Coast is nearing full capacity. Hatfield said Ellis has been practicing without a protective glove on his wrist and had a doctor’s appointment Monday. It’s possible Ellis could see the floor Friday night, Hatfield said. The Commodores look to extend their four-game winning streak against Snead State from Alabama at 7 p.m. Friday and Walters State from Tennessee 7 p.m. Saturday.
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November 19, 2006
GULF COAST EARNS ROAD VICTORY
NEWS HERALD (Josh Weinfuss) - The Gulf Coast men’s basketball team won its fourth-straight game Saturday after an 0-3 start. The Commodores, led by Jadranko Jusufagic with 17 points, downed Lurleen B. Wallace 74-64 in the Coca-Cola Classic at Okaloosa-Walton Junior College. Arian Meliqi added 13 points and Ben Vega had 12. “We are proud to win four in a row,” Gulf Coast coach Jim Hatfield said. “We are very young team, and we need to keep improving.” The Commodores led 35-26 at halftime. “In the first half we just couldn’t make the shots,” Hatfield said. “William Christian came off the bench and had eight points at key times in the second half.” Gulf Coast will host Snead State on Friday at 7 p.m. in the Panama City Toyota Classic at the Billy Harrison Field House.
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November 12, 2006
COMMODORES DEFEAT DAYTONA BEACH
NEWS HERALD (Josh Weinfuss) - The Gulf Coast men’s basketball team won its second-straight game on Saturday after starting the season with three losses. The Commodores made 14 3-pointers in an 87-62 victory over Daytona Beach CC at the Billy Harrison Field House. Jadranko Jusufagic scored 21 points, Jeremy Payne had 19 and Marcus Nicks had 14. “They are starting to play together and play smart basketball,” Gulf Coast coach Jim Hatfield said. “We are a work in progress, and we had a good weekend. Now we have to keep getting better.” Freshman forward Dmitry Pirshin was key factor for the Commodores. “Pirshin came up real big on the boards. He did an outstanding job today,” Hatfield added. “Our guards controlled the tempo of the game.” The Commodores beat Alabama Southern 96-73 on Friday night in Panama City. Marcus Nicks had seven 3-pointers and a game-high 29 points to lead the Commodres, who led 45-35 at halftime. Arian Maliqi added 13 points for GCCC, Jusufagic had 10 and Ben Vega nine. Gulf Coast plays Daytona Beach again on Friday at 5 p.m. in a tournament in Niceville.
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November 10, 2006
COMMODORES - HOME OPENER
NEWS HERALD (Josh Weinfuss) - In search of its first win, the Gulf Coast Commodores men’s basketball team returns home to Billy Harrison Field House tonight for the Gulf Coast Tournament. The two-day event features Daytona Beach CC, Alabama Southern CC and Tallahassee, the top-ranked team in Florida. In Gulf Coast’s first game of the tournament, but second game tonight, the Commodores (0-3) take on Alabama Southern at 7 p.m. On Saturday, Gulf Coast plays Daytona Beach at 3 p.m. Badgered by injuries, the Commodores get back Arian Maliqi, who was hobbled by a sprained ankle and missed Gulf Coast’s first tournament last week in Missouri.
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November 5, 2006
COMMODORES FINISH TOURNEY 0-3
Missing two starters, the Gulf Coast men’s basketball team capped a winless weekend with an 86-76 loss to Technical Career Institute in New York on Saturday. Three Commodores scored in double figures, led by sophomore Jeremy Payne with 18 points. Gulf Coast coach Jim Hatfield said his squad pulled within four points at one stage and made two strong runs at TCI, but didn’t have the experience to pull ahead. “They’re a very experienced team, and we’re a very inexperienced team,” he said. Gulf Coast (0-3) missed starters Jerome Ellis and Arian Maliqi all weekend. Both are out with injuries and expected back in the coming weeks. Freshmen Darryl McGhee scored 17 points and added six rebounds, and William Christian had 16 in 27 minutes. Ben Vega led the Commodores with five assists and six rebounds, Gulf Coast fell to Missouri State-West Plains 102-85 on Friday night. Marcus Nicks led the Commodores with 25 points, Vega had 18, Jadranko Jusufagic 15 and Dmitry Pirshin 11.
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November 3, 2006
GC MEN FALL TO DEFENDING CHAMPIONS
Five players from defending national junior college champion Arkansas-Fort Smith scored in double figures in defeating Gulf Coast Community College 85-65 on Thursday in the Commodores’ season opener. Gulf Coast never got out of first gear in the first half, making only 27 percent of its shots and falling behind 44-28. Arkansas-Fort Smith, meanwhile, hit 53 percent of its first-half shots. The defending champs kept up the pace in the second half, hitting 57 percent from the field, as Gulf Coast improved to 47 percent. Jadranko Jusufagic, a 6-foot-10 freshman from Australia, led the Commodores with 15 points. He was limited to 21 minutes because of foul trouble. Dmitry Pirshin, a freshman from Russia, scored 10 points for Gulf Coast — the only other Commodore to score in double figures.
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November 2, 2006
MAKING NO EXCUSES
NEWS HERALD (Josh Weinfuss) - This year already is looking a lot like last year for the Gulf Coast men’s basketball team. And that’s not a good thing. Trying to move on from an injury-plagued 2005-2006 season, the Commodores received their first setback earlier this week when Mirnes Islamovic had season-ending surgery Monday to repair an ACL and meniscus injury he suffered Oct. 14 during a scrimmage. Continuing the theme, sophomore Jerome Ellis will be out until mid-November rehabilitating two surgically repaired tendons and a nerve in his left wrist he injured when a picture shattered on his hand in September. That isn’t how coach Jim Hatfield hoped to start out, considering his squad was reduced to six healthy players at the end of last season while finishing 10-17.
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