Wildcats Take Battle of the Bay 93-59

In front a capacity crowd, and the Vigor High School pep band and cheerleaders in attendance, the Bishop State men's basketball team took care of business defeating rival Coastal Alabama-South 93-59 in the Battle of the Bay. The highly anticipated matchup is a game that the city has looked forward to each year for decades, was a lopsided one in favor of the Wildcats. It's a matchup that has usually gone in favor of the Sun Chiefs, but the tides have definitely turned in the biggest margin of victory for the Wildcats in the rivalry as far as we can date.

It was a slow start for the Wildcats as the Sun Chiefs jumped out to 6-2 lead early. Although the Wildcats were favored to win on paper, rivalries are excluded when it comes to records. It was as if the light clicked on for the Wildcats after a pull up jumper by Seth Grandberry, followed by another pull up jumper from Kedar Bodie to tie the game up at 6 all. Kevin Kogbara checked in and got a steal in the back court to go up 8-6 and take the lead for good for the Wildcats. The flurry began as the Wildcats just let the Sun Chiefs have it, scoring basket after basket to go up by as many as 21 points in the first half. The Sun Chiefs seemed to have figured something out by using their star player and Texas A&M Corpus Christi signee Sheldon Williams to get defenders in foul trouble. They were able to cut the lead to 11 by getting to the free throw line before a momentum swinging dunk by Dasean Sellers and a corner three from Devin McCain to push the lead to 15. The Wildcats pushed the lead to 19 after two made free throws by Trey Delmore and a layup by Amauri Ousley. Two made layups by the Sun Chiefs would cut the lead back to 15 heading into the half as the Wildcats led 45-30.

To start the second half, the Wildcats came out cold in the first minute and a half as the Sun Chiefs cut the lead to 13 on a layup by Chris Bibbs. Marvin McGhee IV broke the ice at the 18:15 mark and the hurricane began as the Wildcats stormed out and never looked back. There was no answer from the Sun Chiefs and the depth of the Wildcats was too much as every player contributed in some form or fashion for Bishop State. The Wildcats won every statistical battle with their largest lead being 37 at the 4:26 mark in the second half. Everyone got a chance to play and only three Wildcats didn't score.

Kedar Bodie led the way with 22 points (9-12 FG, 3-4 3FG), followed by Marvin McGhee IV with 17 points (7-10 FG, 1-3 3FG) and 8 rebounds and Seth Grandberry with 11 points (5-9 FG, 1-2 3FG). Devin McCain also scored a career high 9 points in 11 minutes.

The Wildcats are back in action Saturday, December 9^th at home taking on L.B. Wallace. The women's game will start at noon with the men's game to follow at 2:00 pm.