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PJC players say pride won't let them quit
By Larry Cathey
The Paris News
Published March 19, 2008
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Last week, Ross Hodge said only one team ends the college season happy.
After Tuesday's loss to Southeastern Illinois College in the opening round of the NJCAA tournament, that team won't be Paris Junior College.
Now that reality and disappointment has set in for the Dragons, Hodge might face his toughest game as a coach and that is to make sure his team realizes the season isn't quite over.
Pride and competitive fire will likely win out once the official tosses the ball up at halfcourt at 3 p.m. to begin the Dragons' game against Vincennes College, but the loss to the Falcons clearly took something out of the Dragons.
They weren't flat, they just didn't play well. In moments down the stretch when they typically shine, their luster was non-existent other than a key steal and layup by DeCarlos Riley.
“We'd shot ourselves in the foot,” Hodge said. “You can't do that. Teams are too good.”
Today's game against Vincennes isn't going to be any easier. The Trailblazers gave fourth-ranked Salt Lake Community College all it could handle, and led by 10 late in the game before Salt Lake CC pulled out a late victory.
But, PJC insists it will be ready — consolation bracket or not.
“We're just not ready for it to come to an end, whether it's in the consolation bracket, or the championship bracket,” Hodge said. “We have competitive guys. Maybe initially, there will be some disappointment, but once you get out there and start competing, you're going to want to win the game.”
And, with the nature of junior college basketball, there are also scouts to impress. Not one PJC player wants their basketball career to end this week.
Not Eric Tramiel. Not Marcus Carson. Not Ronnie Morgan, Riley, Courtney Waters, nor Mike Smith, all the Dragons' sophomores.
“We still have a lot to play for,” Riley said. “We need to play our game and show people why we're here.”
For Smith, today's game is about pride and holding his head up through good times and bad.
Right now, times are bad, but
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