MCC Rolls in First Game at Great Path Academy Gym

Callie Tambling of Manchester had 18 points as Manchester CC (2-0) beat Gateway CC (2-2) 87-44 in the first game played in the Great Path Academy Gym on the MCC campus Thursday night.

Preseason NJCAA first team All-American Erika Murphy (Torrington) had 16 points while Shenielle Duncan-Clarke (Bloomfield) had 14 points and eight assists . Ericka Sagay (Bloomfield) had 10 points and 14 rebounds.

The Cougars, playing the first intercollegiate basketball game in the 30-year history of the sport at the college, controlled the game from the start and took a 42-27 lead into the half.

Duncan-Clarke has already established herself as a dangerous point guard, taking the baton from Jhenel Franklin, who was an NJCAA All-American a year ago for fifth year coach Robert Turner, Jr.

“Shorty did an excellent job controlling the game,” Turner said of the 5’3” Duncan-Clarke. “She shot well from the inside and outside.”

MCC did not shoot particularly well from the floor (35-92) in general, but were hampered at times by pesky Gateway team that had just one substitute available on the bench.

Turner was able to mix in his subs without any noticeable drop in play. All ten players in uniform registered points in the game played in front of a full gym with over 100 people in attendance.
“This game will always be special,” Turner, who played for MCC in the 1990’s under current assistant coach Peter Harris, said. “The bleachers were full and there was a lot of noise.”

The Cougars, who were 9 for 13 from the free-throw line, are off until next Thursday when they travel to Division rival Holyoke for a 6 PM. The home game originally scheduled for this Saturday against Northern Essex has been cancelled.