By Colin Anglim

The DCCC men’s basketball team defeated Bucks County Community College 87-59 at Widener University Jan. 24.

The Phantoms have now won four of their last five games and have improved to 12-6 (11-1 National Junior College Athletic Association).

Phantoms sophomore Gemil Holbrook erupted for 37 points, a season high. Holbrook, the team’s leading scorer, tallied five 30-point games this season.

“It was good,” Phantoms coach Zain Shaw said. “Coming down the stretch we need him. He has been hobbled a bit, but it was good. He brings energy.”

Four Phantom starters scored in double figures.

Sophomore Saleem Chisholm had one of his best games this season, shooting 8-12 finishing with 19 points.

Freshman Darius Robinson had 15 points along with eight rebounds. Sophomore Sean Havnik poured in 14 points along with a strong defensive effort with six steals.

Even though he only shot one

of five from the floor, sophomore Michael Dudley was a difference maker on defense. Dudley led the team with nine rebounds and collected four steals.

As a team, it was a great night on both ends. The Phantoms shot roughly 47 percent from the floor compared to BCCC’s 36 percent. At the free throw line, they shot 18 free throws hitting 14, while BCCC only hit one of four free throws.

Defensively, the Phantoms forced 27 turnovers.

“I stress it in practice,” said Shaw about the defense.

The aggressive Phantom defense set the tone early when they forced a shot clock violation on the first BCCC Centurians possession of the game.

After a sloppy first three minutes of play on the offensive end, where the Phantoms only scored two points, the Phantoms started to knock down shots.

The combination of Holbrook and Robinson was lethal. They combined for 41 of the team’s 51 first half points.

As Coach Shaw screamed “D

up!” the Phantoms did just that, holding BCCC to 27 points in the first half. The home team went into halftime leading 51-27.

The Phantoms came out sluggish to start the second. Unforced errors and turnovers had coach Shaw shaking his head. Then, Havnik, who had a quiet first half with only two points, got in the groove with a

12-point second half.

BCCC struggled in the second half to keep up with the

pace of the Phantoms’ offense.

The Phantoms eventually opened up a 32-point cushion on the Centurions, the Phantoms’ largest lead of the game.

With time winding down, coach Shaw pulled his star player, Holbrook, and sealed the win.

“Build on this game for the future,” Shaw said. “Play the same type of defense.”

After the victory against Bucks County, the Phantoms went on a two game skid falling

to Camden County and Thaddeus

Stevens Tech.

Then the Phantoms won two of their next four games.

They will close out the sesason against Northampton on Feb. 21.

Contact Colin Anglim at communitarian@mail.dccc.edu