2007-08 SEASON IN REVIEW

The Bobcats ended their season on Feb. 23 with a 96-87 victory over AMCC rival Lake Erie College. The team won six of their last nine games, four of their last five, and closed out the season with a two game winning streak.

With nine games remaining in the season the Bobcats were struggling with a 2-7 record in the AMCC and a 3-13 overall record. The team turned the corner on January 26 with a thrilling 60-57 come from behind win at home over Penn State–Behrend. With a renewed emphasis on full court man to man defense and some minor offensive adjustments, the squad played its best basketball during the last month of the season.

Using a 10 man rotation and playing as many as eight freshmen, the Bobcats showed a lot of character as they battled for an AMCC playoff berth during their last nine games. Only the top six out of 10 teams make the conference tournament and FSU came up short as it finished tied for seventh in the AMCC during the regular season.

“I was very proud of our team during the final month of the season,” said Head Coach Webb Hatch. “Our freshmen players really came on strong and our three seniors competed until the very last game. We had a tough first half of the season but we hung together and we were playing as well as any team in the conference during those final nine games.”

With eight rising sophomores, a junior, and three seniors returning there is a solid nucleus in place for next year’s team. Three seniors completed their careers in 2007-2008 – Jade Belt, Dale DeBerry, Jr., and Brian Green, Jr. DeBerry and Belt will graduate this May and Green is on track to graduate in 2009. Jade Belt was named 2nd Team All AMCC after leading the team in both scoring with 15.1ppg and rebounding with 8.5rpg.