Never before and probably never again on the Grambling campus will we see a spring sports Saturday start with a Southwestern Athletic Conference football game and end with a SWAC basketball doubleheader.
Certainly the football season opener pairing the G-Men and Jackson State at noon on campus is the featured attraction. But it’s the farewell games Saturday evening for the 2020-21 Grambling basketball teams which bring the curtain down on not only a unique sports showcase for Tiger fans, but also the regular-season finales for 10 senior men’s and women’s basketball players.
The season continues next week at the SWAC Tournament for coach Donte’ Jackson’s men and coach Freddie Murray ‘s women. First they wrap up the scheduled slate with a doubleheader at the Frederick C. Hobdy Assembly Center against Alabama A&M.
The women’s game starts at 6 o’clock with the men following about 8.
Lady Tigers seniors are Justice Coleman, Alexus Holt, Camryn London, Brandi Washington and Ariel Williams. The senior class for the G-Men is Trevell Cunningham, Kelton Edwards, Terreon Randolph, Prince Moss and Brian Thomas.
In these unique times, this may, or may not, be the final Grambling appearances for the seniors. Due to the pandemic, the NCAA has decreed the 2020-21 season as an eligibility-free campaign, meaning this year’s freshmen will still be (technically) freshman next year, and this year’s seniors have the possibility of returning for next season. Unlike the freshmen, the seniors may have degrees in hand and eagerness to chase real-life career options. Saturday night could be the last time these Grambling seniors tip off at home.
The Lady Tigers (8-9, 7-6) got double figure scoring from four mainstays but not much else in a 71-62 loss Thursday night to Alabama State.
Williams, coming off a 26-point outing at Mississippi Valley, led the way with 19 points and had seven rebounds. Holt scored 12, had seven rebounds, six steals and five assists. Coleman padded her 1,000-Point Club membership with 12 points, a total matched by Candice Parramore. The rest of the Lady Tigers contributed only a combined seven points.
In Thursday’s nightcap, the Tigers (10-11, 8-6) ran out to a 44-28 halftime advantage and kept firing away in a 91-66 romp over the Hornets. Grambling shot 56 percent overall and on 3-pointers, leading by as much as 34 in the second half.
Moss poured in 20 points while Cameron Christon scored 13 and Reyhan Cobb added 11.
BASEBALL: The SWAC season starts today on the Bluff for Grambling (0-4), which plays a three-game series at 1-5 Southern (tonight at 6, Saturday at 2, Sunday at 1). The G-Men won’t be home until St. Patrick’s Day, after 11 road games.
Wednesday night, they played nearby, at ULM, losing 9-1. The Tigers briefly knotted the score in the top of the second on a solo homer by sophomore shortstop Cameron Bufford, but the Warhawks pushed across three in the bottom of the frame. A five-run sixth-inning blew it open.
SOFTBALL: The Lady Tigers are off this weekend and finally play at home Tuesday afternoon against Jarvis Christian.
Photo: courtesy GSUTigers.com