Madelain Tigano– The Corsair
Some predicted that they would be last in the Panhandle Conference. But the PJC men’s basketball team has shown heart and determination through the first round of play, snagging third place.
After losing their first two games against Northwest Florida State 73-96 and Tallahassee Community College 63-81, PJC upset then nationally ranked No. 4 Chipola College 75-70.
“I feel like we really came together that game and we really needed that game more than any game in the season,” sophomore Shawntez Patterson said. “If we play hard and together then we can build on it.”
Patterson is a 6-foot-7 forward/guard who has the most points this season at 210, and averages two blocks per game.
“We have so many new guys that don’t understand nonconference and the Panhandle,” Head Coach Paul Swanson said. “[Against Chipola] we played Panhandle basketball.”
PJC also grabbed a win against Gulf Coast Community College 63-58 on Jan. 16.
“Every team has strengths and weaknesses. You’ve got to play your strengths and hide your weaknesses, but expose the weakness of the other team,” Swanson said.
PJC guards are also persistent: Quintel Maxwell, hometown star from Pensacola High School, has a 46 percent beyond the 3-point line, while Daniel West averages three steals per game, a total of 47 this season.
However, sophomore center Shaun Clarke is out for the season due to a recent foot injury that put him on crutches.
“We have a saying, energy without focus is a motion but energy with a focus is intensity. What we want is focus,” Swanson said.