Hinds CC Bulldogs end the season with a loss to Pearl River Wildcats

The 2019-2020 basketball season concluded for the Hinds Community College Bulldogs Thursday, Mar. 5, in the NJCAA Region 23 Semifinals with an 81-54 loss to the No. 2 ranked Pearl River Community College Wildcats.

The Bulldogs came out hot to take an early 13-10 lead in the first six minutes of the contest. The undefeated Wildcats, however, quickly responded with a 16-1 run to take a 26-14 lead.

The Bulldogs did their best to get back into the ball game when they cut their deficit to just seven points (29-22) with five minutes left in the first half. That, however, would be the closest Hinds would get.

No. 2 PRCC finished the first half with a 43-27 lead and expanded upon that lead in the second half to win their 23rd straight contest by a score of 81-54.

The 2019-2020 season was historic for the Bulldog program. They finished with an overall record of 16-9 and 9-5 in the MACJC South Division, and just two games away from the NJCAA Men’s Basketball Championship in Hutchinson, Kan. Their 16 wins are better than any other Hinds team in over a decade. Hinds secured big-time wins over No. 5 ranked Eastern Florida State College, Northwest Mississippi Community College and East Mississippi Community College.

Additionally, Hinds swept Jones College for the first time since 2011, and secured their first victory in the last 20-plus matchups over Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.

The 2019-2020 Bulldogs won their first MACJC State Tournament game and first NJCAA Region 23 Tournament game in over a decade. Hinds’ 9-5 division record had them finish in second place in the MACJC South behind only the No. 2 ranked PRCC Wildcats. Out of the Bulldogs nine losses this season, four came by just five points or less

On the individual side, two Bulldogs received All-State Honors. Sophomore Dontrell McQuarter was named First Team All-State, while sophomore Ladarius Marshall was named Second Team All-State.

McQuarter finished the season leading the team with an average of 15.5 points per game. He shot 57% from the field, 43.5% from beyond the arc and 71% from the free throw line. McQuarter also tallied 146 total rebounds, 71 assists, 25 steals and 13 blocks.

Marshall finished the season with an average of 11.1 points per game, shot 58% from the field and 72% from the free-throw line. Marshall collected a team-leading 185 rebounds and 62 blocked shots. He also collected 13 steals and had nine assists.

Other big contributors to the team’s success this year include: sophomore Peyton Taylor along with freshmen Jordan Johnson and Kejuan Clements.

Taylor finished the season with an average of 9.3 points per game and made 40 out of 97 three-point attempts (42%). Taylor also collected 23 assists and 13 steals.

Johnson finished his freshman campaign with an average of 11.8 points per game. He shot 44.2% from the field and made a team-leading 46 three-pointers. Johnson also racked up a team-leading 106 assists and 47 steals.

Clements finished his freshman campaign with an average of 7.8 points per game. He shot 41% from the field, and tallied 59 assists and 29 steals.

Multiple others played significant roles for the Bulldogs including: Jerrez Porter, Dontavious Smith, Deonte Spencer, and Eric Stimage.

“What a year,” said third-year head coach Yusef Fitzgerald. “I’m so proud of our guys. Seeing the pain on their faces after this last loss shows me this program is moving in the right direction. We now expect to win.”

In the seven years prior (2010-2017) to the Fitzgerald’s hiring, the Bulldogs had a .383-win percentage (62-100). In Fitzgerald’s first three-years at Hinds (2017-2020), he has a .521-win percentage (36-33).

Moreover, Fitzgerald has two wins over nationally ranked opponent (No. 5 Eastern Florida State College, and No. 13 Holmes CC) and two postseason wins.