MGCCC women to celebrate Sophomore Night

PERKINSTON — The Mississippi Gulf Coast women's basketball team will salute its soon-to-be graduates Thursday night on Sophomore Night. The group has battled through a challenging 2016-17 season.

"When you've had a disappointing year, to continue fighting through those things is hard for everybody, unless you're old enough and mature enough," Lady Bulldogs coach Jason Conner said. "I think they've tried awfully hard."

Gulf Coast (7-15, 1-12 MACJC South) close out the season against Southwest (16-6, 7-6). Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m., with the Sophomore Night ceremonies immediately following the game.

Four guards will be playing their last games at Weathers/Wentzell Center: Whitney Williams (5-5, So, Ocean Springs/St. Martin), Shaniqua Tobias (5-6, So, New Orleans/Warren Easton), Kim Calhoun (5-11, So, Gulfport/West Harrison) and J'nitra Ratliff (5-8, Fr, Port Gibson/Port Gibson).

Williams is averaging 3.0 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game.

"She's good as gold," Conner said. "She does everything we ask. I'd love a team of 12 Whitneys."

Tobias is the team's second-leading scorer at 9.1 points per game, with 2.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists. She was fighting illness last game at Pearl River and poured in 21 points.

"Her and Whit were not feeling well. They were physically ill," Conner said. "I thought Quel showed heart and courage through some adversity, and I'm proud of her."

Calhoun averages 3.9 points and 2.8 rebounds.

"Kim has played every position on the floor," Conner said. "If anybody's been treated unfairly, it's her. At times she's our best perimeter shooter, at times she's our best rebounder and our best defender. There's been nights she's been the most important piece on this team."

Ratliff tore up her knee last year in her freshman year and has returned to score 3.0 points and 1.4 rebounds.

"J'nitra fought through her knee situation," Conner said. "That's always hard to come back from, and I'm proud of her courage there. A lot of times that's hard to come back from mentally. She has been a mainstay and been solid every day trying to get better."

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