The GRU Jaguars are fantastic! (In my 1980's NBA commercial voice); Jags take 10th consecutive game

Sophomore Keshun Sherrill gives his senior teammates well
deserved applause as they head to the bench, victory in hand.

Saturday's nationally televised homecoming showdown between the red hot GRU Jaguars and Lander had the best basketball atmosphere I've seen for a Jags game since current athletic director and then head coach Clint Bryant led some of my long time friends and mentors (Keenan Mann, Buck Harris, Derek Stewart and other GRU greats) into battle with the University of South Carolina in the first ever game at Christenberry Fieldhouse in 1991.  I'll qualify that statement by admitting I have been absent for too many of the magical games during Dip Metress's head coaching era, be they the annual showdowns with USC Aiken or the Peach Belt tournament or NCAA tournament matchups that loyal Jags fans have been privileged to see this past decade.

Wright-Nelson (left), McCarthy (middle) and Thomas
(right) had great senior day performances Saturday.

These games aren't the only things I've regretted missing.  I hate that in the video above I am unable to share Keshun Sherrill's rim rattling breakaway dunk off a perfect Devon Wright-Nelson outlet pass* that sent the sold out crowd into a frenzy.  But I didn't miss Sherrill's baskets soon after that pivotal second half moment, the baskets that helped seal the game as the Jags benefitted from fabulous outings by seniors Wright-Nelson, D'Angelo Boyce, Devonte Thomas, and Henry McCarthy.  And I didn't miss freshman Vlad Cobzaru's continuing progress as a low post threat.

This young man is a D'Angelo Boyce fan.  Me too!

Nor will I miss Wednesday's "black out" game versus arch rival Aiken.  The season's last regular season game has at stake more than just bragging rights.  GRU, should they continue their winning (11 straight!) ways, has a chance to host every game they play in the coming Peach Belt tournament.

Know that I'll be at Christenberry for each Jags outing.  I don't want to miss any more than I already have!

*The sequence referenced above, where Wright-Nelson feeds Sherrill for a striding one hand dunk and Wright-Nelson immediately follows by drawing a charge, had to be the most electric sequence of the season.  That I didn't capture it is no problem because CBS and JaguarsRoar.com (and the GRU Jaguars Facebook and Instagram accounts) did!  Go check it out.  Peach Belt and GRU Jags action is fantastic... as the old NBA commercials used to say.