By Jensyn Hartzell
Sports Editor
The Washington College men’s basketball team hosted the Swarthmore College Garnets at the Finnegan Court in the Penny J. Fall Gymnasium on Wednesday, Feb. 2. This was a Centennial Conference match.
The Shoremen took the lead in the first few minutes of the half after a pair of free throws by freshman Sam Corrao at 8–6, but the Garnets went on an unanswered five-point run that pushed them ahead of the Shoremen.
With less than two minutes remaining in the first half, the teams were tied 22–22, but the Red Devils went on another unanswered run that allowed them to take the lead for good.
The score was 32–22, Red Devils, entering the second half.
A three-point shot by sophomore Jason Zielinski ignited an 11-point run that cut the Red Devils’ lead to 56–52 with eight minutes left in the game. Yet, the Shoremen were unable to catch up as the Red Devils went on another scoring run themselves.
The Shoremen fell to the Red Devils, 65–56.
Zielinski led with a team-high of 15 points and senior Dilyn Becker achieved a personal best of five steals. Sophomore Kedrick Frink obtained the team-high of eight rebounds. Zielinski was also named the Goose Nation TV Shoreman Player of the Game.
On Saturday, Feb. 5, the Dickinson College Red Devils challenged the Shoremen at the Penny J. Fall Gymnasium for an in-Conference game.
Before the match, former WC men’s basketball players were honored, as it was Alumni Day for the team. The alumni were celebrated with a ceremony before the game and had the chance to participate in an alumni scrimmage where they played against each other.
Dallas Marshall ’20 was individually honored before the game to officially celebrate his achievement of scoring over 1,000 points as a Shoreman. Marshall’s name was placed on the 1,000-point banner that hangs inside the Penny J. Fall Gymnasium.
Marshall achieved this feat on Feb. 22, 2020 at Dickinson College during the regular season. He was the 36th Shoremen in history to accomplish this.
Aside from scoring over 1,000 points during his time at WC, Marshall was a team captain, went to play in two Centennial Conference Tournaments, and was named the Centennial Conference Athlete of the Year in 2020.
“He was a great teammate and a great guy,” Becker said. “He deserved to be celebrated, his legacy as a Shoreman is almost incomparable.”
After the ceremony, the Shoremen’s game began. They fell behind the Red Devils in the start of the first half, but were able to go on an 18–8 run that cut the Red Devils’ lead to 36–28 with less than five minutes remaining until half-time. The run was capped by two free throws from freshman Ethan Schwantes.
In the second half, Frink kicked off another run for the Shoremen with a three-pointer. The Red Devils responded with a 12-point run of their own to solidify their lead.
The Shoremen continued fighting back, achieving another unanswered nine-point run that left the score at 71–69, Red Devils, with three minutes remaining. The Red Devils ultimately won at 78–69.
Four Shoremen were able to score double digits: Zielinski, Frink, senior Tray Wright, and freshman Precieux Tshibangu. Zielinski earned the team-high of 18 points.
Wright achieved team-highs of nine rebounds and five assists. He was also named the Goose Nation TV Player of the Game.
“It was really awesome to come back and see our team play,” Alec Lewis ’20 said. “Their intensity and drive was amazing to watch during this game, especially against a tough opponent like Dickinson.”
The Shoremen’s record now stands at 4–17 overall and 1–13 in the Conference. The Shoremen will compete again on Saturday, Feb. 12, against in-Conference Ursinus College at 1 p.m. in Collegeville, Pa.
Photo by Grace Hazelhurst