Second-year forward S.J. "Stretch" Hawkins made his debut in the Roadrunner men's basketball lineup Tuesday night against Middlesex County with a bang, crash, and a thud.
The former Christiana (DE) High star literally crashed the party with an impressive 20 points and domination of the offensive and defensive boards as RCGC toppled the GSAC rival Colts by an 88-67 score.
The loss was just the second of the season for Middlesex (8-2), which entered the contest nationally ranked among NJCAA Division III programs.
More importantly, Hawkins' presence took the Roadrunners' level of play to a higher level. First-year forward Ja'Zere Noel (Woodbury) led all scorers with 27 followed by Hawkins (20), and guard Na'Quan McPherson (17).
Hawkins' imposing presence on the boards with second-chance tap-ins and his work in the transition game turned a slim 32-31 halftime lead into a rout. The Runners erupted in the second half on a 56-36 surge to put the contest away.
"I couldn't wait to get into the lineup," said Hawkins, who played for RCGC coach Will Wareham at Cumberland last season and averaged 13.8 points per game. "We have a lot of talent here and a very good team overall. I hope my presence helps keep us on a winning track."
