Bulldogs open the season on Nov. 1 vs. Co-Lin in Goodman
GOODMAN --- The Holmes Community College Bulldogs are less than a week from tipping off the 2018-19 season in their opener with Copiah-Lincoln Community College.
The Bulldogs, who finished 2017-18 with a 24-5 overall record, a Region XXIII Championship and an appearance in the NJCAA National Tournament in Hutchinson, Kansas, have four returning players from the 2017-18 team. The Bulldogs fell in the semi-finals of the MACJC State Tournament.
Joining All-Region selection Javon Franklin as returners are Kassim Nicholson, Winford Ross and Javion Jordan.
Franklin, a 6'6 forward from Little Rock, Ark., was the Bulldogs' second-leading scorer with 10.8 points per game and led the Bulldogs in rebounds per game with 8.2, blocks per game with 2.5 and field goal percentage at 63.2. Franklin scored 11 points in the NJCAA Tournament game while fellow returner Kassim Nicholson scored six.
Nicholson, a 6'6 guard/forward from Jackson, averaged 9.4 points per game, Ross, a 6'7 forward from Madison, averaged 5.3 points per game and Jordan, a 5'10 guard from Flora, averaged 1.6 points per game.
Sophomore newcomers include: Czar Perry, 6'2 guard, El Dorado, Ark.; and Robert Jordan, 6'4 forward, Lexington. Perry transferred to Holmes from Northwestern State, La. He averaged 9.1 points per game and shot 43.3 percent from the floor. Jordan played one season at Coahoma Community College in Clarksdale.
Freshman newcomers include: Tanorrio Ransburgh, 6'2 guard, South Pittsburg, Tenn.; Michael Harris, 5'5 guard, Ruleville; Josiah Lewis, 6'6 forward, Grenada; Johnny Forrest, 5'10 guard, Kosciusko; Jaylen Lester, 6' guard, Durant; Aaron Johnson, 6'3 guard, Columbus; Jarron Boler, guard, 6'1 Philadelphia; and Ahmad Anthony, 6'4 forward, Jackson.
The Bulldogs' division schedule includes: East Mississippi, home, Jan. 10; Mississippi Delta, away, Jan. 14; Coahoma, home, Jan. 17; Northeast, away, Jan. 22; Northwest, away, Jan. 24; Itawamba, home, Jan. 28; East Mississippi, away, Feb. 4; Mississippi Delta, home, Feb. 7; Coahoma, away, Feb, 11; Northeast, home, Feb, 14; Northwest, home, Feb. 18; Itawamba, away, Feb, 21.
The Bulldog's non-division schedule includes: Copiah-Lincoln, home, Nov. 1; Jones College, home, Nov. 8; Hinds, home, Nov. 12; Baton Rouge, La., away, Nov. 16; LSU-Eunice, away, Nov. 17; Southwest Tenn., away, Nov. 27; Baton Rouge, home, Nov. 29; Southern University Tech, home, Dec. 1; Hinds, away, Dec. 6; Delgado, home, Jan. 5; and LSU-Eunice, home, Jan. 8.
Head Coach Jason Flanigan begins his 10th season as head coach and 13th year at Holmes while Assistant Coach Jason Harrison is in his 10th season as assistant coach.
Selected home games can be watched live at holmesccmedia.com. Follow the Bulldogs all season long on Facebook and Twitter at Holmes Athletics.