Thursday, October 18, 2012

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Oct. 18, 2012) – The ETSU Department of Intercollegiate Athletics kicked off its 2012-13 men’s and women’s basketball season by hosting the fifth annual Bluenanza Tipoff Celebration event on Thursday night inside the ETSU/MSHA Athletic Center.

Over 1,100 fans entered the Dome to see the teams hold a 10-minute scrimmage, 3-point contest and slam dunk contest.

In the Lady Bucs’ scrimmage, sophomore guard Brianna Bogard (Georgetown, Texas) was named MVP for the second straight year with seven points as she led the Blue team to a 19-16 win over the Gold squad.  Junior guard Shawn Randall (Orlando, Fla.) netted six points to lead the Gold team. On the men’s side, senior guard Marcus Dubose (Harsville, S.C.) captured the MVP award after netting 12 points in the Blue’s 37-27 victory. Newcomer Kinard Gadsden-Gilliard (Georgetown, S.C.) led the Gold with 12 points of his own.

On the women’s side Bogard and Cara Bowling (Elizabethton, Tenn.) went head-to-head in the 3-point contest, while Rashawn Rembert (Tampa, Fla) and Mario Stramaglia (Birmingham, Ala.) competed for the men. Bogard knocked down nine to win the women’s side, while Stramaglia splashed 10 for the men. In the finals, Bogard netted 11 over Stramgalia’s six to win the championship round.

In the dunk contest, Yunio Barrueta (Miami, Fla.), Hunter Harris (Nashville, Tenn.), Jarvis Jones (Memphis), Lester Wilson (Knoxville, Tenn.), and John Walton (Memphis) all showed their stuff in front of the Buccaneer faithful. Jones stole the show by posting perfect scores in all three of his dunks.

Both the men’s and women’s teams will now gear up for their first exhibition game on Saturday, Nov. 3 against Carson-Newman. The women tip-off at 1:30 p.m., while the men will start at 4 p.m.

For more information on Buccaneer basketball, visit www.ETSUBucs.com.