The Citizen

AUBURN - Jimmy Pitts, a 2008 Auburn High School graduate, made his homecoming worth the wait as the Herkimer Community College freshman contributed to an 85-61 win over the Cayuga Community College men's basketball team on Sunday.

“He was ready and focused for this game,” Herkimer head coach Matt Lee said. “He came into this game with his number one goal of having Herkimer walk out with the win against Cayuga today.”

Pitts scored five points, while adding eight rebounds, two assists and a steal. He did all this in limited action as he spent much of the game in foul trouble.

“It was very unfortunate that he got into that foul trouble,” Lee said. “He's come a long way though. He still played hard after the foul trouble and that's something he's been doing for us. I think he will leave Auburn today happy.”

Pitts had a slam dunk in the first half as the Generals were down only two points, but was called for a technical foul for hanging on the rim.

“I wanted to welcome myself back with the dunk,” Pitts said. “I didn't think I would get the technical. I know not to do it again now, but thought I could get away with it. I saw it in ‘Coach Carter' and thought that's all right to shake the rim like that.”

Pitts played basketball at Auburn his juniorand senior years. He said he's been looking forward to this game since the schedule came out.

“It was exciting to come and play as a rival in Auburn,” Pitts said.

Despite being named NJCAA Player of the Week on Nov. 23, Pitts has had to get accustomed to the speed of the college game.

“I just had to make adjustments,” Pitts said. “I've been working harder each day and just listening to the advice my coaches give me.”

Pitts did acknowledge that there was a lot of pressure heading into Sunday's tip-off, but that he quickly relaxed as time went on.

“I got over it and just kept working hard,” he said.

Herkimer was down by seven early in the first half, but after Pitts' dunk, the Generals went on a 10-1 run to tie the game. They eventually went into the half up 40-33, helped by two key 3-pointers by Reggie German and Rhamel Williams.

“That was a real momentum shift in the game,” Spartans' coach Marcell Fisher said. “We had them where we wanted them. Had we had our run, we would have been down just one point instead of seven. We would have been in much better shape then we were.”

Justin Sterling led the Spartans with 17 points, while adding eight assists and five steals. Jovoun Webb earned himself a double-double with 11 points and 10 boards before he was ejected after two technical fouls. Also joining Webb with a double-double was Jimmy Hill with 14 points and 10 rebounds. He also contributed with three assists and three steals in his first basketball game in more than a year and a half.

“I'm used to playing street ball,” Hill said. “I need to cut down on my mistakes and just be patient with the ball.”

A factor in the lack of point production for Cayuga was fatigue. The Spartans dressed just six players, but Fisher hopes to get nine in uniform this week.

“We're a technical team,” Fisher said. “We need to rotate our guys in and out. We're a fast-paced athletic team.”

The importance of having nine players dressed is key as the Spartans begin conference play against Columbia-Green Community College Tuesday.

“We can't dwell on the games we lost,” Fisher said. “We have two to three games a week now and we just have to play our game. I think we're one of the more athletic teams in the conference and I'm happy with our performance today. Would have liked the win.”

The addition of Hill and Isiah Watkins will be key for the Spartans. Watkins also earned his first start on the year for the Spartans as he dropped eight points, blocked two shots and came down with six boards.

“We need to just keep playing hard,” Fisher said. “We'll just keep doing what we've been doing.”

Generals 85

Spartans 61