Harper season opens on downer

The Harper College men’s basketball team opened the 2011-2012 campaign Wednesday night by hosting South Suburban College (1-0) at the Sports and Wellness Center in Palatine.

The opener didn’t go as the Hawks planned as the Bulldogs, ranked ninth in the NJCAA Division II poll, came away with a 77-57 victory.

“We didn’t match their intensity and their fight,” said Harper coach Tony Amarino.

Everything started out fine for the hosts as sophomore guard Garett Gatz (Conant) came out and hit the game’s first shot. Gatz is the Hawks’ top returning scorer.

After that it was all South Suburban as the Bulldogs went on a 7-2 run to take command. Gatz would not score again until the final 1:27 of the first half when he made two 3-pointers to finish with 8 points.

“They took us out of what we wanted to do (on offense),” Amarino said.

One of the bright spots for the Hawks was the play of redshirt sophomore Jordan Mack. He missed all of the 2010-2011 season because of knee surgery.

One of South Suburban’s top players is sophomore guard DeAndre McCamey. If that rings a bell to Big Ten fans it should, as McCamey is the younger brother of former Illinois guard Demetri McCamey.

One positive for the Hawks was they shot 90.5 percent from the free throw line (19-for-21), which was an area where they struggled last year.

The Hawks go on the road for the first time Saturday when they travel to Kishwaukee College at 3 p.m. They return home next Wednesday to host NAIA member Judson College.