By Marissa VanWingen, The Times Citizen
With a whole new roster and playing their first scored games of the season, seventh-ranked Ellsworth Community College did some mixing and matching with the line-up at the Koningsmark Klassic in Mason City.
The Panthers opened the 2024-25 basketball season with an 84-69 win over Dakota County Technical College.
It was the ECC's height that made a real difference as they were led by the 6'11" center from France, Rollings Kamanda, with 14. Kamanda shot 77.7 percent from the floor, hitting seven of nine attempts. Enki Diarrar-Gentes, 6'7", was three of four from downtown and finished with 11 points. In total, four were in double figures including Tre Burris (10) and lone returner, Themba Tshuma, finished with 10 points and six rebounds.
As a team, the Panthers shot 40.8 percent from the floor and hit five threes. They were able to get to the charity stripe in bunches, with 36 attempts and making 21 of them.
ECC defeated Wilbur Wright 81-57 and it was the bench that really stepped up. Fifteen different players saw court time and 45 points came from the non-starters. Leading the way offensively was Rav Randhawa with 15 points. Tanner Berggren was also in double figures with 13 and Taevean Famuntini-Brown finished with 12 points for the Panthers.
The Panthers will make their home debut in the Dale Howard Classic this Friday and Saturday, welcoming No. 4 Macomb Community College and No. 14 Bay College to Dittmer Gymnasium.
For more on ECC Athletics, click here: https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fwww.timescitizen.com%2fsports%2f&c=E,1,HtFKod2jDMgPfvh9-Wh6jBxJYYREcnxPFe3A8NqzUnaCkl4I7-WrWF2yJ7qvXhhZIZkHhrXR-1NYTHaDEHwSTe4beMppDJtCQQPRxeSrO2ZwLV4yP_aaz-o,&typo=1
NJCAA Basketball
Friday and Saturday at Mason City
ECC: 33| 51 – 84
DCTC: 27| 42 – 69
ECC Scoring: Rollings Kamanda 7 0-3 14; Enki Diarra-Gentes 3 2-4 11; Tre Burris 2 5-6 10; Themba Tshuma 5 0-0 10; Taevean Famuntini-Brown 1 7-13 9; Jonovan Wilkinson 3 2-3 8; Rav Randhawa 2 3-4 7; Tanner Berggren 2 2-2 7; Bene Martinkus 2 0-0 4; Daniel Agu 2 0-0 4.
ECC: 45| 36 – 81
WWC: 37| 20 – 57
ECC Scoring: Randhawa 4 5-5 15; Berggren 5 0-0 13; Famuntini-Brown 3 6-8 12; Burris 2 3-4 7; Hubert Bayigamba 2 3-6 7; Tshuma 3 1-3 7; Wilkinson 3 0-0 7; Eesher Singh Sarai 2 2-2 6; Kamanda 1 2-3 4; Diarra-Gentes 3.