After Augusta’s last-ditch effort fell short, Ron Fudala waltzed off his home court with a smile of pure joy. In just two years, he’s built a Division II basketball team that has thrilled its Lowcountry fans and frightened some of the best squads in a challenging Peach Belt Conference.
And the fun is only just beginning.
On Wednesday night, Ron Fudala’s Sand Sharks will welcome in the Lander Bearcats as USCB hosts its first-ever Peach Belt Tournament game, thanks to Saturday’s home win over Augusta. It was the culmination of Fudala’s total-effort mentality against a team that knocked them off back in December.
“Grit, poise, focus, locked-in, that’s what it takes to beat Augusta,” Fudala said. “They’re a great team. Just so proud of those guys for their execution, they did it for the seniors. It took a team effort and that’s what you saw today. It’s good to be playing in March.”
The stretch run over the last few weeks was far from easy, but Fudala’s group has responded every time they’ve been backed into a corner. A heartbreaking one-point loss after leading by five points late against Flagler could have derailed them. A narrow defeat at North Georgia might have been the one to turn the season the other way. But not for this team.
Especially not the seniors.
Despite an afternoon where his shot wasn’t falling enough earlier, Gaines found a way to make other defining impacts, finding open teammates in prime locations to help set up a team-leading five assists. His effort was the difference down the stretch, knocking down a pair of crucial free throws late to build the lead to multiple possessions, and telegraphed an inbounds pass to deny the Bearcats any life of a possible last-minute comeback. Already with a pair of game-winning buckets to his name from earlier in the season, Gaines has raised his game when his team has needed him to. Alejandro Ralat’s leadership has translated beautifully as the season wore on, and stepped up with a pair of timely three pointers while playing smart basketball with the ball in his hands. He’ll rarely finish near the team lead in shot attempts, but he finds the best opportunities for his teammates to make key buckets happen. But the biggest spark was made by the return of Kyle Polce. The 6-foot-2 senior saw his presence felt with a pair of threes, but most importantly a nonstop effort on the defensive end of the floor. After missing Wednesday night’s clash with league-leading Columbus State due to injury, Polce brought all the intangibles he has shown for the Sand Sharks this year. And senior Patrick Iriel made the most of the three minutes he was on the floor, connecting on his first three-pointer of the campaign in a game where every bucket was so critical.
“Kyle had a commanding presence out there, guys want to play with him,” Fudala said. When you’re a guy who your teammates want to play with, that’s the sign of a good quality human right there, and that’s just what he is. Kyle brought instant credibility, Kenny is an amazing talent, Alejandro – the leadership from day one, Pat brings presence, everyone put their stamp on the program and I’m proud of the way they keep playing.”
Fudala’s group has relied upon not just the starting five on the floor, but sometimes more so the depth that comes in from behind. That recurring theme was prevalent again on Saturday, as high-energy rebounder and three-point shooter Tasso Sfanos and versatile playmaker Nolan Paladugu contributed heavily to withstand a consistent Jaguar attack. Getting more and more comfortable in slashing and scoring at the rim, Paladugu has become a terrific option for a team that loves to fly down the floor and put up flurries of buckets in transition.
There were several moments where the tide was turning against the Sand Sharks on Saturday, but, like Fudala’s team has done game after game this year, they were able to weather the major Augusta runs. After a pair of threes late in the first half to cut what was once a double-digit lead to a single point at the break, the Sand Sharks got the crowd immediately back in it to start the second stanza as Dylan Lewis electrified the gym with a high-flying dunk off a fast break. It wasn’t an extended scoring run, but it did bring the crowd and the signature energy of the Cove right back when the team needed it. The pendulum swung back to Augusta again to give the Jaguars their first lead midway through the second half, but the Sand Sharks weren’t going to let it stay even for a minute. After two incredible offensive boards on hustle plays from Dominic Eason and Paladugu, the ball found dynamic freshman Eason again who drained the triple for the immediate response. There’s no mystery why it continues to happen; this team thrives in close games. Overtime has been primetime for the Sand Sharks this year, recording a 4-1 record when the game goes past the regulation 40 minutes. The pattern started in the first two games of the season, picking up back-to-back OT wins over back-to-back days against Francis Marion and Emory & Henry, and the clutch play has continued ever since. Save for one of the flukiest-of-ever Flagler wins thanks to six points in a matter of seconds and a rare overtime loss at North Georgia, Fudala’s group are a handful to beat in the second half, and especially very late in a tight game.
It’s been a more-than-successful second season no matter what happens up to this point, but USCB is looking for even more – and to defend home court one more time this year. But the opponent will come in as hungry – if not more so. The Sand Sharks stole both from the Lander Bearcats in the regular season, with the last meeting exactly a month from Wednesday’s postseason clash. And it was arguably the most complete performance we’ve seen from USCB to this point. Lander outshot USCB and made half of its threes, but the Sand Sharks rarely turned it over and moved the ball beautifully down the floor. This team’s strength relies upon its lethal transition game, and another terrific defensive effort could go a long way in overwhelming a Bearcat attack that has not found the consistency they’ve liked against Fudala’s squad. But the biggest factor above all else is not any of the five players on the floor – it’s the Sand Shark faithful. We’ve experienced some incredible atmospheres this year, but Wednesday night should take it to a level we haven’t seen so far. Lander won’t have to just match the high-paced intensity of the Sand Sharks on the court, they’ll have to overcome the energy of what should be a packed house of Lowcountry basketball fans. It’s been anticipated for weeks on end, and in just a few days, the well-earned and well-awaited moment will finally arrive.
“I think it’s gonna be a great time,” Fudala said. “I’m excited for our guys to be able to play in that atmosphere, because they earned it.”
Wes Kerr is a graduate of Hilton Head Island HS and Davidson College. He reports on local sports for LowcoSports.com and is co-host and producer of the LowcoSports Lowdown and other Lowco Media productions.
