JUCO roundup: PRCC announces new soccer coach

Pearl River Community College has announced the addition of former Wildcat standout Drew Gallant as new men's soccer coach.

Gallant's hiring was approved by the Pearl River Board of Trustees at its December meeting on Tuesday.

"I am ecstatic," said Gallant. "It's great to be back."

Gallant replaces Paul Martin, who resigned in September for personal reasons after seven seasons as head coach. PRCC women's coach Jack Byrd guided the Wildcats following Martin's departure.

Gallant, 32, returns to PRCC after five seasons as men's and women's soccer coach at Southwest Mississippi Community College.

A 2001 graduate of Forrest County AHS, Gallant spent a year at Spring Hill College, then came to Pearl River for the 2003-04 season. During his one year as a Wildcat, he scored 27 goals and had 24 assists, second-best in the nation, and was named NJCAA All-America honorable mention. He was named to the PRCC Sports Hall of Fame in 2012.

Following his departure from PRCC, Gallant played two seasons for William Carey University, during which time the Crusaders were among the Top 25 teams in NAIA soccer. He graduated from Carey in 2007 with a BS in social science, and earned a Master's from Carey in athletic administration earlier this year.

In 2006, he served as an assistant coach at Jones County Junior College, then coached for three seasons at FCAHS, where he was head boys and girls soccer coach and assistant football coach.

Gallant takes over a Wildcat program that has won four consecutive MACJC/Region 23 Tournament state championships. PRCC was 15-3 this past season.

"I know there is a lot of pressure to continue what the previous coaches have done," said Gallant. "But I believe I am up to the challenge."

Gulf Coast remains unbeaten: Mississippi Gulf Coast coach Wendell Weathers said he saw his team suffer a natural letdown Monday at Meridian after last week's big victory over Jones.

The Bulldogs, though, were still good enough to stay unbeaten, downing the Eagles (4-4, 0-2) 95-80.

"It was a big game Thursday against a team that's supposed to be the best in the conference," Weathers said. "Our kids played really well in that game, but tonight they were just out there. The whole first half looked like a pickup game."

Anfernee Hampton led Gulf Coast with 24 points. Davion Cole-Johnson chipped in 22 points.

Gulf Coast, the only unbeaten team in the state, is 9-0 overall, 2-0 in the MACJC South Division.

Gulf Coast led 36-27 at half before exploding for 59 points in the second half to pull away.

"I thought we were very careless, very nonchalant and very sloppy offensively most of the time. That's just a repercussion of the game Thursday night and not getting mentally prepared Saturday and Sunday."

Bulldogs land at No. 8: Mississippi Gulf Coast finished ranked eighth in the final 2015 NJCAA football poll.

The Bulldogs (8-3), winners of the MACJC South Division championship for the seventh time in the last 11 seasons, have appeared in the Top 20 the last 141 weeks. Only two teams have appeared in every poll since the streak began Sept. 27, 2005.

Included in that span are 114 weeks in the Top 10. Gulf Coast has compiled a 95-23 record (.805) since entering the poll more than 10 years ago.

Nettles lifts GC women: Mississippi Gulf Coast's Jasmine Nettles hit a shot at the buzzer to lift the Lady Bulldogs to a 60-58 victory at Meridian (1-8, 0-2) on Monday.

"We went to a little delayed four corners and held it for the last shot," Gulf Coast coach Jason Conner said. "We got Jasmine the layup. That was good. That showed a little patience and discipline late."

Markeisha Watson led a balanced Gulf Coast attack with nine points. Nettles added eight points.

Gulf Coast evened its MACJC South Division record after two games and is 5-2 overall.

Meridian falls to 1-8, 0-2.

Gulf Coast trailed 17-14 after the first quarter, but turned things around before halftime.

"We had a better second quarter," Conner said. "We started pressing."

The Lady Bulldogs outscored Meridian 20-7 in the frame, taking a 10-point lead to the locker room.

The Lady Eagles chipped back into the lead, setting up the dramatic finish.

Shaniqua Tobias and Ka'Nosha Fairley had seven points for Gulf Coast, with Kamisha Tarvin, Tiana Dampeer and Courtney White adding six each.

Andriel Moss led Meridian with 24 points, with Kashari Gordon chipping in 13.

The Lady Bulldogs play at Delgado on Wednesday, with tipoff scheduled for 5 p.m.

This story was originally published December 8, 2015 at 3:08 PM with the headline "JUCO roundup: PRCC announces new soccer coach ."