Samsons tip off season at Marshfield Classic

By JASON JUNO

sports@yourdailyglobe.com

Ironwood — Turnover in junior college sports happens pretty fast all the time. It still seems pretty sudden for the GCC Samsons this season as they enter a new year without two-year standout Jaden Borseth and last year’s star Eli Talsma.

“I’m not sure what to expect from the 2024-25 version of Samson men’s basketball,” Gogebic coach Dennis Mackey said. “We return four guys and have 11 new players, so the learning curve is severe right now. Thus far, I like our athleticism and the attitudes our guys put forth on the court. How does this translate to success? No idea, but I guess we’ll find out soon.”

The regular season begins this weekend with Friday and Saturday games at the Marshfield Classic.

The four returning sophomores are all guards — Cori Johnson (5-11) of Ocala, Florida, Kadin Baxter (6-3) of Oconto High School, Kevin Frazier (5-11) of St. Ignace and Bradyn Pieper (6-2) of Merrill.

“I’m leaning on the four sophomores to provide leadership, especially at the beginning of the season,” Mackey said. “All four appear physically stronger this year, which bodes well for our team.

“Kadin looks solid in the preseason. He struggled with mono last fall, which limited his productivity for the entire season. Cori put the time in during the summer and is playing more confidently. I’m expecting him and Zay McCoy to handle the point guard position most of the time. Kevin and Bradyn are both gym rats who will provide the Samsons perimeter scoring.”

Mackey was still deciding who to start in the season’s first games. As of early this week, he’s looking at going with Baxter, Johnson, Pieper and freshmen X’Zavion “Zay” McCoy, a 6-0 guard from Ocala, Florida, and Jalen Browning, a 6-3 forward from Clinton Township, Michigan.

He’s also considering Frazier and freshmen Enrique (Rico) Moreno-Batista, a 5-11 guard from Clearwater, Florida; Hernan Cortes, a 6-2 guard from Barranquilla, Colombia; Tyson Klingman, a 6-4 forward from Watersmeet; Kaden Vardon, a 6-1 forward from Algoma, Wisconsin; and Ta-Bryant Wooden, a 6-4 forward from Ocala, Florida.

“The good news is I have some solid options to choose from based on the preseason,” Mackey said.

Other GCC Samsons include freshman Ben Salkauskus, a 6-0 guard from Calgary, Canada; Dalen Moore, a 6-2 guard from of Clinton Township, Michigan; Mikel Allen, a 6-2 forward from Lac du Flambeau, Wisconsin; and Omar Bailey, a 5-11 freshman from Crandon, Wisconsin.

It’ll be interesting to see the Samsons develop throughout the year.

“We’re fast, we can get up and down the floor,” Mackey said. “However, we’re not very big, so the development of an inside game will be a work-in-progress throughout the season. With so many new players, I’m curious as to how we play versus live-game competition.”

Gogebic has an opportunity to host the Division II Region 13 tournament this year as the East’s No. 1 seed will host it. To do that, the Samsons will need to defeat DCTC at least once during the regular season. If they split their matchups, a coin flip will decide who the 1 seed is, and which one of them hosts the tournament.

“That’s one of our goals, but we have a lot to accomplish in the next four months prior to March Madness,” Mackey said. “We have a rugged schedule and it all begins this weekend in Marshfield.”

Gogebic isn’t at home until later in November. They host the Northland College JV team on Thursday, Nov. 21 and Bay College comes to Ironwood on Tuesday, Nov. 26.

GCC Men’s Schedule

At Marshfield Classic

Friday, Nov. 1

Vs. Marshfield, 7:15

Saturday, Nov. 2

TBD, 12

— — —

Friday, Nov. 8, at Leech Lake, 6

Wednesday, Nov. 13, at Bay College, 6

Wednesday, Nov. 20, at Marshfield, 6:15

Thursday, Nov. 21, NORTHLAND COLLEGE JV, 6:15

Tuesday, Nov. 26, BAY COLLEGE, 7

Monday, Dec. 2, WAUSAU, 6:15

Friday, Dec. 6, ALPENA, 7

Saturday, Dec. 7, ROCHESTER, 3

Wednesday, Dec. 11, MARSHFIELD, 6:15

Friday, Dec. 13, at St. Cloud, 7

Saturday, Dec. 14, at Fergus Falls, 3

Saturday, Jan. 4, at Hibbing, 2

Monday, Jan. 6, at Wausau, 6:15

Wednesday, Jan. 8, at Mesabi Range, 7:30

Saturday, Jan. 11, CENTRAL LAKES, 3

Wednesday, Jan. 15, ITASCA, 7

Saturday, Jan. 18, NORTHLAND CTC, 2

Monday, Jan. 20, at DCTC, 6

Wednesday, Jan. 22, at Vermilion, 7

Saturday, Jan. 25, RAINY RIVER, 3

Saturday, Feb. 1, HIBBING, 2

Monday, Feb. 3, DCTC, 6

Wednesday, Feb. 5, MESABI RANGE, 7

Saturday, Feb. 8, at Central Lakes, 3

Friday, Feb. 14, at Itasca, 7

Saturday, Feb. 15, at Northland CTC

Wednesday, Feb. 19, VERMILION, 7

Saturday, Feb. 22, at Rainy River, 3

Saturday, March 1, Region 13 playoffs at East top seed

Sunday, March 2, Region 13 championship at East top seed

GCC Women’s Schedule

At North Central Michigan College

Friday, Nov. 1

Vs. St. Clair County CC, 12

Saturday, Nov. 2

Vs. Oakland CC, 10

— — —

At Dale Howard Classic, Iowa Falls

Friday, Nov. 8

Vs. Ellsworth CC, 5

Saturday, Nov. 9

Vs. State Fair CC, 11

— — —

Monday, Nov. 11, at Bryant and Stratton College, 5

Friday, Nov. 15, at Barton CC, 5:30

Saturday, Nov. 16, at Hutchinson CC, 1

Wednesday, Nov. 20, at Bay College, 6

Tuesday, Nov. 26, BAY COLLEGE, 4:30

Friday, Dec. 6, ALPENA, 5

Saturday, Dec. 7, ROCHESTER CTC, 1

Friday, Dec. 13, at St. Cloud TCC, 5

Saturday, Dec. 14, at Minnesota State CTC, 1

Wednesday, Jan. 8, at Mesabi Range, 5:30

Saturday, Jan. 11, CENTRAL LAKES, 1

Wednesday, Jan. 15, ITASCA, 5:30

Saturday, Jan. 18, NORTHLAND CTC, 12

Wednesday, Jan. 22, at Vermilion, 5

Saturday, Jan. 25, RAINY RIVER, 1

Saturday, Feb. 1, COMMUNITY CHRISTIAN (Mich.), 12

Wednesday, Feb. 5, MESABI RANGE, 5:30

Saturday, Feb. 8, at Central Lakes, 1

Friday, Feb. 14, at Itasca, 5:30

Saturday, Feb. 15, at Northland CTC, 12

Wednesday, Feb. 19, VERMILION, 5

Saturday, Feb. 22, at Rainy River, 1