Madness becomes a Movement

The Madness has become The Movement.

Porterville men’s basketball coach T.J. Jennings officially launched his team’s battle cry during PC’s Pirate Madness event on Thursday, but noted The Movement has already been launched by the Pirate women’s volleyball team, which is in first place in the Central Valley Conference. “The PC Movement is alive,” Jennings told the crowd.

And his Pirate basketball players did put on a show in the three-point shooting contest and the slam dunk contest. Jordan Wilkinson, Robert Shackelford, Jonathan Brown and Carl Goodman all competed in the slam dunk contest.

The Pirates went old school with two of the best dunks as Wilkinson did his best to emulate Julius Erving when Erving took off from the foul line and flew through the lane for his famous one-handed dunk during the 1976 ABA All-Star Slam Dunk contest. Wilkinson didn’t quite take off from the foul line, but he still flew through the lane for an impressive one-handed jam.

Shackelford also went old school, ala Clyde Drexler, with a nice one-handed tomahawk jam.

But it was Brown and Goodman who stole the show with some help from teammate Mikey Hildalgo. First, Hildalgo threw the ball off the back wall behind the basket and the ball came back to Brown for a two-handed jam.

Goodman, though, saved the best for last as Hildalgo, standing in the middle of the lane, threw the ball off the backboard, and Goodman leaped over Hildalgo for a two-handed jam.

After his players showed their dance moves when they were introduced, Jennings showed some “old school” dance moves himself. “They can dance very well,” said Jennings about his players. “I’m hoping they can shoot as well as they can dance.”

Hildago, Kameron Hoyt, Donald Lee and Dilpreet Third seemed to listen to their coach as they all were able to light it up during the three-point shooting contest. Hildago and Third were each able to sink 13 3s in one minute while Hoyt sank 14 and Donald Lee hit 17 to advance to the finals.

Lee faced Regina Mecenario of the PC women’s basketball team in the finals as Mecenario had a solid showing, hitting 10 3s to advance to the finals. Mecenario again had a solid showing in the finals, sinking eight 3s, but couldn’t keep up with the hot shooting Lee, who again hit 17 3s in the finals.

The event also may have served Jennings in recruiting as he noticed 6-6 Sean Mavricakis, who competed with 12-year-old Henry Shackelford, Robert’s younger brother, in the hot shot contest. “I might sign him up, look at him,” said Jennings about Mavericakis, who’s Robert Shackelford’s brother-in-law.

When PC trainer Anja Goebel told Jennings that Mavericakis’ age might be a problem, Jennings said, “That doesn’t matter.”

“You got 12 units,” Jennings yelled out at Mavericakis.

Actually, Mavericakis is 23 and has one more year of service in the Navy where he’s stationed at the Lemoore Naval Air Station. But who knows, maybe after he’s finished his service, Mavericakis may be in a PC uniform.

The younger Shackelford also held his own, hitting two straight 3s.

The Madness has become The Movement.

Porterville men’s basketball coach T.J. Jennings officially launched his team’s battle cry during PC’s Pirate Madness event on Thursday, but noted The Movement has already been launched by the Pirate women’s volleyball team, which is in first place in the Central Valley Conference. “The PC Movement is alive,” Jennings told the crowd.

And his Pirate basketball players did put on a show in the three-point shooting contest and the slam dunk contest. Jordan Wilkinson, Robert Shackelford, Jonathan Brown and Carl Goodman all competed in the slam dunk contest.

The Pirates went old school with two of the best dunks as Wilkinson did his best to emulate Julius Erving when Erving took off from the foul line and flew through the lane for his famous one-handed dunk during the 1976 ABA All-Star Slam Dunk contest. Wilkinson didn’t quite take off from the foul line, but he still flew through the lane for an impressive one-handed jam.

Shackelford also went old school, ala Clyde Drexler, with a nice one-handed tomahawk jam.

But it was Brown and Goodman who stole the show with some help from teammate Mikey Hildalgo. First, Hildalgo threw the ball off the back wall behind the basket and the ball came back to Brown for a two-handed jam.

Goodman, though, saved the best for last as Hildalgo, standing in the middle of the lane, threw the ball off the backboard, and Goodman leaped over Hildalgo for a two-handed jam.

After his players showed their dance moves when they were introduced, Jennings showed some “old school” dance moves himself. “They can dance very well,” said Jennings about his players. “I’m hoping they can shoot as well as they can dance.”

Hildago, Kameron Hoyt, Donald Lee and Dilpreet Third seemed to listen to their coach as they all were able to light it up during the three-point shooting contest. Hildago and Third were each able to sink 13 3s in one minute while Hoyt sank 14 and Donald Lee hit 17 to advance to the finals.

Lee faced Regina Mecenario of the PC women’s basketball team in the finals as Mecenario had a solid showing, hitting 10 3s to advance to the finals. Mecenario again had a solid showing in the finals, sinking eight 3s, but couldn’t keep up with the hot shooting Lee, who again hit 17 3s in the finals.

The event also may have served Jennings in recruiting as he noticed 6-6 Sean Mavricakis, who competed with 12-year-old Henry Shackelford, Robert’s younger brother, in the hot shot contest. “I might sign him up, look at him,” said Jennings about Mavericakis, who’s Robert Shackelford’s brother-in-law.

When PC trainer Anja Goebel told Jennings that Mavericakis’ age might be a problem, Jennings said, “That doesn’t matter.”

“You got 12 units,” Jennings yelled out at Mavericakis.

Actually, Mavericakis is 23 and has one more year of service in the Navy where he’s stationed at the Lemoore Naval Air Station. But who knows, maybe after he’s finished his service, Mavericakis may be in a PC uniform.

The younger Shackelford also held his own, hitting two straight 3s.