For the Johnston Community College men's basketball team, those frustrations have been plenty in their initial season as a member of the National Junior Collegiate Athletic Association's Region X.

Among those frustrations: fielding a competitive team, buying into the philosophy of the coaching staff, utilizing the talent and abilities of the roster and finding facilities for practice and competition.

But the frustrations reached an apex Saturday night for coach Roderick Ford, assistant Sammy Lee and their winless Jaguars.

That apex came when neither the scoreboard nor shot clock were operational for the Jags' home contest with visiting Louisburg. Ford struggled to get the apparatus controlling both to work, while both teams, as well as the officiating crew stood around around helplessly, waiting to see if the game would be contested.

Finally a backup unit was utilized that would operate the scoreboard, but not the shot clock.

Both teams agreed to use a stopwatch to tackle that problem, with the operator calling out the final ten seconds.

He was needed only once in the game that started 45 minutes late, as Louisburg's quick trigger offense rolled to a 108-52 victory.

The Hurricanes, gifted with a superior size advantage, blew the Jags away quickly behind Billy McSheperd. Dion Malachi and Elijah Smith, building a 27-9 lead in the first six minutes and never eased up until the final three minutes.

McSheperd poured in five 3-pointers and 27 points in the first 20 minutes, while Malachi added 10 and Smith seven as the 'Canes built a 66-29 halftime advantage.

With a roster featuring a front line of 6-feet-9, 6-8 and 6-7, the 'Canes dwarfed the Jaguars, getting easy basket after easy basket by dominating the paint and the offensive glass.

With Darrin Curtis grabbing a game-high 10 rebounds and McSheperd adding nine, Louisburg claimed an overwhelming advantage on the glass, 49-20.

And when the 'Canes weren't wiping the glass for second and third shots, or holding the Jags to one-and-out possessions, their defense was forcing 20 turnovers.

While the effort turned in by Louisburg against the Jaguars was dominating, Ford felt JCC lost its mental focus by the events prior to the opening tip. "We were mentally focused coming in," Ford said, "But when we got here the gym wasn't set up, nothing was working, and when the team saw me struggling to get everything together, it hurt them mentally.

"It 100 percent affected us tremendously - it's the small things that take away from the game, and this took a lot from our game tonight."

The Hurricanes, while disturbed by the delay, with some mentioning wanting to go ahead and leave, didn't take long to regain their focus.

After the initial run, McSheperd, who is being looked at by (UNC) Charlotte, Louisburg took complete control with its speed as well as its height in a 15-2 surge, increasing its cushion to 49-19 with five minutes left in the half.

Both factors continued to take its toll on the Jaguars in the second half, as Louisburg, which reverted to a showtime dunking display in the second half, ended the game with four players in double-figures scoring, led by McSheperd with 33.

Others reaching twin figures were Malachi with 24, Curtis with 14 to complete a double-double and Smith with 13.

Leonard Compton led JCC with 13 points, the only Jaguar in double figures.

The Jaguars held their own against the taller 'Canes in the first four minutes, trailing 13-9 following a slam dunk by Montrel Sims.

At that point Louisburg began to assert itself as McSheperd hit a trey and a pair of free throws, while Malachi chipped in a three-point play and a follow shot as the 'Canes used a two-minute, 14-0 run to build the 27-9 advantage.

"But this was not the fastest, nor the best team we'll face this season," Ford said. "Even though they have six players on their team that have already signed Division I scholarships.

"No matter the circumstances, as far as competing goes, we're not going to quit. We'll continue to play hard, but under the circumstances we faced tonight, they were the better team."