Red Hawks make MJCAA statement

Somewhere at Lake Michigan College, men’s basketball coach Doug Schaffer has got to be sporting a smile, despite his team suffering a 90-85 loss to Oakland Community College November 8. The Raiders, playing in the Eastern Division of the MJCAA, were ranked second nationally among Division II schools. Lake Michigan was supposed to be rebuilding, starting three freshmen.

            The Red Hawks gave Oakland all they could handle, including a standing room only full house. The Raiders averaged almost four inches taller and 20 pounds heavier, but Lake Michigan played with all the intensity of a NJCAA playoff game, using speed to offset their height disadvantage and foul issues, leading for almost 19 minutes of the game.

            “It certainly was an electric environment,” Schaffer said. “Because of their   height we were in foul trouble all night, but the team definitely delivered.” In the locker room Schaffer told his players they played well and to stay positive. “They just beat us. We didn’t do anything to hurt us.”

            Despite losing the rebound war, 49-33, the Red Hawks stayed within striking distance. With 6:51 left LMC lost 6-foot 7 Arsenio Arrington, and eventually the lead with 5:29 to go. The second blow came with 2:34 left when 6-foot 4 Montel Green picked up his fifth foul. Oakland pushed the lead to six before LMC staged one more rally, pulling within three with 54 seconds left.

            The Red Hawks got the ball back with 35 seconds, trying desperately to set up a three-point shot to tie. The pass was blocked and Oakland’s Darrell Foster sank two at the line to seal the win.

            Alec Brown led four Red Hawks in double figures with 21 points followed by Kevion Morse 20, Green 12 and LaBradford Sebree 10. Richard Roberts led Oakland with 25 points including three, three-pointers.

            The men, 1-1, host Joilet Junior College Saturday at 3 PM while the women play at 1 PM.

            The Lady Red Hawks cruised to an 87-64 victory over Oakland, never trailing. “I’m excited to see what we can do,” said LMC coach Jason Cooper after the game. “We ran the floor hard. We did okay for our first outing.”

            Lake Michigan started two freshmen, Tammy Lee from Cassopolis and Lexi Firovich from Tri County along with returnees Sabrina Trujillo and Nicole Decker. Shalay Stevens was the fifth starter, a transfer from Kellogg Community College.

            Firovich, in her first collegiate start, scored 12 points in the first half to lead the Lady Hawks to a 35-20 halftime lead. “It was exciting, a lot different than high school,” said the 5-foot 10 freshmen guard. Trujillo had a tough first half, despite 10 points. She was 3 for 10 from the field and two of nine from three-point range.

            It was Trujillo that caught fire in the second half, adding 20 points for 30 on the day, adding seven rebounds. Holding an ice-pack just below the eye after the game, she blamed the first half on nerves. “I wanted to finish strong for the team.”

            Firovich finished with 17 points and Decker added 10. All eleven players saw action during the game. Decker, the Red Hawks 5-foot 10 forward logged 30:55 followed by Firovich with 27:47.