Men's basketball team has lofty goals

By Julie Newell
Editor in Chief

The LCC men’s basketball team has played two games so far, splitting the two contests.

The Stars won 78-51 in the first game of the season against the Olivet JV on Nov. 4, then lost 82-68 against Jackson College on Nov. 5.

Last season the LCC men finished with an overall record of 23-9 and a 14-4 mark in the MCCAA Western Conference.

“I have the same expectations every year; I want to win the league, win the state championship and I want to win the district with the opportunity to go to nationals,” LCC Head Coach Mike Ingram said. “I think we were one out of three last year, with the conference championship. … We made it to the championship game of both the state and the district, but we came up short because we were shorthanded because Sean (Cobb) was out.”

There are a total of 14 players on the team this season, with eight sophomores and six freshmen. Terry Harris and DonQuall Jackson will be returning as assistant coaches.

“I feel pretty good about (the team),” Ingram said. “I think that we have several returners, some that have some great playing time.”

Sophomore players include Cole Krause, Freddy Johnson, Kylor Mills, Connor Bush, Tyshan Kelly, Zach Berry, Hunter Woolston and Dawson Lott.

“Cole Krause was freshman of the year in the league and first team all-conference on the all-freshman team,” Ingram said. “Tyshan Kelly was honorable mention in all-conference. I thought he should have been at least third team.”

Ingram mentioned that there are a couple sophomore transfer players this season.

“Conner Bush was at Mott last year,” Ingram said. “He’s pretty good and I’m expecting big things from him. And we got Freddy Johnson, who transferred in from Wayne State and is a pretty good player.”

Ingram commented on having lost two good players from last season.

“Drew Lowder was first team All-American and just did some great things; led the country in scoring, and in three-point shooting and free-throw shooting,” Ingram said. “I think Drew hit seven game-winners at the buzzer, so that’s going to be hard to replace.

“We also had Sean Cobb, who was a presence and inside force who got injured in the last game of the regular season and didn’t play in the tournament, which really hurt us,” Ingram said. “Trying to replace those two guys has been really hard.”

The freshman players include Nate Lott II, Zane Kemp, Thomas Dodd, Chris Robinson, Blake Samuel and Andre “AJ” Taylor.

“We’re starting two freshmen right now,” Ingram said. “We’re starting Nate Lott and Andre “AJ” Taylor. Their dads played for me back in the day so it’s really great to have them here.”

Ingram said the team still has work to do.

“I just got to get these guys used to this level and the things that come with it,” Ingram said. “Now you got guys that have been starters their whole careers in high school, and now all of a sudden they’re not starting. You never know how those guys are going to react to that.”

The Stars are scheduled to play at Grand Rapids Community College (tonight) Thursday, Nov. 10.