Male Stars edged on 'Sophomore Night'

By Michael Leek
Sports Editor

The LCC men’s basketball team played its last home game of the season on Saturday, Feb. 17. It was “Sophomore Night” for LCC, and the Stars lost a nail-biter to the Lake Michigan College Red Hawks, 83-81.

Two sophomores were honored before the game: guard Jay Wallace and guard Blake Samuel.

LCC Head Coach Mike Ingram said he was especially proud of Samuel this year for the way he has stepped up in the second half of the season.

“He’s hung in there and he earned it,” Ingram said of Samuel. “He became a valuable guy for us this year, and had a career high in points (against Lake Michigan).” 

Ingram added that Wallace was a very coachable player and has scored over 500 points for LCC this season.

Against the Red Hawks, the Stars played a good game and ended the first half in the lead by four points. LCC was down 82-81 in the final two minutes, but could not buy a bucket to take back the lead.

Wallace led both teams in points, scoring 24 and knocking down an impressive 19 free throws. Freshman forward Zavier Thomason was the second leading scorer for the Stars with 17 points. Freshman guard Devan Wilson followed scoring 16.

As Ingram said, Samuel had a career-high on Sophomore Night with 11 points. He shot 100 percent from deep, making three threes.

Samuel said he was disappointed the Stars did not win, but still enjoyed getting out there and playing hard.

“It was my last home game here and it was fun,” Samuel said. “We should’ve won though, but it’s OK, we just have to go win the next one.”

LCC freshman Terrell White attempts a long jumper vs. Lake Michigan.  Photo by Kaitlyn Delaney

The Stars have lost four of their last six games by four points or less, and Ingram said he feels for the guys.

“I know the guys gave everything that they had, and us coaches gave everything we had,” Ingram said. “We were a little disappointed because, before the last game, I saw all the close losses we've had over the season.”

Ingram added that the Stars were getting worn down at the end of games and weren’t as sharp, resulting in losses.

“I can remember at least three or four games walking through the lines and coaches saying, ‘If you had two more guys there was no way we could have beat you,’” Ingram said.

The Stars have two games remaining this season, both on the road. The next game will be against Southwestern Michigan on Wednesday, Feb 21.

The final game of the season for LCC will be against Kellogg Community College on Saturday, Feb. 24.