Men’s basketball team excels in debut

By Brodee Gillam

Sports Editor

Off and running.

The No. 9 LCC men's basketball team defeated the Olivet College JV team, 124-71, at home on Wednesday, Nov. 2. It was the first game of the 2016-17 regular season for LCC.

Freshman Ja'Myrin Jackson had 23 points, including 21 in the second half, and four three-pointers to lead LCC in scoring. Sophomore center Colin Jones showed his crafty footwork and dribbling ability on his way to a 21-point, 10-rebound double-double.

LCC Head Basketball Coach Mike Ingram said Jones can catch other teams off guard with his diverse skillset.

"He's a gamer," Ingram said. "He surprises a lot of people when we play them. He's such a skilled basketball player … he can play outside, inside, he can put the ball on the floor, he can pass it and he can rebound.

"He's a guy we can run plays to and he'll get a bucket. He'll get open, he'll score and he'll hit his free throw also."

The team showed its size with Jones and six-foot-seven sophomore forward Isaiah Green in the first half by controlling the glass and out-rebounding Olivet 23-15.

Even though the Stars only made 25 of their 46 attempts from the free throw line, Ingram said he figures the misses will lessen after the next couple weeks.

"That happened to us early in the year last year, before we settled down and became a pretty good free-throw shooting team," Ingram said. "We shoot them a lot. Our teams are usually consistently in the top 10 or 12 in the country shooting from the free throw line."

The Stars shot a blistering 45 percent from the three-point line and stole the ball 13 times, Jones said he is confident the team can replicate this play all season.

"If we just play like we did (against Olivet), I know we can get even better so I know we can keep up the intensity and the skills," Jones said. "We (have) a lot of promise."

Freshman guard Don Quall Jackson said after the offseason he was glad to be playing basketball games.

"It felt good to be back on the court," Jackson said. "The guys made it easy … it was a good first game, a good warm-up game."

Jones said the team's 28 assists are not a fluke, and similar numbers should be expected throughout the season.

"Coach stresses it every day; ball movement" Jones said. "We could be a great team if we just play together. (Against Olivet) we showed some of that, we played together and you see what happens."

The next game for the Stars was scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 5 against Henry Ford College at LCC.