Men’s basketball run cut short; Coach reflects on seesaw season

By Brodee Gillam

Sports Editor

Madness in March.

LCC's men's basketball team had its national title hopes stifled on March 9 against Ancilla College, 88-71.

The loss in the second round of the District 9 Tournament was an early and abrupt ending for the Stars' squad with an NJCAA national championship on the mind. LCC finished the season with a 23-7 record.

LCC Head Coach Mike Ingram said moving into the next season, the Stars need to become a better cohesive unit.

"When you look at the two teams that qualified for the nationals (this season), it looked like they were more of a team," Ingram said. "They seemed to be more in tune with each other.

"They seemed more in tune with the coaching staff. I think us, Muskegon, Schoolcraft and Mott, we were all similar teams … the way the other teams walked in; they were a little tighter. I was telling my freshmen, we just need to work on our cohesiveness as a team, make sure everybody is on the same page."

Sophomore Isaiah Green finished his final game at LCC with 10 points, 13 rebounds and four blocked shots.

Green received the Western Conference Player of the Year, along with NJCAA Region XII First Team, among other awards. He also finished first in the country in blocked shots (121) and blocks per game (4.0), and second in total rebounds (406) and rebounds per game (13.5).

Green said his team was mentally strong for most of the season, and was able to balance and get through obstacles throughout the year.

"I think what we did very well was adjust," Green said. "We made adjustments to the guys that left, guys that we couldn't count on anymore and a couple guys stepped up … a lot of guys stepped up and that's what we needed."