Stars basketball shows promise despite loss

By Brodee Gillam

Sports Editor

After bouncing back from its 0-2 start with a win over Aquinas College, the LCC men's basketball stumbled again with No. 8 ranked Mott CC, 78-75, on Nov. 15.

The road game was back-and-forth until the end, where the Stars dropped the ball. The loss put LCC's record at 1-3.

LCC Head Coach Mike Ingram said the team is developing, and the next step in development is end-of-game execution.

"We're just getting better," Ingram said. "We've got a lot of freshmen, got a lot of inexperienced players. If you've been watching my reactions a little bit, I know that we've got a lot to learn, so there's no use in (stressing).

"(We're) bringing them along slowly. Guys are getting better. Right now, what we need to work on is closing out games. I think with us being 1-3, we could easily be 4-0 if we could close out some games."

Freshmen Darious Young and Zhervonte Smith were getting many buckets for the Stars, which is becoming routine for the two guards.

Smith finished with 15 points. Young had a great overall game with 24 points, 12 boards and five assists.

Sophomore Josh Horford was another stabilizing player on the court despite the loss. Horford had a double-double, scoring 13 and grabbing 10 rebounds.

Sophomore sharpshooter Kenny Davis, who was shooting 36 percent from three-point range before the loss, said playing his role off the bench as a sophomore helps the team in a few different ways.

"I feel like being a sophomore and a leader of the bench … when the bench team goes in there they need a leader," Davis said. "When I hit threes, I feel like a lot of energy comes."

The Stars were scheduled to play on Nov. 18 against St. Clair CC. Their next home game is Wednesday, Nov. 22 against Oakland CC at 7 p.m.