Men’s hoop team optimistic for 2018-19

By Maddie Toles
Sports Editor

The LCC men's basketball team has high hopes for the upcoming season.

The team has started off with two scrimmages, an Oct. 15 game against Great Lakes Christian College and a Oct. 17 game against Aquinas College. LCC won both games. The contest against Aquinas was a close one, with a 77-75 final score.

These scrimmages were a good opportunity to practice playing together, according to LCC Head Coach Mike Ingram.

The total roster has 16 players, with a good mix of fresh faces as well as returning members from last year.  Returning players are Jabril Abdur-Rahim, Kaleb Barrett, Cameron Houston and Tony Trice.

Other players are Tevin Taylor, Donquall Jackson, Emmanuel Gildo, Skyler Wilson, JaMyrin Jackson, Brandon Suttles, Romari Ennis, Frank Braxton, Aaron Latimer Jr., Tevin Ali, Sam Stewart and Willard Payne.

"We're athletic and we're fast." Ingram said of his team. "I think we're going to try a few different things defensively, and if they work, we could really be good."

Ingram added that defense has always been and will continue to be a priority for the team.

"Everyone always thinks that we're such a great offensive team," he said. "We've always been good offensively because we play great defense."

Two sophomores, Abdur-Rahim and Gildo, are back to playing at full strength after recovering from injury. So, overall, physical health is starting off strong.

Ingram said he is feeling confident about the team's future performance, but it can be difficult to scout out competition before the season really is underway.

The Stars' first official home game will be Saturday, Nov. 3 against CCBC Dundalk in the Gannon Gym at 7 p.m.