Coach announces retirement; Women’s team earns easy win

By Brodee Gillam

Sports Editor

The curtain is closing on a historic career.

LCC Women's Basketball Head Coach Ervin Brunson is retiring from his duties at the end of this season.

Brunson is finishing his 24th season for the Stars. He will be honored on Sophomore Night, Wednesday, March 1, for his services at LCC.

Through Feb. 15, he had a career record of 327 wins and 301 losses. Brunson has won an NJCAA National Championship (1996) and three MCCAA State Championships (1993, 1999 and 2006) with the Stars. He was named Region XII Coach of the Year in 1993 and National Coach of the Year in 1996.

LCC Athletic Director Greg Mallek said Brunson's good traits reflect on his players on and off the court.

"He's brought stability to the women's basketball program for 24 years," Mallek said. "He's helped hundreds of young ladies better themselves athletically and personally. He's dedicated a lot of time and effort to these programs."

Brunson said there is not any specific reason he is retiring, he's just simply moving on from coaching.

"I've been (coaching) since 1973, so I don't have any qualms about it," Brunson said. "You'll always miss it … but at the same time there's some other things I want to be able to do."

Moving on to the team, the Stars beat Glen Oaks CC 80-40 on the road on Feb. 15.

The team's record improved to 11-11 overall, and to 5-7 in the MCCAA West.

Sophomore Chasity Potter had a huge 26-point, 10-rebound double-double against the Vikings. She helped move the ball as well, adding five assists.

Potter said her stat-line is a product of the way the team played against Glen Oaks.

"We played a 1-3-1 offense just to move the ball around," Potter said. "They weren't playing that well of a defense (so) we could just swing it around and get the open (shot). We took a lot of jump shots, (and) even though they didn't go in, we got the rebound for … We were just able to kick it back out and reset and waste the clock."

The Stars were scheduled to play at home Feb. 18 against division rival Lake Michigan College.