By Maria Borri
Apache sports editor
The men’s basketball team has started out with a strong season. The team is currently 5-1.
On Dec. 1 when the team faced Rock Valley, the IVCC Eagles led 47-26 at the half, but were outscored in the second half 39 to 25, resulting in a 75-72 loss.
With the team’s first loss of the season, IVCC head coach, Mike Riley, was disappointed with the performance of the play in the paint.
“We did not play very well under the basket,” said Riley. “We missed 17 shots within five feet of the basket. We just had a poor shooting game.”
However, Riley was pleased with the performance by Sam Beyer and Jeremy Jones. Beyer, playing in just his second game due to a finger injury, bounced back and scored 10 points, while collecting nine rebounds and two blocked shots.
The coach was also pleased with the three point shooting of Jeremy Jones, who led the team with his team-high thirteen points. Jeremy Woodward and Terrance Gladney also scored in double figures, netting twelve and eleven points in the loss for the Eagles.
Although the loss was disappinting, Riley has confidence that his team will rebound.
“We need to come back and show strength and character.”
The team dominated over Joliet’s home court on Nov. 27, 90-87. High scorer, Terrance Gladney, sank 27 points leading his team.
Beyer, playing in his first game of the season, had eight rebounds, two blocked shots, and six points. Steven Sawyers pulled or tore (indefinite at press time) his lower abdomen during that game.
“He (Sawyers) played with a lot of heart and soul,” coach Mike Riley said. “Sawyer dodged like a bullet not allowing his team to lose the close-score game.”
Joliet was 7-1 before playing IVCC; they are now 7-2. A Joliet player sank a three point shot as the buzzer was going off in the final quarter, but IVCC still won by three.
The men faced off against Oakton on Nov. 17, winning by one point, 88-87.
Fans can mark on their schedules the dates Dec. 8, 11, 14, and 15.
The team will be up against Oakton for their second game on Dec. 8. Coach Riley predicts a good game for the fans.
“They (Oakton) will bring lots of energy and play hard after we took over in our first game.
The next game is on Dec. 11 against McHenry. Following is the IVCC Classic on Dec. 14 and 15. Blackhawk and Illinois Valley will both play against Spoon River and Harper Colleges. IVCC will not be playing Blackhawk until the conference game.
The season thus far has been a strong one for IVCC.
Coach Riley, reviewing the season stated: “The team’s depth is a major contributor to our good start. We have a lot of guys on the team who can play. A number of guys have come off the bench and have just done incredible. A new guy is stepping up every game.”
“The freshmen have a lot of experience at a high level. That is one of the reasons they have been able to step up so quick.”
He continued, “Jeremy Woodward is extremely consistent averaging 17 points a game. He is just an outstanding player.”
“Jeremy Jones does an outstanding job with his offense, defense, leadership, and ballhandling.”
Jones averages seven assists a game.