Eagles fight on for second win over Warriors
By JJ Ossola
IV Leader Sports Writer, Feb 15, 2007
The Illinois Valley Community College men’s
basketball team downed the Blackhawk East Warriors for the second time on Feb
8th, 72 to 62, bringing their record to 13-11 with the Mar. 1st post-season
quickly approaching.
The Eagles have been picking up steam, winning 7 of the last
10 games since the New Year began and the Warriors drop to 3-19 and 0-8 in
conference play.
The Eagles ended the first half with a 12 point lead through
hustle points in the opening minutes. Jake Richter came out with two quick
steals for points, and ended the game with 10 points on 60% shooting and 10
assists with only 2 turn overs. After eight minutes of play, the Warriors turned
the ball over 9 times, and the Eagles had scored 27 to Blackhawk East’s 7
points.
Head coach, Mike Riley said, “I like the hustle we have
gotten from the team in the first quarter. Starting with intensity is something
that we have been stressing in practice.”
In the second half, the game started to heat up as the
Warriors closed the game with several very physical runs that cut the lead to
two several times. David Prince helped maintain the lead with vital rebounds and
interior defense and finished the game with 20 points and 16 rebounds. He also
had four assists to one turn over, five blocks, and two steals.
“Our team defense was the key for this game. Our defense
fueled our offense, and our players showed good decision making on the floor. We
made the shots that we needed to make even though our outside shots weren’t
there.” Riley said. Riley said, “I was impressed by Prince’s play, he has been
going after rebounds and showing a lot of toughness.” Prince shot 50 % from the
field and 80% from the free throw line.
Sophomores played a majority of the minutes although Boykins
and Ghighi did not put their normal numbers. Boykins played a variety of roles,
racking up 11 points, 6 rebounds (4 offensive), and an assist. Ghighi could not
maintain the high flying stats that he had been putting in the last few games
(averaging 14.5 per game on the season), finishing the game with 7 points on 22%
shooting but wrangled 7 rebounds, and 2 assists.
Blackhawk East tried any which way possible to come back in
the final minutes, some of which was physical. After the game some words were
exchanged between players, and IVCC security guard,Mike Barry called the police
to ensure that it did not escalate.
Riley said, “You hate to see it happen but it was just a
heated exchange of words. No punches were thrown, it wasn’t a brawl, and it
wasn’t anything really.”
Prince is currently ranked 47th in the national junior college athletic association’s individual scoring polls at 17.4 per game and 29th for rebounding with 9.1. IVCC is ranked 46th in team scoring at 76.2 per game.