Saturday, February 18, 2012

CLC 101, Mn West 53

Win No. 23
The Central Lakes College men's basketball team routed Minnesota West, 101-53, to avenge an earlier loss and sustain a late-season surge toward the goal of a Minnesota College Athletic Conference championship. The nationally ranked Raiders moved the ball and harassed the Blue Jays from the git-go, enabling Coach Jim Russell to play his entire unit and give them all a piece of the action. Six scored in double figures -- Kwamaine (Q) Johnson (17)- shown, Maurice Hernandez (16), Brandon Davis (15), Ronnie Kornbaum (14), Michael Farrington (12), Jesse Fleming (10). Matt Christenson pounded the inside for 6 rebounds. Michael continued his sharp feeds skill for 7 assists and harvested 4 of the Raiders' 14 steals, and "Q" leaped for 7 rebounds, Jesse for 5. CLC turned it over just 9 times to 36 by the visitors. The winners (23-2) outshot the losers (10-13), 54% to 34%. The Raiders made 15 of 20 free throws. Antonio Wigfall slam-dunked the game-ending points to wrap up an artful triumph that gives notice to MCAC foes that this is the Year of the Raider!
Women lose
Down just 29-20 at the half, CLC couldn't find the hoop and lost to Mn West, 64-44 to suffer the 15th loss in 23 games. The Raiders made just 19.7% of their shots from the floor but converted 17 of 25 at the line (68%). Mn West (17-8) shot 38.6%. Nikki Pearson led the CLC offense with 14 points. She also led the rebounding with 9. Caitlin Robinson had 11 points. Next: Wed., Feb. 22 at Fergus Falls vs. M State. Women at 6 p.m., men at 8 p.m. Fan Bus leaves CLC at 3:30 p.m.; At home Sat., Feb. 25 vs. Rochester for Fan Appreciation Day with $300 in prizes to be awarded and recognition for the sophomore players as they play their last regular-season home contests in a Raider uniform. The women play at 1 p.m. and the men at 3 p.m.