March 29, 2024

Record-setting win for Southwestern

Spartans win school-record 26th game at DMACC Wednesday

BOONE — Southwestern Community College’s men’s basketball team turned up the intensity on both ends of the court in the second half of Wednesday’s Iowa Community College Athletic Conference game against DMACC.

The increased effort sent the program to a place it never has been before.

Southwestern set the single-season record for wins in a 98-69 win in Boone.

Southwestern improved to 26-1 on the season.

The Spartans took control in the second half, outscoring the Bears 60-35.

“The second half, we really got the pace going in our favor,” said Southwestern coach Todd Lorensen. “Our full court and man-to-man, once we got going, forced a couple of turnovers, hit a couple of threes.”

Southwestern’s energy and depth wore out DMACC.

“The guys continued to play with great energy defensively, fly around,” Lorensen said. “It was fun to watch.”

The Bears could not keep up with the Spartans pace in the second 20 minutes.

It carried over what happened in last Saturday’s win over Ellsworth.

“These last two games we were up seven at the half, up four (Wednesday). We played good halves in both of them,” Lorensen said “Both of those times, we did a good job of wearing teams down. Our full-court pressure and man-to-man wore them down. Hopefully that’s something we can continue to use down the stretch here.”

The Spartans had contributions from a number of different players.

Lavon Hightower stepped up in the first half. Starting in place of the injured Brodric Thomas, Hightower led the Spartans offensively in the opening 20 minutes with nine points.

Hightower saw the court even more than normal with Jordan Johnson and Jamil Maddred on the bench with foul trouble.

“Those were big points for us,” Lorensen said.

KeShawn Wilson at times has been almost too unselfish in recent games.

Lorensen and assistant Scott Davis encouraged Wilson to take open looks if they were there.

Wilson did in the second half, scoring 16 of his 19 points, including four three-point baskets.

“He’s been a really good offensive player the past two years,” Lorensen said. “For one reason or another, he’s been a little unassertive in taking good looks. At the end of the day, he’s a special player. He has the ability to make those things happen. We encourage him to take took looks and when he does it’s usually a pretty good result.”

The Spartans passed on good looks, trying for even better looks.

“At times we passed up a couple of good opportunities for threes,” Lorensen said. “We always encourage unselfishness, but at the same time, we want to take them.”

Johnson took charge in the second half, scoring seven points and finished with 13 points.

UP NEXT — Southwestern (26-1, 8-1) concludes the home portion of the schedule Saturday hosting Iowa Lakes (19-7, 6-3). The Lakers thumped Iowa Central 91-65 Wednesday in Estherville.

Tip is set for 3 p.m. in Creston.

The last time Southwestern and Iowa Lakes met up, it was a classic in Estherville, with Southwestern earning a 96-95 overtime win.

Saturday is Sophomore Day.

“Our first game there was a heck of a basketball game,” Lorensen said. “We were fortunate enough to make enough plays to come out of there with a win.”

Lorensen expects Thomas back in the lineup Saturday.

The Spartans will need everyone to be at their best against a quality Lakers squad.

“They’re going to come in ready to play really hard, execute. The same thing for us. We need to have a game plan together, get some stuff together,” Lorensen said.

The Spartans still control their own destiny for the Region XI Tournament. If Southwestern wins out, it will have home court advantage through the tournament that starts on March 7.

“We need to win all three to secure the number one seed,” Lorensen said “With the first match being as close as it was, it’s going to be a good game I anticipate.”