The dream stays alive

DANVILLE, Ill. — The dream is alive for one more night.

Southwestern Community College men’s basketball team is 40 minutes away from the first national championship in any sport in school history.

Behind a gritty and gutty defensive effort, the top-seeded and top-ranked Spartans advanced with a 70-62 win win over fifth-seeded Richard Bland, Virginia, Friday in the NJCAA Division II national semifinal at the Mary Miller Center on the campus of Danville Area Community College in Danville, Illinois.

Tip off for the national championship game is set for 7:30 p.m. central time from Danville.

Southwestern’s defense dominated throughout the 40 minute contest. Coach Todd Lorensen’s team held Richard Bland to 37 percent shooting, 19-of-51, including 6-of-19 from three-point range.

The Spartans needed every bit of defense they had.

Richard Bland’s defense was equally effective in slowing Southwestern down. The Spartans did shoot 40 percent, 20-of-49, but were a season’s worst 4-of-21 from three-point range.

The Spartans fell behind 7-2 early, but gradually worked their way ahead, and led 28-26 at halftime.

Southwestern’s offense picked it up enough in the second half. Behind another strong offensive performance from Bolingbrook, Illinois, native Brodric Thomas, the Spartans jumped out to a 60-45 lead with a little over three minutes to go.

Thomas finished with a game-high 19 points, along with eight rebounds, before fouling out with just over a minute to go.

Richard Bland’s long, lanky, athletic players tightened their grip on the defensive end late, helping the Governors close within six, 65-59 with 59 seconds to go.

Southwestern held on. Two Jordan Johnson free throws with 44 seconds to go, one from Jamil Maddred and two more from Johnson with less than 10 seconds to go was enough for the Spartans to hold on.

Johnson had 15 points and four assists. Lavon Hightower had 11 points off the bench. Maddred had 10 points and five rebounds. Calvin Chambers had five assists.

Lorensen also credited yeoman work off the bench from Antonio Williams and Nate Lee off the bench, particularly in the first half.

Southwestern, 35-1, will face the winner of South Suburban, Illinois, and Louisburg, North Carolina. The game was in progress as this story was posted. It will be updated later tonight.

A complete recap will be posted later tonight on www.crestonnews.com along with photos. Videos of the game, including postgame comments from coach Lorensen, Thomas and Johnson can be found on sports editor Ryan Kronberg's Facebook page as well.