Second-half struggles for Spartans

After nearly five scoreless minutes, things looked bleak for the lady Spartans, but a free throw by Jordan Thompson started a 8-point run to take their only lead of the game, 8-6 in the women’s basketball home opener against Nebraska’s Southeast Community College Wednesday.

Though Southwestern Community College (SWCC) trailed by only two points at the half, the Spartans stalled in the second half, falling 69-52 against the Storm.

After SWCC took the lead, the Storm responded with a 12-point unanswered run of their own.

“It’s a game of runs, so we understand that we’ve just got to do our best to limit that,” SWCC head coach Darien Wingate said. “We’re going to go on our runs too.”

A team of six to start the season has become five after the team lost Harmony Shaw. Wingate said playing with five presents a special set of challenges.

“It’s not usual,” he said. “We knew the circumstances coming in, so we don’t try to make excuses, we just go out there and try to play as hard as we can and let the chips fall where they may.”

The Spartans rallied in the second quarter, outscoring the Storm 15-9.

SWCC’s Maddie Stewart of Mount Ayr, had an eight-point run on her own after she made four free throws and hit two 3-pointers in the second quarter. She had a game high 17 points and was 100% from the free-throw line.

The Storm was led by Shelby Siebold who had 15 points and 11 rebounds.

Just before the half, the Spartans’ Hallica Warren-Ander made one of her free throws to tie the game at 27, but a layup by Kaylee Klover gave the Storm the lead going into the half.

After the half, Jordan Thompson made a layup to tie the score again for the Spartans at 29.

The Storm took off with an eight-point run, and the Spartans weren’t able to close that gap.

Midway through the fourth quarter, SWCC had to face what they knew was a possibility coming in - playing with four.

“I can’t do it,” Lexi Robinson said on the court as she couldn’t put weight on her leg. The referee called a time out, saying she needed to be looked at.

“We had to play with four for a few, but the game plan is always the same. We dictate the game, we take the shots we want to take and we’ve just got to control the game better,” Wingate said. “It’s not easy, but again, it’s a tribute to them. They look at it, and they don’t waiver. I tell them all the time, there’s no special plays drawn up for four people.”

As the Spartans took the court a woman down, they came out swinging. Cassidy Nelson got the defensive rebound and drove down the court, nailing a 3-point jump shot.

“When we do get four, we just try to spread it out and do what we can for it,” Wingate said. “They came out here, they played hard. I’m super proud of them.”

Robinson was able to reenter the game to play the final four minutes.

“There’s not much you can do to prepare for it,” Wingate said. “We are in positions where we play four on five in practice, but I’d be lying if I said there was a preparation for it.”

Nelson and Thompson both hit double digits for the Spartans with 13 and 11 points, respectively.

The SWCC men’s basketball team played following the girls. Tied at 27 going into the half, the Storm outscored the men 43-20 in the second half. Drake Davison led the Spartans with 11 points in their 70-47 loss.

The men’s team plays at home 2 p.m. Saturday against North Central Missouri College. The women will host Iowa Western Community College at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.