Despite losses, Central hoops confident in play

NORFOLK -- The only way to get better is by playing better competition.

That is the mentality of the Central Community College men’s basketball team. Despite losing 68-53 to Iowa Central Community College and 87-86 in overtime to National Junior College Athletic Association Division II, No. 1 Iowa Lakes Community College in the Northeast Community College Classic Friday and Saturday, the Raiders played well against some great competition.

“We needed this weekend,” Central coach Damon Vogt said. “We needed to play some good competition.”

Against Iowa Central, CCC came out and grabbed an early lead. Leading 32-30 at half, the Raiders looked poised for their third win in as many games.

But after getting down early in the second half, things started to fall apart for Central.

“We got down in the second half and didn’t know how to play from behind,”Vogt said. “Iowa Central is a good team, but we struggled from the field.”

In combination with coming out flat, the Raiders had trouble in the paint, especially against Terell Parks.

At 6-foot, 9-inches, he registered a double-double with 19 rebounds and 14 points. Leading Central was Donald Jones and Shavontae Samuels, who each had 10 points.

“That game was a tale of two halves,” Vogt said.

Saturday against Iowa Lakes, the Raiders were facing the top squad in D-II, and after a disappointing second half Friday, Vogt wasn’t sure how his team would perform.

“I was very nervous because as flat as we were Friday night, if we played that way we were going to get blown out of the gym,” he said.

But Central came out ready to fight, and went into the locker room at halftime with a seven-point lead at 43-36.

The second half would be one to remember, and despite ultimately losing the game, is what has given the Raiders a lot of confidence.

Central and Iowa Lakes battled in the second half, ending regulation tied at 80.

Iowa Lakes made seven 3-pointers in the second half, as its players started to heat up behind the arc.

“They rotate 10 guys and everyone can shoot it,” Vogt said. “And we answered the bell.”

Unlike their game against Iowa Central, however, the Raiders would not go quietly.

Down five points with 1 minute, 25 seconds left, Central went to Lorenzo Wilson in the post. Wilson had 19 points and 13 rebounds against Iowa Lakes, and was a key in the team’s surge.

The Raiders then stopped the opposition three times, but only scored on one possession. Down three points with six seconds left in the game, Samuels drove to the basket, made his layup and was fouled. He drained the free throw to send the game into overtime.

In the extra session, turnovers were critical. Central had three on its first four possessions, but still had a shot to win it at the end.

Unfortunately, Wilson’s post shot rolled off the front of the rim, and despite getting the ball an inbounds, CCC could not get off a shot to win.

Samuels had 20 points to lead the Raiders, and Jones had 19 along with Wilson.

Even with two losses, knowing they came against quality opponents will help Central in the long run.

“They did play hard and really responded. It was kind of like we had opening game jitters on Friday,” Vogt said. “Saturday we did what it took to win just didn’t make the last shot.”

The Raiders return to action at 4 p.m. today at Hastings College.

Friday’s game

Central CC (2-2) 32 21 �” 53

Iowa Central CC 30 38 �” 68

n CENTRAL �” Donald Jones 5 0-0 3 10, Shavontae Samuels 4 0-0 2 8, Jay Battle 5 0-0 1 10, Lorenzo Wilson 2 0-2 2 4, Ian Sitz 3 0-0 4 9, Jacob Woslager 3 0-0 2 7, Taylor Murren 2 0-0 0 5, Steville Burns 0 0-0 1 0. Totals 24 0-2 15 53.

n IOWA CENTRAL �” Kurt Alexander 8 4-4 2 22, Jacob Petersen 0 0-0 2 0, Wiebe Goodyk 4 2-2 0 11, Michael Martin 5 3-5 1 14, Terell Parks 5 4-5 2 14, Ismiah Roundtree 0 0-0 1 0, Josh Henry 1 2-5 1 5, Matt Culjak 1 2-2 0 2, Nathan Akers 0 0-0 1 0. Totals 23 17-23 10 68.

n 3-point field goals �” Central 5 (Sitz 3, Woslager, Murren), Iowa Central 5 (Alexander 2, Goodyk, Martin).

Saturday’s game

Iowa Lakes CC 36 44 7 -- 87

Central CC 43 37 6 -- 86

n IOWA LAKES -- Darryl Davis 4 1-2 3 12, Robert Burns 7 3-6 3 19, Armon Boston 0 0-0 2 0, Jerron Stone 6 4-6 1 20, Reggie Hearn 6 0-2 2 12, SanQuan Smith 0 0-0 2 0, Josh Riser 0 1-2 3 1, Eddie Taylor 2 0-0 0 5, Akeem Vargas 0 0-0 1 0, Eric Allson 5 0-0 0 11, Charles McNeal 3 0-0 3 7. Totals 33 9-18 20 87.

n CENTRAL -- Donald Jones 8 2-5 4 19, Shavontae Samuels 6 8-11 2 20, Erfan Momeni 1 0-0 4 2, Jay Battle 5 0-0 0 10, Lorenzo Wilson 9 1-2 3 19, Jacob Woslager 0 0-0 1 0, Taylor Murren 1 0-0 4 3, Ian Sitz 3 7-10 1 13. Totals 33 18-28 19 86.

n 3-point field goals -- Iowa Lakes 12 (Stone 4, Davis 3, Burns 2, Taylor, Allison, McNeal), Central 2 (Jones, Murren).