Blazing Season
By John Warden
Associate Editor
All eyes on basketball season
Basketball is off and running this year under
the command of coach Tim McGraw (not the country
singer).
The season began away from home as the Blazers
rolled up the highways to Kansas for a two-game
tournament. The team returned with a 2-0 start.
A victory against Kansas Highland Community College
70-60, and a sound defeat of Southwestern Iowa
CC 90-60 should give the guys a strong boost of
confidence.
Len Medcalf, sophomore forward, said he thinks
this year’s team is better than last. “All
of the players are close on and off the court.
We’re like brothers,” he said.
On Nov. 11, the team began a three-game tournament
out in West Texas. Lubbock Christian University
JV was the next to fall. The Blazers stopped the
Chaps 98-72 to start the second road trip of the
season.
A great team from Frank Phillips College of Borger,
Texas, handed out the first loss to the Blazers
in a hard fought match that ended 73-65.
The final game of the tournament was a meeting
with the 14th ranked team in Division I junior
college basketball (North Lake is Division III).
The South Plains College Texans provided a learning
experience in an unfortunate loss for the Blazers,
66-43.
After traveling to five road games to begin the
season, the Blazers finally got to enjoy a game
in their own backyard.
“We are ecstatic to finally play at home.
After all the traveling, we can finally play on
our court and for our fans,” said Medcalf.
That home court advantage played out on Nov.
17 against the University Champions from Pueblo,
Mexico. The Aguilas (Eagles) played a great international
game, but fell as the Blazers triumphed 92-64
in the Neil Johnston Gymnasium. As of Nov. 18,
the Blazers’
record stands at 4-2.
The season doesn’t get any easier with
a full schedule waiting around the corner. The
Blazers will travel out of state one more time
to Missouri for a final tournament.
After owning the co-champion title in conference
last season, the Blazers just missed a trip to
Delhi, N.Y., for the national tournament.
“Everybody’s goal is to make it to
nationals. That’s what we’re shooting
for,” said Medcalf.
Conference action starts up Jan. 22 at home against
Brookhaven.
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