2012-13 Lakeland Community College Men's Basketball Team
Front Row (L-R): Martell Medley, Terrill Byrd, Marcus Fleming, Deran Banton, Marius Paulauskas, Malik Billingsley, Daishon Robinson
Back Row (L-R): Team Manager Andy Patterson, Charles Oliver, Chris Jefferies, Richard Smith, Chaz Rollins, Michael Turman, Isiah Boddie
May 10, 2013 | Men’s Basketball Inks Five Recruits for 2013-14 Season
KIRTLAND, Ohio – On Thursday afternoon head men’s basketball coach Terry Bowe announced the signing of five area student-athletes who will join the program in the fall of 2013. Phillip Black, Louis Cheers, Mario Formichelli, Montell Goodwin, and Harry Sykes each inked their national letter of intent inside the Athletic & Fitness Center, marking the first signings of Bowe’s 2013 recruiting class.
 Phillip Black played three years of varsity basketball at Maple Heights High School. The 6’1” guard helped the Mustangs win a conference championship and go 47-18 during his tenure. As a senior, Black averaged 21.1 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. He set the school for 3-pointers in a game (9), 3-pointers in a season (72), and points in a season (572). He was named first team all-conference and Lake Erie League MVP while also earning special mention Ohio all-district accolades. The son of Altrica and Randall Black, Phillip plans to major in marketing at Lakeland.
 Louis Cheers attended Lorain High School in Lorain, Ohio where he set a school record for points in a game. He earned team MVP and most improved honors while being named to the honor roll as a junior and senior. The 6’5” forward was selected third team all-district, first team all-county, and first team all-conference. Additionally, Cheers was a two-time Chronicle-Telegram player of the week. The son of Linda Cheers, Louis plans to major in criminal justice at Lakeland.
 Mario Formichelli attended West Geauga High School where he was selected most improved player as a junior. The 6’8” forward was named to the Merit Roll for three years while also playing a year of baseball for the Wolverines. The son of Anne Formichelli-Wargelin, Mario plans to major in computer science at Lakeland.
 Montell Goodwin was named team MVP and first team all-Lake Erie League at Warrensville Heights High School where he helped the Tigers to a district championship as a senior. The 6’2” wing was also named Plain Dealer player of the week and was a member of the merit roll. The son of Norma McClain and Michael Goodwin Sr., Montell will major in criminal justice at Lakeland.
 Harry Sykes was a Senate League all-star at Glenville High School where he helped the Tarblooders to a league championship as a senior. He was named an all-star by 3rd Coast Hoops and the Greater Cleveland Coaches Association in his final season at Glenville. The son of Vanessa and Rickey Sykes, Harry is undecided on his major at Lakeland.
May 10, 2013 | First Team All-American Charles Oliver Signs with Robert Morris University
KIRTLAND, Ohio – Sophomore guard Charles Oliver has inked a national letter of intent to join Robert Morris University for the 2013-14 season. The First Team All-American and Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) Player of the Year will have two years of eligibility remaining.
Oliver was Lakeland’s leading scorer this season and helped guide the Lakers to their first conference title in 18 years. The standout guard poured in a career-high 36 points in the regular-season finale at Sinclair, a game which clinched the outright OCCAC title for Lakeland. He averaged 19.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game for the Lakers, who finish 24-6 overall and 11-1 in the OCCAC.
Head Coach Terry Bowe understands how much of an impact Oliver had on the team. “Charles is our third straight First Team All-American and the first to come from the guard position,” Bowe said. “His ability to score from the perimeter ranks among some of the greats who have come through this program and that I have seen throughout junior college in the last 15 years.”
He was named a S.T.A.R. student-athlete following the fall semester - his first at Lakeland – and will graduate with an Associate of Arts degree. “His work ethic in the classroom and on the court enabled him to achieve his goals,” added Bowe. “I’m looking forward to watching him continue to grow and develop over the next two years.”
Robert Morris University is an NCAA Division I institution located just outside Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Colonials went 24-11 last season and were 14-4 in Northeast Conference (NEC) play en route to a regular season title. RMU entered the conference tournament as the top overall seed before losing to Mount St. Mary’s in the semifinals.
The Colonials earned a bid to the National Invitational Tournament (NIT) where they upset defending national champion Kentucky in one of the marquee games of the college basketball season.
RMU loses five players to graduation but returns its leading scorer in Karvel Anderson as well as third team all-NEC guard Lucky Jones. To follow Oliver and the Colonials all season long visit www.rmucolonials.com
April 8, 2013 | Oliver Selected First Team All-American by NJCAA
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Sophomore guard Charles Oliver (Scotch Plains, N.J. / Scotch Plains) has been selected First Team (Division II) All-American by the NJCAA, becoming the seventh player in program history to earn national honors. Oliver joins select company as just the fifth Laker to earn first team honors in the 43-year history of Lakeland men’s basketball. Oliver also marks the third straight first team selection after Ray Chambers and Brendan Cooper earned the award in 2011 and 2012, respectively. Lakeland is the only program in the country to post three consecutive First Team All-Americans dating back to 2011.
The national honor is the most prestigious in a long list of individual awards for the sophomore transfer. Oliver was named Player of the Year in the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) after leading the Lakers to their first conference title in 18 years. He was also selected First Team All-Region XII in late March.
He was named to the all-tournament team at the 5th Annual TJ Memorial Classic and also at the District 11 tournament in Cincinnati at season’s end.
Click here for a complete list of the 2012-13 NJCAA Division II All-Americans.
 March 26, 2013 | Oliver Earns First Team All-Region 12 Honors
KIRTLAND, Ohio – Sophomore guard Charles Oliver (Scotch Plains, N.J.) has been named first team all-region 12 after leading Lakeland to its first conference championship since 1995 and their third straight District 10 championship appearance. With the award, Oliver will be considered for All-American honors with a chance at becoming the third consecutive Laker to earn the national award.
The 6-foot-3 guard averaged 19.3 points per game this year after transferring from Rider University, an NCAA Division I program in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. He ranked in the top-50 nationally in scoring, free throw shooting, and 3-point shooting this season en route to Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) Player of the Year honors.
Oliver marks the third straight first team all-region 12 selection from Lakeland men’s basketball program and fifth straight overall. Brendan Cooper and Ray Chambers earned the award in 2012 and 2011, respectively, before being named first team All-American by the NJCAA. Nate Barnes was a second team all-region selection as a freshman in 2009 and again a year later as a sophomore.
Region 12 includes 26 junior college programs from Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana and is the largest in the NJCAA.
March 8, 2013 | Lakers Upset in District Championship to End Season
CINCINNATI, Ohio – No. 2 seed Owens used a late second half run to pull away from No. 1 seed Lakeland, 99-84, and win the Region 12, District 11 Championship on Saturday night. With no at-large bids in NJCAA Division II, the loss ends the Lakers’ season.
Charles Oliver led four players in double figures with 27 points. Chaz Rollins added 15 while Marcus Fleming and Deran Banton chipped in 13 and 10, respectively.
One day after a sluggish start in the semifinals, Lakeland raced out to a 10-0 lead and led by as many as 11 in the opening minutes of the title game. Owens quickly closed the gap before taking a 51-44 lead into the break.
Lakeland closed the gap to three (69-66) with eight minutes to go in the second half and was poised for a comeback before the Express countered with the game’s most decisive run to push their lead back to nine (85-76) with four minutes left.
The Lakers entered the District Tournament having won two straight titles for the first time in program history. They finished 24-6 overall and 11-1 in Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) play en route to their first league title in 18 years.
March 7, 2013 | Lakers Survive Cuyahoga 66-64, Move Into District Finals
CINCINNATI, Ohio – The nationally-ranked and No. 1 seed Lakeland men survived a slow start to hold off Cuyahoga and move into the District 11 Championship game for the third straight year. The Lakers will take on No. 2 seed Owens at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday with a berth in the 2013 NJCAA Division II National Tournament at stake.
Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) player of the year Charles Oliver led all scorers with 22 points and was a perfect 14-of-14 from the free throw line. All-conference forward Richard Smith chipped in six points, nine rebounds, and a game-high nine blocks in the victory.
Lakeland, the two-time defending district champions, found itself in a very early hole when the Challengers jumped out to an 18-2 lead midway through the first half. The Lakers fought back and pulled within ten at the break (38-28) but Cuyahoga stretched the lead to 51-34 in the second half, its largest advantage of the game. Lakeland responded by outscoring Tri-C 32-13 the rest of the way, improving to 24-5 overall with the win.
Josh Reagan led Tri-C with 15 points and 11 rebounds before fouling out with five minutes to go in the game. Lakeland took advantage of the opportunity, grabbing its first lead of the game with three minutes to go on a Marcus Fleming layup.
Cuyahoga held a 44-31 advantage on the glass while Lakeland recorded 15 blocks on the night.
The Lakers will face the only OCCAC team to take a game from them this season when they take on Owens tomorrow night. Each team won on the other’s home floor and will meet for third time on the region’s biggest stage.
March 7, 2013 | OCCAC Honors Pour in for Lakeland Men
KIRTLAND, Ohio – Days after clinching its first Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) title since 1995, the national-ranked Lakeland men’s basketball team picked up five individual honors including conference player and coach of the year. Sophomore guard Charles Oliver was named the OCCAC’s top player while Terry Bowe earned Coach of the Year honors for the second time in his ten year career at Lakeland.
Sophomores Richard Smith, Deran Banton, and Martell Medley each garnered second team all-OCCAC honors after helping Lakeland to a 23-5 record including an 11-1 mark in the league play during the regular season.
Oliver, a newcomer to Lakeland and the OCCAC after a year at Rider University (NCAA Division I), started in all 12 conference games and led the Lakers in scoring by averaging 20 points per game. He poured in a career-high 36 in the regular season finale at Sinclair on March 2, a game which clinched an outright conference title for LCC.
Richard Smith will undoubtedly go down as the greatest shot blocker in the 43-year history of Lakeland basketball. The sophomore forward already holds the single game (15), single season (114), and career (195) records and currently averages an NJCAA-best 4.6 per game. In conference play, Smith averaged 9.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 4.8 blocks per contest.
Medley also started and played in all 12 conference games, averaging 13.9 points, 5.2 assists, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.2 steals along the way. The sophomore guard tied a career high with 25 points at Edison on February 23, a game which clinched the top overall seed and a first round bye for Lakeland in the upcoming District 11 Tournament in Cincinnati.
The versatile Banton averaged 16.4 points and 5.2 rebounds in 12 league games. He recorded a double-double in the regular season finale at Sinclair with 20 points and ten rebounds and scored a career-high 29 points at Cincinnati in mid-February.
Tenth year head coach Terry Bowe was recognized as the league’s top coach for the second time during his tenure. Bowe earned the same honor in 2010, when Lakeland finished second in the OCCAC and 19-12 overall.
This season, Bowe’s Lakers led the conference in points per game (93.1), steals (10.7), and blocks (7.2) while posting the best perimeter defense in the league, holding teams to 30.6% shooting from beyond the arc.
No. 1 seed Lakeland takes on No. 4 seed Cuyahoga at 8 p.m. in the semifinals of the District 11 tournament on Friday night. The winner advances to Saturday’s title game where it will face the winner of No. 2 seed Owens and No. 3 seed Cincinnati at 6:30 p.m.
Lakeland is the two-time defending champions at the tournament and seeks an unprecedented third straight title and NJCAA National Tournament appearance.
March 2, 2013 | Lakers Rally Past Sinclair, Cut Down Nets as OCCAC Champions
DAYTON, Ohio – No. 10 Lakeland rallied past host Sinclair in the regular season finale on Saturday afternoon, clinching an outright Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) championship for the first time in 18 years. The Lakers enter the District 11 tournament as the top overall seed and will receive an automatic bye into the semifinals (March 8) against the winner of Tuesday’s game between fourth-seed Cuyahoga and fifth-seed Columbus State.
The nationally-ranked Lakers improve to 23-5 overall and wrap up the conference slate with an 11-1 record. LCC’s only setback in the OCCAC was a 71-69 loss to Owens in mid-February.
It was a tale of two halves on Saturday, as Lakeland found itself trailing by as many as 16 points in the first half before slowly chipping away over the final 20 minutes. The Lakers finally took the lead with less than 20 seconds remaining on a Deran Banton free throw to make it 95-94. Charles Oliver corralled a defensive rebound on the ensuing possession before Martell Medley extended the lead to three with a pair from the line with eight seconds to go.
The hosts had an opportunity to pull even in the waning seconds but came up empty in the game’s final possession. The 2013 District 11 Tournament, used to determine which team will earn a trip to the NJCAA National Tournament, will begin with quarterfinal games on Tuesday (March 5) night. In addition to Cuyahoga hosting Columbus State for the right to play the top-seeded Lakeland, third-seed Cincinnati State will host sixth-seed Edison for the right to play Owens on Friday night.
The Lakers have won back-to-back District Championships but find themselves in unfamiliar territory as the top overall seed entering the tournament. Last year, LCC entered as the four seed and upset the top-seeded Columbus State in the semifinals before a 20-point win over Owens in the final.
Saturday’s OCCAC title is the first for 10th year head coach Terry Bowe, who has already made program history with a pair of district titles during his tenure.
February 23, 2013 | No. 11 Lakeland Men Clinch First Conference Title Since 1995
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| Lakeland can win the conference outright with a victory over Sinclair in the regular season finale on March 2. | PIQUA, Ohio – With a 100-79 victory at Edison on Saturday afternoon, the nationally-ranked Lakeland men clinched at least a share of the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) title for the first time since 1995. The Lakers, who can win the conference outright on Saturday (March 2) when they travel to Sinclair, hold a one game lead and the tiebreaker over second-place Owens with one game to go in the regular season. LCC also secured the top overall seed and a first round bye in the upcoming District 11 Tournament in Cincinnati, which will determine who advances to the NJCAA Division II National Tournament in mid-March.
The conference title is the third in program history and ends an 18-year drought. Despite a pair of district championships and NJCAA national tournament appearances during his tenure, an OCCAC championship has remained elusive for 10th-year head coach Terry Bowe. That all changed on Saturday when the Lakers (22-5, 10-1 OCCAC) rolled past the Chargers behind a standout performance from sophomore guard Martell Medley (Euclid).
Medley shot 11 of 16 from the floor and finished with 25 points, eight rebounds, and five assists. Sophomore forward Chaz Rollins posted a double-double off the bench with 12 points and ten rebounds while classmate Daishon Robinson added 13 points of his own.
Lakeland has just one blemish since January, which came in the form of a two point setback to Owens on February 13. LCC has won 14 of its last 15 games and has not lost a game by more than eight points all season long.
The season’s most important stretch lies ahead as the Lakers prepare for the district tournament with the regular season finale in Dayton. In NJCAA Division II basketball, teams earn a trip to the national tournament solely by winning their respective district.
District 11, comprised of all the teams in the OCCAC, has been won by Lakeland for the past two seasons. This year’s tournament will be hosted by Cincinnati State Technical & Community College, with the semifinals on Friday (March 8) and the championship game Saturday evening.
Lakeland and Owens are locked in as the district’s top two teams while the remaining schools will battle into the final weekend to determine their seeding.
Box Score
February 20, 2013 | No. 11 Lakeland Celebrates Sophomore Night with 106-80 Victory Over Tri-C
KIRTLAND, Ohio – Charles Oliver’s 24 points led six players in double figures as the nationally-ranked Lakeland men’s basketball team cruised past visiting Tri-C in the final home game of the regular season. The Lakers move to 21-5 overall (9-1 OCCAC) and are just one win away from clinching at least a share of the conference championship for the first time since 1995. Lakeland can win the conference outright by closing out the season with two straight victories but will have to go on the road at Edison (Feb. 23) and Sinclair (March 2) in order to do it.
Oliver finished 10 of 14 from the floor and did most of his damage in the first half, scoring 18 points over the opening 20 minutes of play. Chaz Rollins and Daishon Robinson provided a spark off the bench, finishing with 18 and 11 points, respectively.
Richard Smith nearly posted another triple-double, finishing a block shy on the night. The sophomore forward scored 14 points, pulled in 11 rebounds, and denied nine shots to help Lakeland to a 48-36 advantage on the glass. Classmate Martell Medley added 13 points and dished out nine assists while Deran Banton scored 16.
Prior to tip-off Lakeland’s nine sophomores were recognized for their hard work in the classroom and on the court. This year’s class has posted a 48-14 record to date and has a chance to graduate with the most wins in the 43-year history of Lakeland basketball.
The Lakers take on Edison at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday afternoon.
Box Score
 February 20, 2013 | Sophomore Night Marks Regular Season Home Finale
KIRTLAND, Ohio – Nine sophomore men’s basketball student-athletes who have elevated the program to unprecedented heights will be recognized prior to tonight’s game against Cuyahoga as a part of sophomore night at Lakeland. Since arriving, the group has helped the Lakers achieve their highest national ranking in program history (No. 3), win their second district championship, advance to the NJCAA Final Four, and finish with the highest national ranking (No. 4) in the 43-year history of Lakeland basketball. To date, the sophomore class has posted 47-14 overall record.
Tip-off is slated for 7:30 p.m. against the Challengers, with a victory helping the Lakers inch closer to their first conference championship since 1995. Lakeland needs just two wins in its final three games to ensure a share of the OCCAC title and can win the conference outright with three straight wins to close out the regular season.
February 13, 2013 | Owens Edges No. 8 Lakeland, Snaps Lakers’ 13-Game Win Streak
KIRTLAND, Ohio – Visiting Owens held off nationally-ranked Lakeland, 71-69, on Wednesday night, handing the Lakers their first defeat since December and first loss in the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) to date. After splitting the season series, the Lakers (20-5, 8-1 OCCAC) and Express (19-7, 8-1) find themselves tied for first place in the conference with three games to play.
Both teams now control their own destiny towards claiming an OCCAC title. If both win their last three games, they would be honored as co-champions of the conference and would need to go to a coin flip to determine seeding for the Region 12, District 10 tournament in Cincinnati in early March.
Richard Smith flirted with a triple-double, finishing with 16 points, 12 rebounds, and nine blocks in defeat. By denying nine shots, Smith set the Lakeland record for blocks in a single season with 96. The sophomore forward, who will undoubtedly go down as the greatest shot blocker in Lakeland history, now holds the single game (15), single season, and career (177) records.
Sophomore guards Martell Medley and Daishon Robinson added 14 and 13, respectively, while classmate Chaz Rollins chipped in 11 points and seven boards.
Both teams struggled on the offensive end, posting season-lows in points. Lakeland shot just 35% from the floor and 26% from beyond the arc while Owens posted similar numbers at 37% and 25%, respectively.
The Express won the battle of the boards and finished with 58-45 advantage on the glass including 25 offensive rebounds. Three players recorded double-digit rebounds for the visitors, led by Chris Wilson’s 11 off the bench.
Owens’ Joe Retic II led all scorers with 26 points on 11-of-21 shooting while sophomore forward James Kelly added 15 points and eight boards.
Lakeland returns to action on Wednesday (Feb. 20) when it hosts local rival Cuyahoga at 7:30 p.m.
Box Score
February 13, 2013 | Lakers, Express Meet with Conference Title at Stake
.jpg) KIRTLAND, Ohio – On Wednesday night, the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference’s (OCCAC) top two teams face off when first-place Lakeland hosts Owens at 7:30 p.m. The nationally-ranked Lakers, winners of 13 straight, welcome an Express team which has dropped just one game in 2013 – a three point setback to Lakeland in mid-January.
The Lakers (20-4, 8-0) have a chance to put a stranglehold on the conference title race with a victory tonight, moving them within a single win of the OCCAC crown with three games to go. A win for the Express (18-7, 7-1) would be equally rewarding, enabling them to pull even with Lakeland at 8-1 in league play.
Despite back-to-back District championships and NJCAA Division II National Tournament appearances, Lakeland has not cut down the nets as champions of the OCCAC since the 1994-95 season. Similarly, Owens is in search of a conference title for the first time since back-to-back championships in 2000 and 2001.
LCC enters the game 4-1 against Owens in the last five regular season matchups including the only blemish on the Express’ OCCAC record this year. In the last meeting, Lakeland erased a six point halftime deficit by outscoring Owens 54-45 over the final 20 minutes en route to a 97-94 victory.
Lakeland Team Statistics | Owens Team Statistics
February 11, 2013 | Lakeland Men Reach 20 Wins for Third Straight Year
KIRTLAND, Ohio – The No. 11 Lakeland men’s basketball team held off Malone University JV, 93-84, on Monday night to improve to 20-4 overall and reach the 20-win plateau for the third straight season under head coach Terry Bowe.
Sophomore forwards Chaz Rollins and Chris Jefferies posted double-doubles while classmate Daishon Robinson poured in a game-high 27 points in the victory, the Lakers’ 13th in a row.
Rollins finished with 26 points and 14 rebounds while Jefferies (pictured, right) added 13 points and a career-high 12 boards in 10 on the offensive end.
Michael Turman chipped in seven points, six rebounds, and five steals in the win, setting the stage for a huge showdown with Owens Community College on Wednesday night (7:30 p.m.) inside the Athletic & Fitness Center.
Owens comes to Kirtland riding a four game win streak. The Express are 7-1 in OCCAC play, falling to visiting Lakeland by three (97-94) in mid-January for their only blemish of 2013.
Box Score
February 9, 2013 | Banton, Oliver Push Lakers to 12th Straight Victory
CINCINNATI, Ohio – Deran Banton (29 points) and Charles Oliver (25) both matched career-highs in scoring to help the nationally-ranked Lakeland men remain unbeaten in conference play with a 107-97 victory at Cincinnati State on Saturday afternoon. The win is the first-place Lakers 12th straight and moves their overall record to 19-4 (8-0 OCCAC).
Banton finished nine of 16 from the floor and connected on 10 of 13 attempts from the free throw line. The sophomore guard also pulled down six rebounds and recorded three steals. Classmate Martell Medley chipped in 20 points, hitting his first eight shots from the floor including all four tries from beyond the arc.
Chaz Rollins came off the bench to contribute 21 points, 13 rebounds, and three blocks in just 23 minutes of action.
Lakeland will host Malone University JV on Monday night (7:30 p.m.) before welcoming second-place Owens on Wednesday with a shot at moving within one win of its first conference championship since 1995.
Game Notes:
• The 12th straight victory marks Lakeland’s longest win streak under tenth year head coach Terry Bowe.
• Offensively, the Lakers are ranked fifth in the nation in scoring (93.9 ppg), shooting percentage (51.4%), and three-point percentage (42.1%).
Box Score
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| Smith already holds the single game and career blocks record and is on pace to set the single season mark by the end of the year. |
February 6, 2013 | Smith Sets Career Blocks Record as Lakers Hold Off Cougars
KIRTLAND, Ohio – Sophomore Richard Smith denied five shots, breaking a 21-year old school record in the process, as the No. 11 Lakeland men’s basketball team held off a late charge from visiting Columbus State to pick up a 79-72 victory on Wednesday night. The Lakers (18-4, 7-0 OCCAC) have won 11 straight, tying last season’s record for consecutive wins under 10th year head coach Terry Bowe.
The second year forward came into the game as the nation’s second leading shot blocker, averaging 4.5 per game. After recording 81 blocks as a freshman, Smith has already registered 86 as a sophomore with five games still remaining in the regular season. His 167 blocks surpass Steve Hanek’s mark of 166 set from 1990-92. Smith is also in range of Ray Chambers’ single season record of 94 blocks, which was set during the 2010-11 season.
The nationally-ranked Lakers looked to be well on their way to a victory, taking a 40-31 lead into the half and extending the advantage to 21 points (68-47) with just over ten minutes to play in regulation. Columbus State responded with a 24-8 run over the ensuing nine minutes, pulling within five points with 90 seconds to go on a Jorian Hudson jumper. Hudson scored 14 of his team-high 21 points in the second half.
Martell Medley connected on three of four attempts from the charity stripe down the stretch to help ensure Lakeland would remain unbeaten in 2013. The sophomore guard finished with 16 points, five assists, and five rebounds in the victory.
Charles Oliver paced Lakeland with 17 points while Chaz Rollins (14) and Deran Banton (10) also reached double figures. Smith finished with a game-high 10 rebounds to go along with nine points.
Lakeland will shift its focus to two of the conference’s top teams in the coming week. LCC travels to third-place Cincinnati State on Saturday (Feb. 9) at 3:00 p.m. before hosting second-place Owens on Wednesday (Feb. 13) at 7:30 p.m.
Notes:
• Richard Smith is on the cusp of becoming the greatest shot blocker in the 43-year history of Lakeland basketball. Already the record holder for most blocks in a single game (15) and a career (167), the sophomore forward needs just eight more to set the single season mark with 95.
• By sweeping the regular-season series, Lakeland has now recorded three straight wins over Columbus including last year’s District 10 semifinal victory.
Box Score | News-Herald Article
February 2, 2013 | Bench Production Powers Lakers to Tenth Straight Win
KIRTLAND, Ohio – No. 12 Lakeland posted a 47-15 advantage in points off the bench on its way to a 92-73 victory over visiting Edison on Saturday afternoon. The win moves the Lakers to 6-0 in Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) play and marks the midway point in the conference schedule.
Charles Oliver led all scorers with 19 points while three other Lakers, all coming off the bench, reached double figures. Sophomore forward Chaz Rollins chipped in 18 points and seven rebounds in just 18 minutes while Daishon Robinson and Chris Jefferies added 12 and 10 points, respectively. The hosts held a 47-15 advantage in bench points and held the Chargers to 37% shooting on the afternoon.
Lakeland (17-4, 6-0 OCCAC) opened the game with a 9-0 run and never looked back, taking a 53-43 lead into the half before holding Edison to 29% shooting over the final 20 minutes. Brandon Ervin led the Chargers with 17 points but needed 19 shots to get there.
Richard Smith posted another complete game for the Lakers, finishing with seven points, six rebounds, and five blocks. Second in the nation in blocks per game, Smith is just 13 shy of Ray Chambers’ single-season record of 94. The sophomore forward is averaging nearly five per game.
The Lakers host Columbus State (13-8, 2-4) on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. inside the Athletic & Fitness Center.
Notes:
• Lakeland is one victory away from tying its longest win streak under 10th year head coach Terry Bowe.
• Charles Oliver is 12th in the nation in three point shooting percentage, connecting on 49.5% of his tries from beyond the arc.
• Lakeland has won seven straight against Edison, last falling to the Chargers on February 14, 2009.
Box Score | News-Herald Article | Lake County-Sentinel Article
January 30, 2013 | Lakers Finish Unbeaten in January with Win at Cuyahoga
HIGHLAND HILLS, Ohio – No. 12 Lakeland closed out the month of January with a 96-76 win over Cuyahoga - its ninth straight win to open 2013 and first on the road at Tri-C since 2009. The win snaps a four game regular-season losing streak against the Challengers and moves the Lakers to 15-4 overall and 5-0 in OCCAC play.
Charles Oliver poured in a team-high 23 points, connecting on five of nine attempts from beyond the arc, to go along with three assists. Four others reached double figures for the visitors including Chaz Rollins (17), Deran Banton (15), Martell Medley (14), and Richard Smith (12).
Medley tied his career high in assists for the third time this season, finishing with eight on the night.
Lakeland spotted the hosts an early advantage but clawed back to take a 46-45 lead into the locker rooms before outscoring Cuyahoga 50-31 over the final 20 minutes of play.
Oliver found his touch early in the second half, drilling three straight from distance to help Lakeland pull away. The sophomore guard is shooting 50% from beyond the arc, good for 11th in the nation.
Smith added four blocks in the victory and posted a highlight reel dunk in the opening five minutes of play.
Already off to the best start in the conference during the Terry Bowe era, Lakeland remains one game ahead of second place Owens (15-7, 4-1) in the race for the title. On Saturday, LCC will host Edison at 3:00 p.m. to mark the midway point in league play.
Notes:
• Lakeland’s current nine-game win streak is two short of tying the record under head coach Terry Bowe. The 2011-12 team opened the season with 11 straight victories, climbing to a No. 3 national ranking in the process.
• The Lakers lead the conference in scoring, averaging 93.6 points per game in five OCCAC contests. LCC is averaging 101.6 points in its last three league games.
Box Score
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| Lakeland is second in the nation in blocks, averaging just over seven per game so far this season. |
January 28, 2013 | Lakers Continue to Roll, Drop Sinclair 112-76
KIRTLAND, Ohio – Nationally-ranked Lakeland raced out to a 20-4 lead in the opening five minutes and never looked back, cruising to a 112-76 victory over visiting Sinclair on Saturday afternoon to improve to 14-4 overall and 4-0 in conference play. The perfect start to the OCCAC slate marks the best ever under tenth year head coach Terry Bowe.
The win, coupled with a loss by Edison on Saturday afternoon, gives Lakeland sole possession of first place in the conference.
The No. 12 Lakers carried a 59-38 lead into the break and led by as much as 45 in the second half. Deran Banton led the way with a career-high 29 points in just 17 minutes of action. The sophomore guard picked up where he left off on Wednesday, connecting on 10-of-12 attempts from the floor to go along with a team-high eight rebounds.
Lakeland outscored Sinclair 71-29 in the paint and held a 52-38 advantage in bench points thanks to 17 and 14 from Daishon Robinson and Michael Turman, respectively.
Sophomores Charles Oliver and Martell Medley combined for 26 points and 11 rebounds for the Lakers, who have won seven straight and ten of their last 11. Richard Smith, already one of the nation’s top defenders, denied five shots in the win.
Drew Moore led Sinclair (15-7, 1-3 OCCAC) with a season-high 31 points off the bench while Charlie Byers and Gavin Schumann added 15 and 14, respectively.
Lakeland heads to Butler, Pennsylvania on Monday (Jan. 28) for a non-conference tune-up at Butler County CC before traveling to local rival Cuyahoga CC on Wednesday.
Notes:
• Lakeland is third in the nation in scoring (92.8 ppg) and seventh in field goal percentage (50.7%).
• Defensively, the Lakers are second in the nation in blocks per game (7.2) and eighth in steals (13.9).
Box Score | News-Herald Article
January 24, 2013 | Lakeland, Sinclair Team Up for Coaches vs. Cancer Suits & Sneakers Weekend
KIRTLAND, Ohio – On Saturday, January 26 members of the coaching staff at Lakeland Community College and Sinclair Community College will participate in the Coaches vs. Cancer® Suits and Sneakers awareness weekend. The American Cancer Society, the National Association of Basketball Coaches and more than 4,000 college basketball coaches will lace up to fight cancer January 25-27, 2013 during Suits And Sneakers weekend. Coaches will wear sneakers instead of dress shoes with their suits to demonstrate their support for the American Cancer Society and its vision of a world with less cancer and more birthdays.
Locally, the Cleveland Clinic Family Health Center in Willoughby Hills provides care for cancer patients and others right here in Lake County. Lakeland athletics will be accepting donations in the AFC lobby throughout the game.
For more information on the Coaches vs. Cancer® initiative visit www.cancer.org/coaches.
January 23, 2013 | No. 12 Lakeland Rallies Past Owens, Stays Unbeaten in OCCAC
TOLEDO, Ohio – The nationally-ranked Lakeland men’s basketball team used a 15-2 run midway through the second half to erase a 12 point deficit en route to a hard fought 97-94 victory over host Owens in Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) action Wednesday night. The Lakers improve to 13-4 overall (3-0 OCCAC), tying their best start in league play since the 2006-07 season.
Charles Oliver poured in a team-high 25 points to go along with season-highs in rebounds (6) and assists (5). Deran Banton went 9-for-10 from the floor en route to 20 points while Chaz Rollins (13), Daishon Robinson (12), and Martell Medley (10) also scored in double figures for LCC.
James Kelly led the way with 26 points and 16 rebounds for the Express, who also benefitted from Tony Boykins’ 24 points and six rebounds.
The Lakers’ second half run helped them seize the advantage for the first time since leading 16-14 at the 14:29 mark of the first half. The two sides continued to trade baskets and were deadlocked at 80 with just under five minutes to play. Lakeland responded with a 10-2 run over the ensuing three and a half minutes to take a 90-82 lead with a minute left.
The Express battled back in the closing seconds, pulling with two (96-94) with 11 ticks to go. Robinson made one of two from the free throw line to put the visitors on top by three and freshman guard Marcus Fleming sealed the victory with a steal on Owens’ final possession of the game.
Despite Kelly’s hefty numbers, the Lakers held a sizeable advantage in points in the paint (60-36) while outscoring the express 30-13 in points off turnovers.
After three straight road games, Lakeland finally returns to the Athletic & Fitness Center this Saturday (Jan. 26) when it hosts Sinclair at 3 p.m.
Notes:
• Prior to tip-off, Lakeland moved up five places in the latest Division II national poll to the No. 12 spot – their highest ranking since occupying the same position on November 13.
• A win over visiting Sinclair on Saturday (Jan. 26, 3 p.m.) afternoon would give Lakeland a 4-0 record to open OCCAC play, their best start under 10th year head coach Terry Bowe.
• A slew of close losses during the non-conference slate have proven to be invaluable for Lakeland through the early stages of conference play. After losing four games by a combined 18 points in the first half of the season, the Lakers have secured three league wins by an average margin of victory of 2.6 points per game.
Box Score
 Smith Garners OCCAC’s First Player of the Week Honors of 2013
KIRTLAND, Ohio – Sophomore forward Richard Smith (Cleveland, Ohio / Lutheran East) helped the Lakeland men’s basketball team open Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) play with a win over nationally-ranked Cincinnati State on Saturday (Jan. 12) afternoon. For his efforts, Smith was named conference player of the week for the week ending Jan. 13.
Smith tied a career-high with four assists while scoring 13 points and pulling down a game-high 12 rebounds in an 80-79 victory over the No. 13 Surge. The sophomore forward added five blocks and a steal in the win and did not commit a turnover or a foul in 29 minutes of action. He is currently ranked 3rd in the nation in blocks, averaging 4.5 per game.
This is the first player of the week selection for Smith and marks the second straight year the OCCAC’s first weekly honor has gone to Lakeland. Future first team All-American Brendan Cooper similarly earned conference recognition after last year’s victory over Cincinnati State.
January 17, 2013 | Lakeland Holds Off Columbus State in Matchup of Nationally-Ranked Teams
 COLUMBUS, Ohio - There are no off days in the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference. One of the most competitive leagues in the country showcased its strength on Wednesday night when No. 15 Lakeland visited No. 19 Columbus in the state capital. Both teams entered the game nationally ranked and in pursuit of a 2-0 start in the conference for the second consecutive season. Lakeland led nearly start to finish and iced the game with four straight free throws in the closing seconds to pick up a hard fought 82-78 win and improve to 11-4 overall. Columbus State drops to 12-5 overall with the loss.
One game removed from nearly blowing a late lead against Cincinnati State by failing to convert from the charity stripe, the Lakers showed poise by shooting 86% from the free throw line on Wednesday night. Sophomore guard Daishon Robinson went 6-for-6 on the night and drilled all four attempts in the final minute to ensure the victory.
Tied at 76 with less than a minute to play, Martell Medley nailed a jumper to give Lakeland a slim two point lead. Columbus State came up empty on the ensuing possession and Lakeland secured the defensive rebound. Robinson was fouled immediately and converted both attempts to give the visitors a four point cushion. The Cougars cut the deficit in half with a bucket on the other end but left Robinson unguarded on the inbounds pass. After being fouled, the second year guard calmly put the game away with two more from the line to give Lakeland its final four point cushion.
Medley tied a season-high with 21 points including a trio of three pointers to go along with six rebounds. Robinson finished with 18 points on the night, reaching double figures for the seventh time this season. Charles Oliver and Deran Banton added 16 and 11, respectively.
Sophomore forward Richard Smith put together another solid all-around game with nine rebounds, seven points, and five blocks in the victory, Lakeland’s fourth straight and seventh in its last eight games.
The Lakers take a break from the conference slate this weekend when they take on Spire Institute on Friday (Jan. 18) before another tough road test on Wednesday (Jan. 23) when they travel to Owens Community College at 7:30 p.m. The Express were on the cusp of a national ranking last week and face Cincinnati State on Saturday afternoon. A win on Saturday would all but ensure a top-20 ranking and provide Lakeland with its third straight game against a ranked team to open OCCAC play.
Box Score
January 12, 2012 | Lakeland Knocks Off Nationally-Ranked Cincinnati State in OCCAC Opener
KIRTLAND, Ohio – Charles Oliver poured in 22 points, Richard Smith added a double-double, and the Lakeland men’s basketball team upset No. 13 Cincinnati State 80-79 in the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) opener for both teams on Saturday afternoon. The Lakers (10-4 overall) begin conference play with a victory over the Surge for the second straight season and will travel to Columbus State (12-4, 1-0) on Wednesday (Jan. 16) evening.
Oliver led all scorers with 22 points including 11 of Lakeland’s first 15 to give the hosts a five point lead in the early stages of the first half. Deran Banton added 21 points while Smith scored 13 to go along with a game-high 12 rebounds. The sophomore forward also tied a career high with four assists.
Daishon Robinson provided a spark off the bench, making his first four shots including three from beyond the arc. Robinson finished with 14 points on five of eight shooting from the floor. Classmate Martell Medley tied a career high with eight assists for Lakeland.
Devonte Smith and O’Brien Hobbs led the Surge with 18 and 15 points, respectively, off the bench.
The Lakers took a 46-41 lead into the locker room and never trailed in the second half, though the Surge made a late push and had an opportunity to escape with a win in the closing seconds. With Lakeland ahead by one and two seconds remaining, Robinson missed a pair of free throws to give the ball back to Cincinnati State. Kevin Marshall corralled the rebound after the second miss but was unable to control it enough to get off a full court shot as time expired.
Lakeland returns to action at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday and will look to avenge a pair of regular season losses to the Cougars last year. The two teams met three times last year, with Lakeland pulling off the biggest win of all – a 76-68 victory in the semifinals of the District 10 Tournament. The Lakers would go on to win the championship and advance to the NJCAA Division II National Tournament for the second straight season.
Notes:
• Richard Smith finished the game with five blocks, moving his season average to 4.4 blocks per game. He currently ranks fourth in the nation in that category.
• Lakeland and Cincinnati have split the regular season series in each of the last three seasons.
• The Lakers assisted on 83.3% of their made field goals (25 of 30) on the afternoon. It was the highest assist percentage of the season for LCC.
Box Score | Lake County-Sentinel Article
 January 10, 2013 | Preview: Lakers Prep for Nationally-Ranked Cincinnati State in Conference Opener
KIRTLAND, Ohio – After 12 games and two months’ worth of preparation, the Lakeland men’s basketball team finds itself just days away from its first Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) game of the 2012-13 season. The conference opener features a matchup between a preseason nationally-ranked team in Lakeland (8-4) and the nation’s current No. 13 team in Cincinnati State (13-3). The game will be Lakeland's fourth against a nationally-ranked team already this season.
The Matchup
Lakeland and Cincinnati State split the series last season, with each team winning on the “road.” In the first meeting, the Lakers defeated the host Surge, 81-73, behind a near triple-double from future first team All-American Brendan Cooper in the conference opener for both teams. All five starters reached double figures for Lakeland, which improved to 14-2 with the victory.
Just over one month later, Cincinnati would visit Lakeland on a neutral court at Notre Dame College’s Keller Center. The Lakers took a 38-32 lead into the halftime break before being outscored 42-24 over the final 20 minutes of play. The loss was the second of three straight in February for nationally-ranked Lakeland. The Lakers would respond in crunch time by winning seven straight games to advance all the way to the NJCAA Division II Final Four in Danville, Ill. before falling to eventual national champion Mott Community College.
Balanced Scoring
Both teams have shown the value of a balanced approach on the offensive end as Cincinnati boasts five players averaging double figures to Lakeland’s four. Sophomore guard Tom Jackson leads the surge with 15.1 points and 6.1 assists per game while sophomore guard Charles Oliver is averaging a team-best 17.9 points per game for the Lakers.
High Scoring Affair
Both teams enter the game ranked in the top ten nationally in points per game. The Surge are currently third (94.5 ppg) and have eclipsed the 100-point mark in five games. Meanwhile, Lakeland is ranked sixth (92.2 ppg) and has topped the century mark three times.
Turnover Battle
Lakeland and Cincinnati have shown the ability to turn the other team over, evidenced by a top-five national ranking for both teams. The Lakers are fourth in the nation with 14.6 steals per game while the Surge hold the benchmark, averaging 18.7 steals per game.
Though the Lakers hold the title of back-to-back district champions, an OCCAC title has remained elusive. The pursuit of the program’s first conference championship since 1995 begins on Saturday at 3:00 p.m. inside the Athletic & Fitness Center.
Lakeland Statistics | Cincinnati State Statistics
January 10, 2012 | Lakers Cruise Past Heidelberg JV, Prep for OCCAC Opener
TIFFIN, Ohio – In their final game before beginning conference play on Saturday, the Lakeland men’s basketball team cruised past Heidelberg University JV, 109-74, on Thursday night inside Seiberling Gymnasium. Charles Oliver’s 21 points led five players in double figures for the Lakers, who shot 80% (12 of 15) from the three point line in the victory.
Martell Medley added 19 points and four assists while Daishon Robinson contributed 16 points off the bench. Sophomores Chris Jefferies and Deran Banton scored 15 points apiece and pulled down nine and eight rebounds, respectively.
Freshman guard Marcus Fleming dished out a career-high seven assists in the win, which moved Lakeland’s record to 9-4 overall entering OCCAC play.
The Lakers open the conference slate with nationally-ranked Cincinnati State for the second straight year. Last season LCC came back from Cincinnati with an 81-73 victory.
Box Score
January 8, 2013 | Lakeland Men Open 2013 with Victory Over Spire Institute
KIRTLAND, Ohio – Sophomore Charles Oliver led four players in double figures as Lakeland Community College defeated visiting Spire Institute 94-69 in non-conference men’s basketball action Tuesday night inside the Athletic & Fitness Center. The Lakers improve to 8-4 overall with the win, which comes four days ahead of their conference opener against nationally-ranked Cincinnati State on Saturday afternoon.
Oliver finished an efficient six of eight from the floor and 10 of 12 from the charity stripe for a game-high 23 points – one shy of his career high. Classmate Deran Banton added 20 points and a career-high six steals while Martell Medley chipped in 15 points to go along with seven assists. Sophomore forward Richard Smith added 11 points, nine rebounds, and four blocks in the victory.
LCC extended a five point (40-35) halftime lead by outscoring Spire 54-34 over the final 20 minutes of play. The visitors managed to level the game at 45 with just over 16 minutes remaining in the second half and were within three (55-52) with 13 minutes to go before the hosts rattled off a 27-6 run to effectively shut the door.
The Lakers’ defense forced 28 turnovers on the night, leading to 31 points. Lakeland also held a sizeable 58-20 advantage on points in the paint and was plus-20 in fastbreak points.
Lakeland will travel to Tiffin, Ohio on Thursday night to take on Heidelberg University JV in its final non-conference tune-up before welcoming the Surge to the AFC on Saturday at 3:00 p.m. The Lakers split the season series with Cincinnati last year, defeating the Surge on the road in the conference opener before falling on a neutral court in mid-February.
Notes:
• Martell Medley’s seven assists are one shy of his career high, set earlier in the year against Butler County Community College (Dec. 1).
• Lakeland finished the game with six blocks and is averaging 7.1 per game on the year – good for third in the country.
• The Lakers are currently ranked in the top-10 nationally in a number of statistical categories including points per game (92.2, 6th), field goals made per game (34.0, 8th), and steals per game (14.6, 6th).
Box Score
December 15, 2012 | No. 13 Lakeland Men Edged by Niagara County in Closing Seconds
KIRTLAND, Ohio – Tyler Truesdell’s only basket of the day proved to be a crucial one. Trailing by one with seven seconds to go, Truesdell stole in the inbounds pass and laid in the game winning layup with five ticks remaining to give visiting Niagara County a 79-77 victory over nationally-ranked Lakeland in non-conference men’s basketball action Saturday afternoon. Lakeland’s opportunity to answer at the other end was derailed by a traveling call with two seconds to go, all but ensuring a victory for the Thunderwolves in the Lakers’ final game of the fall semester.
Lakeland (7-4) is off for the next three weeks before hosting Lorain County on Tuesday (Dec. 8) at 7:30 p.m. LCC will enter the holiday break nationally ranked for the second consecutive year. Last year the Lakers were 12-2 and ranked No. 7 in the country.
A back and forth game throughout, Lakeland appeared to have the game in control in the final minute when Daishon Robinson converted a pair of free throws to give the hosts a three point lead (77-74) with less than 30 seconds to go.
On the ensuing possession, Kushan Hunter corralled an offensive rebound - one of 17 on the day for Niagara County – and made no mistake with the put back to trim the deficit to just one. After Truesdell’s steal and score, Lakeland was left with five seconds to go the length of the court with a chance to reclaim the lead.
Daishon Robinson dribbled down the right wing and was met near the paint by the Thunderwolves defense, which forced a turnover with a second to go. Jon Marsh sealed the win with a free throw before missing the second on purpose as the clock hit zero.
The Lakers appeared to be well on their way to avenging an earlier loss to Niagara County when they took a 39-31 lead into the break. But the Thunderwolves closed the gap in a hurry and took the lead themselves just five minutes into the second half after Ethan Baker’s three-pointer gave the visitors a 45-43 advantage.
Neither team led by more than six points through the rest of the game, with both sides trading baskets down the stretch.
Marcus Fleming scored eight of his 13 points in the second half while tying a career-high with five assists. Deran Banton added ten points, three steals, and a career-high six assists in the setback while sophomore guard Charles Oliver chipped in 12 points and four steals in 25 minutes of action.
Robinson and Chaz Rollins combined for 24 points off the bench for the Lakers, who lost their fourth game by single digits this season.
Box Score
December 8, 2012 | Smith Breaks School Record as Lakers Run Past Henry Ford
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| Richard Smith broke a 21 year old school record when he recorded 15 blocks against Henry Ford on Saturday afternoon. |
DEARBORN, Mich. - Richard Smith shattered a school record by denying 15 shots in an 83-63 win over host Henry Ford on Saturday afternoon. The previous record was held by Steve Hanek, who’s ten blocks against Sinclair on January 1, 1991 were the benchmark for over 21 years. Smith came within a point of his second consecutive triple-double, finishing with nine points to go along with ten rebounds off the bench.
Chaz Rollins added 22 points and 13 rebounds off the bench to lead five players in double figures. Martell Medley chipped in 17 points including a trio from beyond the arc. Charles Oliver, who has scored in double figures every game this season, kept the streak alive with 11 while Marcus Fleming and Deran Banton had ten each.
The nationally-ranked Lakers improve to 7-3 overall with their third straight win. On Saturday (Dec. 15) Lakeland will look to avenge one of its three losses when they host Niagara County at 3:00 p.m. inside the Athletic & Fitness Center.
Box Score
December 7, 2012 | Smith’s Triple-Double Fuels Lakeland Men
PORT HURON, Mich. – Sophmore forward Richard Smith recorded a triple-double and helped the nationally-ranked Lakeland men’s basketball team defeat host St. Clair County 89-82 on Friday night. Smith finished with ten points, 11 rebounds, and ten blocks on the day, tying Steve Hanek’s school record for blocks in the process.
Sophomore guards Daishon Robinson and Martell Medley led the way offensively with 19 and 17 points, respectively, while classmates Charles Oliver and Chaz Rollins added 14 apiece. Lakeland (6-3) shot 58% from the floor and was six of ten from beyond the arc.
Freshman guard Marcus Fleming chipped in three steals and three assists in the victory.
Box Score
December 1, 2012 | Robinson’s 29 Points Fuel No. 14 Lakeland in Rout
KIRTLAND, Ohio – Sophomore guard Daishon Robinson set career-highs with 29 points and nine rebounds to lead seven Lakers in double figures as the nationally-ranked men’s basketball team cruised past visiting Butler County 132-51 on Saturday afternoon. Robinson came off the bench and went 11-for-20 from the floor in just 24 minutes.
Classmate Isiah Boddie added a double-double off the bench on ten points and 12 rebounds while Michael Turman chipped in 14 points and seven boards.
Four of Lakeland’s five starters reached double digit points, led by Marcus Fleming’s career-high 19. Deran Banton and Martell Medley added 17 points each in less than 20 minutes played while Charles Oliver finished with 16. Lakeland improved to 5-3 overall with the win and will travel to St. Clair County Community College on Friday night. All three of the Lakers’ losses this year have come to nationally-ranked teams by a combined 16 points.
Medley also dished out a career-high eight assists in the game, part of the Lakers’ 28 on 52 field goals. Lakeland held a sizeable advantage in rebounds (62-33) and forced Butler County into 29 turnovers on the day.
Notes:
• Lakeland is averaging 95.5 points per game, the fourth most in the nation
• The Lakers have already eclipsed the 100-point mark in three games this season (all wins). LCC reached 100 points four times all of last year.
More Links:
Box Score
November 27, 2012 | No. 19 Niagara County Clips No. 14 Lakeland Men in Overtime
SANBORN, N.Y. – Isaiah Johnson scored 32 points to lead five players in double figures as Niagara County outlasted visiting Lakeland, 94-89, in a matchup of nationally-ranked teams. Johnson finished eight of 17 from the floor of 14 of 15 from the free throw line while adding seven rebounds, four steals, and four assists in the victory. The Thunderwolves (6-1) won their sixth straight game since a season-opening loss to Genesee.
Short-handed Lakeland (4-3) was led by Deran Banton’s 24 points, nine rebounds, and four steals. The sophomore guard finished 10 of 19 from the floor and pulled down a team-high six offensive rebounds in the setback. All three of the Lakers’ losses this year have come to nationally-ranked opponents. LCC opened the year with a 78-70 loss to then-No. 13 Danville Area before falling 94-91 to then-No. 8 Monroe in the TJ Memorial Classic championship game on November 17.
Sophomore Martell Medley chipped in 21 points and seven rebounds in his first start of the season while classmate Charles Oliver continued his consistent scoring streak with 18 points including a trio of three-pointers.
Lakeland will look to rebound on Saturday (Dec. 1) when it plays host to Butler County (0-3) at 3:00 p.m. inside the Athletic & Fitness Center.
Notes:
• Lakeland held a 16-2 advantage in fast break points but was outscored 28-18 on second chance baskets.
• The Lakers are ranked 11th in the nation in points per game (90.3) and steals per game (14.1) through the first seven games of the season.
More Links:
Box Score
November 17, 2012 | Nationally-Ranked Lakeland Men Finish Second at TJ Memorial Classic
KIRTLAND, Ohio – The No. 12 Lakeland men’s basketball team opened the 5th Annual TJ Memorial Classic with a decisive 111-81 victory over Mercyhurst North East before falling, 94-91, to No. 8 Monroe Community College in the title game.
The Lakers, who won last year’s tournament championship and hadn’t lost at home to a non-conference foe in over a year, cruised past the Saints in the opener behind 24 points from sophomore guard Charles Oliver. Oliver was six for 11 from the floor including five for six from beyond the arc while classmates Chaz Rollins and Martell Medley added 19 and 18 points, respectively. Rollins added a team-high 11 rebounds for his fourth double-double in as many games.
The tournament championship was a matchup of nationally-ranked teams that lived up to its billing. Charles Oliver led five Lakeland players in double figures with a game-high 24 points. Chaz Rollins chipped in 21 points and 13 boards off the bench who the hosts, who fell to a nationally-ranked team for the second time this year.
Lakeland used a 16-0 run midway through the opening half to turn a two point deficit into a 14-point advantage behind hot shooting from Daishon Robinson and Martell Medley. The sophomore guards finished with 12 points apiece. The visitors responded with a run of their own, rattling off 11 unanswered points to pull within three with just over six minutes to play in the half. Monroe took a 47-40 lead into the break after scoring seven of the final nine points to close out the half.
The Tribunes extended their second half lead to as much as 17 points (73-56) with 11 minutes to go in regulation before the Lakers began to chip away. Trailing by eight with two minutes to play, Charles Oliver converted a conventional three point play to pull the Lakers within five. Medley and Rollins converted layups on back-to-back possessions, trimming the deficit to one with 38 seconds left.
Lakeland forced a turnover on the sideline with 21 seconds to go and elected for the final shot with the game on the line. Daishon Robinson’s three-pointer nearly won it for the Lakers but fell off the rim in the final seconds. Charles Oliver and Chaz Rollins earned All-Tournament selections after averaging 24 and 20 points, respectively, over the weekend.
Opening Round
Monroe CC defeats Erie CC 73-71
Lakeland CC defeats Mercyhurst NE 111-81
Consolation Game
Erie CC defeats Mercyhurst NE 94-91
Championship Game
Monroe CC defeats Lakeland CC 94-91
Tournament MVP
Ta-Quan Zimmerman, Guard, Monroe Community College
All-Tournament Team
Shannon Haynes, Guard, Erie Community College
Charles Oliver, Guard, Lakeland Community College
Chaz Rollins, Forward, Lakeland Community College
Damon Jones, Guard, Mercyhurst North East
Tashawn Desir, Guard, Monroe Community College
Arnold Fripp Jr., Forward, Monroe Community College
Notes:
• Charles Oliver (20.2 ppg) and Chaz Rollins (20.0 ppg) are both ranked in the top-50 nationally in scoring average.
• Rollins is currently second in the nation in rebounds per game, averaging 13.4 through the first six contests.
More Links:
First Round Game Box Score | Championship Game Box Score
5th ANNUAL TJ MEMORIAL CLASSIC
TOURNAMENT CENTRAL
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Friday, November 16 |
(click on a team for more information) |
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Home Team |
Away Team |
Time/Result |
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Mercyhurst North East (Women) |
Monroe Community College (Women) |
MNE 55, MCC 94 | Preview |
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Erie Community College (Men) |
Monroe Community College (Men) |
ECC 71, ,MCC 73 | Preview |
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Lakeland Community College (Women) |
Lake Erie College JV (Women) |
LEC JV 99, LCC 49 | Preview | Boxscore |
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Lakeland Community College (Men) |
Mercyhurst North East (Men) |
LCC 111, MNE 81 | Preview | Boxscore |
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Saturday, November 17 |
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Mercyhurst North East (Women's Consolation) |
Lakeland Community College |
MNE 79, LCC 54 | Boxscore |
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Erie Community College (Men's Consolation) |
Mercyhurst North East |
ECC 94, MNE 91 |
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Monroe Community College (Women's Championship) |
Lake Erie JV |
MCC 85, LEC JV 75 |
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#12 Lakeland Community College (Men's Championship) |
#8 Monroe Community College |
MCC 94, LCC 91 | Boxscore |
November 15, 2012 | 5th Annual TJ Memorial Classic Preview
KIRTLAND, Ohio - The TJ Memorial Classic features eight teams from throughout the area competing in a two-day tournament in memory of the infant son of head coach Terry Bowe and his wife Monica. In this, the fifth year of the tournament, Lakeland welcomes Erie Community College (men), Lake Erie College JV (women), Mercyhurst North East (women & men), and Monroe Community College (women & men) to the Athletic & Fitness Center beginning on Friday, November 16. Admission to the tournament is free throughout the weekend.
This year’s men’s field is arguably the strongest in tournament history. Nationally-ranked Monroe Community College (No. 8) and Lakeland Community College (No. 12) are joined by Erie Community College (2-2) – which received votes in this week’s national poll – and Mercyhurst North East (3-3).
Game One: No. 8 Monroe Community College (4-0) vs. Erie Community College (2-2) | 4 p.m.
An undefeated start to the season has catapulted the Tribunes from preseason unranked to a top-10 team thanks to balanced scoring. Five players are averaging double-digit points, led by Dallas Gary’s 18.3 ppg. Ta-Quan Zimmerman is the Tribunes’ top rebounder (6.8 per game) and is averaging 4.5 assists per contest.
Erie Community College was ranked No. 8 in the preseason poll but opened the year with a pair of losses at the Cole/Brennan’s Tournament. The Kats responded with consecutive victories over Butler County and Northern Virginia CC to even their record heading into the Classic. Keron Briggs comes into the tournament averaging 19.5 points per game to pace Erie.
Game Two: No. 12 Lakeland Community College (3-1) vs. Mercyhurst North East (3-3) | 8 p.m.
Nationally-ranked Lakeland hosts Mercyhurst North East in a rematch of last season’s first round clash. Behind 28 points from then-freshman Chaz Rollins, the Lakers held off the Saints 89-86 before taking care of Glen Oaks CC a day later to win the title. Lakeland has won three straight since falling to then-No. 13 Danville Area CC in the season opener and will look to repeat behind the return of 2011 all-tournament selections Rollins and Richard Smith.
Mercyhurst North East evened its record on Wednesday night thanks to a big win over Butler County CC. Anthony Jones, who was named to the all-tournament team last year, is averaging 15.6 points and 8.6 rebounds while Damon Jones and Justin Martin are tied for the team lead in assists per game with 4.6.
November 12, 2012 | Balance Powers No. 5 Lakeland Past Lourdes in Home Opener
KIRTLAND, Ohio – Deran Banton (Jamaica, N.Y.) and Charles Oliver (Scotch Plains, N.J.) scored 17 points each while Martell Medley (Cleveland, Ohio / Euclid) added 17 off the bench to help the nationally-ranked Lakeland men’s basketball team defeat visiting Lourdes University 76-55. The Lakers improve to 3-1 overall and are now 10-0 in home openers under head coach Terry Bowe. Lakeland went 10-0 against non-conference opponents at home last season and picked up right where they left off to open the 2012-13 season.
Banton finished five for seven from the floor and converted seven of 11 tries from the free throw line while Oliver drilled three of six from beyond the arc. Daishon Robinson (Woodbridge, N.J.) added nine points, Richard Smith (Cleveland, Ohio / Lutheran East) pulled in a game-high 11 rebounds, and Isiah Boddie (Dayton, Ohio) dished out a game-high five assists for Lakeland.
Oliver scored six of the game’s first eight points to give the Lakers an early 6-2 lead. Leading 15-8 with just over 12 minutes to play, Lakeland would rattle off a 14-0 spurt over the next two minutes to build a 19-point advantage. Robinson and Medley proved instrumental off the bench, accounting for all 14 points without missing a shot during the run.
The hosts led by as much as 20 points during the first half and took an eleven point lead (41-30) into the locker rooms.
Lourdes would chip away at the deficit throughout the second half and pulled within two with 11:20 to play on a layup by Ron Dukes. The Graywolves would not get any closer as Lakeland responded with a 16-2 – highlighted by dunks from Smith and a pair from Medley – to take a 64-49 lead with five minutes remaining.
The Lakers will host Mercyhurst North East on Friday at 8:00 p.m. in the opening round of the 5th Annual TJ Memorial Classic. Last year, Lakeland defeated the Saints 89-86 in the first round before ultimately winning the tournament title.
Notes:
• Lakeland has never lost a home opener under head coach Terry Bowe, outscoring opponents by an average of 22 points per game in 10 victories.
• Lakeland’s last loss to a non-conference opponent inside the Athletic & Fitness Center came on January 15, 2011 – an 83-74 setback to Niagara County Community College.
• Sophomore guard Charles Oliver is shooing 60% (9-of-15) from long distance this season.
• Lakeland held a 33-16 advantage in bench points.
More Links:
Box Score | Upcoming Schedule | Lake County-Sentinel Article
November 3, 2012 | No. 5 Lakeland Men Finish 2-1 at Triton Tournament
RIVER GROVE, Ill. – The nationally-ranked Lakeland Community College men’s basketball team fell to No. 13 Danville Area Community College, 78-70, to open the Triton College Tournament before bouncing back with a pair of victories to close out the weekend. Lakeland (2-1 overall) will host Lourdes University JV on Monday (Nov. 12) in the home opener at 7:30 p.m.
No. 5 Lakeland Community College 70, No. 13 Danville Area Community College 78
Charles Oliver (Scotch Plains, N.J. / Rider University) poured in a team-high 20 points in his first game with the Blue and Silver while classmate Chaz Rollins (Warrensville Heights / John Hay) added 19 and 14 rebounds in the season opener for both teams. The Lakers were unable to overcome a 38-34 halftime deficit despite shooting 44% from the floor and 66% from beyond the arc.
Richard Smith (Cleveland, Ohio / Lutheran East) chipped in with 11 rebounds and three blocks for LCC, who dropped to the consolation bracket in the tournament.
No. 5 Lakeland Community College 103, Oakton College 78
Daishon Robinson (Woodbridge, N.J.) scored 21 points to lead four players in double figures as Lakeland dispatched Oakton College in game two of the Triton College Tournament. Robinson connected on eight of ten tries from the floor including five of six from distance to go along with six steals and a pair of assists.
Charles Oliver added 20 points and Chaz Rollins recorded a double-double for the second straight day to help the Lakers improve to 1-1 on the young season. Michael Turman (Painesville, Ohio / Harvey) chipped in 15 points for LCC on six of seven shooting. The Lakers quickly stretched out a 45-39 halftime lead by outscoring Oakton 58-41 over the final 20 minutes of play.
No. 5 Lakeland Community College 92, Morton Community College 77
Five players scored in double figures to lead a balanced attack for the Lakers. Chaz Rollins led all scorers with 27 points to go along with 14 rebounds for his third straight double-double to open his sophomore campaign.
Sophomore forward Richard Smith mirrored the effort with 11 points and 10 boards while classmates Deran Banton (Jamaica, N.Y.) and Daishon Robinson added 12 and 10 points, respectively.
Charles Oliver remained consistent by scoring in double figures for the third straight game, finishing with 16 points on seven of 11 shooting.
October 25, 2012 | Lakeland Men’s Basketball Ranked Preseason No. 5 by NJCAA
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – On the heels of a second straight District Championship and NJCAA Division II National Tournament appearance in 2011-12, the Lakeland Community College men’s basketball program will open the season as the nation’s fifth ranked team according to the preseason poll released today by the national office.
The Lakers lost just one player from last year’s 27-9 team which advanced to the Final Four before falling to eventual national champion Mott Community College in the national semifinals. Lakeland will have to fill the hole left by the departure of sophomore All-American Brendan Cooper (Parma, Ohio / Parma), who will be a key member of the men’s basketball program at Fairmont State University (NCAA Division II) this season.
Lakeland returns nine players from last year’s squad including four starters while also welcoming six new faces to the program. The Lakers will be tested from the very beginning when they open the season against No. 13 Danville Area Community College at the Triton College Tournament on Friday, November 2 at 5:00 p.m. (EST).
Mott Community College will open the season as the nation’s top ranked team while fellow Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) member Owens Community College is ranked 17th after falling to Lakeland in the district finals last year.
Click here for the full preseason poll.
July 11, 2012 | Former Lakeland Point Guard Darrel Lampley Earns All-MAC Honors at Eastern Michigan
YPSILANTI, Mich. - Former Lakeland point guard Darrel Lampley (Linden, N.J. / Linden) has been named third team All-Mid American Conference following the 2011-12 men’s basketball season. Lampley, a senior at Eastern Michigan University (NCAA Div. I), played in all 32 games in led the Eagles to the fifth seed in the MAC Tournament before falling to Northern Illinois.
Lampley’s final collegiate season was highlighted by a career-high 37 points in a 74-70 loss to Colgate in early December. Days earlier, Lampley was the only EMU player to score in double figures when he poured in 19 at No. 3 Syracuse. The former Laker paced the team in scoring, averaging just over 13 points per game while handing out a team-best 105 assists.
Click here for the full release.
May 16, 2012 | NJCAA All-America Cooper Signs with Fairmont State University
FAIRMONT, W.Va. - Fairmont State men's basketball coach Jerrod Calhoun today announced the signing of 6-7 forward Brendan Cooper. Cooper, a first team National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) player for Lakeland (Ohio) Community College last season, will have two years of eligibility remaining for the Falcons.
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Cooper became the sixth Laker in program history to earn All-American honors.
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“I can’t put into words how excited I am to have Brendan Cooper in our family,” said Calhoun. “We feel he is a program-changing player, a perfect fit for our campus, community, and basketball team.”
Cooper averaged 17.5 points, nine rebounds, four assists, and two steals per game this season for the Lakers and head coach Terry Bowe last season. He recorded 17 double-doubles and was named the team's MVP at the end of the season.
“He played for a great junior college program and a great coach, Terry Bowe,” Calhoun said. “Coach Bowe does a great job getting guys ready for the next level both on and off the court. When guys come out of Coach Bowe’s program, they’re ready to play. We expect Brendan to come in and make a major impact right away.
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| Fairmont State University is a member of the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC). | “He can do it all, and his versatility is one of the reasons so many Division I and II schools were after him” Calhoun continued. “He’s an exceptional athlete, but he’s also extremely skilled. He can pass it, and for a 6-7 guy he can handle the ball extremely well. He has great fundamentals, and when you combine that with his elite athleticism and his work ethic, you put up the kinds of numbers that he has throughout his career.”
With Cooper leading the way, the Lakers put together the best year in program history. They finished the season 27-9 and won the NJCAA Division II Region 12, District 10 championship. Lakeland opened the season with 11 consecutive wins, finished the year ranked fourth in the country and advanced all the way to the national tournament before falling in the consolation game.
“Brendan is a winner,” said Calhoun. “Obviously his numbers are impressive and his accolades speak for themselves, but it’s the things he does that don’t show up in the box score that I like the most. He’s a tremendous leader and consistently makes winning plays. Whatever it takes to win, he gets it done.”
Cooper joins a roster that has been bolstered in recent weeks by several additions. He is the sixth member of Calhoun’s first recruiting class.
“This is a great addition to our program,” Calhoun added. “Brendan was one of the best junior college players in the country, and we already have one of the best returning players in the country in (senior guard) Isaac Thornton. Both of those guys are potential All-Americans, I truly believe that.”
Cooper, a native of Parma, Ohio, was the Northeast Ohio Conference Player of the Year and League MVP as a senior at Parma High.
Click here for the full release.
Release courtesy of Fairmont State University Sports Information.
For local coverage of Cooper's signing with Fairmont State University, click on one of the following links:
News-12 WBOY | West Virginia Metro News (with highlights) | Charleston Gazette
April 30, 2012 | Lakeland Recognizes Student-Athletes at Year-End Banquet
As a part of the Athletic Awards Reception and Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Sunday afternoon, the following team awards were given out by Head Coach Djuro Peric.
Team Most Valuable Player – Brendan Cooper, sophomore
Newcomer of the Year – Chaz Rollins, freshman
Defensive Player of the Year – Deran Banton, freshman
Coaches Award – Isiah Boddie, freshman
Champion Award – Paul Zachlin, Faculty Academic Liaison
April 10, 2012 | Cooper Named First Team All-American by NJCAA
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Sophomore forward Brendan Cooper (Parma, Ohio / Parma) has been selected First Team (Division II) All-American by the NJCAA, becoming the sixth player in program history to earn national honors. Cooper joins Ray Chambers (2011), Jonathan Burge (2001), and Kevin Hampton (1998) as the only first team selections in the 42-year history of Lakeland men’s basketball.
Cooper led the Lakers to their second straight Region 12, District 10 Championship and NJCAA National Tournament appearance, where they advanced to the Final Four before losing to eventual-champion Mott Community College 84-73 in the national semifinals. Cooper and the Lakers finished the season 27-9 overall and fourth in the nation, the best result in program history.
Cooper averaged 17.7 points and 9.6 rebounds per game this season, good for second on the team in both categories. He led the team in assists (4.2) and steals (2.1) per game and recorded 17 double-doubles on the year, including a pair at the National Tournament.
The First Team All-Conference and First Team All-Region 12 selection helped the Lakers open the season with 11 straight wins, including an upset at then-No. 3 Erie Community College, and rise to a No. 3 national ranking. He was named MVP of the 4th Annual TJ Memorial Classic after guiding host Lakeland to the tournament title and earned conference player of the week accolades on January 15.
Cooper exits Lakeland with 886 points and 511 rebounds. He played in 65 games and helped the Lakers go 47-19 during that time.
March 24, 2012 | Lakers’ Rally Comes Up Short in Consolation Game
DANVILLE, Ill. – Brendan Cooper’s (Parma, Ohio / Parma) layup at the buzzer appeared to cap a 20-point, second half rally for the Lakeland men’s basketball team in the NJCAA Division II National Tournament consolation game. The sophomore’s finger roll seemingly beat the clock but was ruled to still be in his hand as time expired, a call which was confirmed by replay at the end of regulation. Despite a 78-76 loss to #2 South Suburban the Lakers still secured a fourth place finish in the country, the best result in program history.
Four players scored in double figures for the Lakers, who entered the half trailing 43-27. South Suburban shot 47% from behind the arc in the first half, connecting on seven of 15 tries to build a 16-point lead.
Chaz Rollins (Warrensville Heights, Ohio / John Hay), who was named to the All-Tournament team after averaging a double-double through the tournament, finished with 21 points and 16 rebounds in the loss. Cooper added 18 to go along with eight rebounds, five assists, and three blocks while freshman Deran Banton (Jamaica, N.Y.) recorded a double-double with 17 points and ten boards.
Martell Medley (Cleveland, Ohio / Euclid) chipped in 14 points for LCC.
That advantage ballooned to 20 in the second half before Lakeland made its run. Trailing by two with five seconds remaining, Medley drew a foul and went to the line for a pair. The guard drilled the first but missed the second, forcing Lakeland to foul with two seconds to go.
After Bryce Walker made one of two, the Lakers took over possession with the ball under their own basket and 1.8 seconds remaining.
Richard Smith heaved a full court pass to the top of the three-point line, allowing Cooper to catch and turn towards the basket and seemingly make the game-tying shot.
Lakeland finished the season 27-9 overall, tied for the third most wins in program history. With just one sophomore, the Lakers will look to make it three straight Regional Championships next year when they return nine players from this year’s tournament run.
March 23, 2012 | Lakeland’s Upset Bid Falls Short in NJCAA Final Four
DANVILLE, Ill. – Lakeland men’s basketball took the nation’s top team, Mott Community College, to the brink in the NJCAA National Tournament semifinals but ultimately fell 84-73 on Friday night inside the Mary Miller Center.
Mott, riding a 30-game win streak, will make its seventh National Championship appearance in the last 11 years. The Bears are 3-3 in the title game entering tonight’s clash with Rhode Island Community College.
Lakeland will take on South Suburban at 5:30 p.m. in the third place game.
Chaz Rollins (Warrensville Heights, Ohio / John Hay) led the way offensively with 20 points and 10 rebounds for his third straight double-double of the tournament. Lone sophomore Brendan Cooper (Parma, Ohio / Parma) added 20 points and 11 rebounds in the setback.
Freshmen Deran Banton (Jamaica, N.Y) and Martell Medley (Cleveland, Ohio / Euclid) chipped in 12 and 9 points, respectively.
A back-and-forth game throughout, top-seeded Mott clung to a 38-35 lead at the break behind 15 points from Ralph Eason.
Lakeland would storm out of the half with a 10-1 run to capture the lead, but the Bears responded quickly with a 9-2 spurt of their own. The Bears (34-1) stretched the advantage to 13 in the final four minutes, only to see the Lakers (27-8) pull within eight with just over two minutes to play.
The Bears’ John Taylor led all scorers with 28 points, but benefited from scoring 16 from the free throw line. Taylor’s 12 point effort from the field – on 5-of-15 shooting – was his lowest output since February 15.
Mott finished 24-of-30 from the charity stripe on the night and was effective down the stretch to keep Lakeland at bay.
March 22, 2012 | Streaking Lakeland Upsets #4 South Mountain, Rolls Into Final Four
DANVILLE, Ill. – Lakeland’s record-setting season continued Thursday night as the fifth-seeded Lakers upset South Mountain 81-74 in the Elite Eight of the NJCAA National Tournament. Lakeland will take on the nation’s top team, Mott, on Friday night at 9:00 p.m. (EST) for a spot in the National Championship.
Freshman forward Chaz Rollins (Warrensville Heights, Ohio / John Hay) recorded his second straight double-double of the tournament with a team-high 25 points and 10 rebounds. Classmate Martell Medley (Cleveland, Ohio / Euclid) provided a spark off the bench for the second straight night, hitting a trio of critical three-pointers and finishing with 19 points.
The forward tandem of Brendan Cooper (Parma, Ohio / Parma) and Richard Smith (Cleveland, Ohio / Lutheran East) pulled down ten rebounds each, helping Lakeland to a 45-41 advantage on the glass. Cooper (10 points) and Smith (7) each denied three shots in the victory.
Lakeland took a 34-27 lead into the break behind a 1-3-1 zone which stalled the South Mountain offense. Freshman guard Romero Sumbry (East Cleveland, Ohio / Walnut Ridge) drilled a three-pointer as time expired in the first half to give the Lakers a seven point advantage.
LCC never surrendered the lead in the second half, though South Mountain managed to get within three on multiple occasions.
Leading by three with just over two minutes to play, the Lakeland defense came up with its biggest stop of the night when Cooper forced South Mountain’s Mike Craig into a difficult baseline jumper and corralled the rebound. The Lakers knocked down all six free throw attempts in the final minute to secure the victory, their seventh straight.
The Lakers will face their toughest opponent of the season on Friday when they take on Region 12 foe Mott. The Bears have won three national titles in the last ten years and were national runner-up three more times. Mott (32-1) defeated Louisburg College on Thursday night.
March 21, 2012 | No. 5 Lakeland Dispatches Bismarck State 84-73, Advances to Elite Eight
DANVILLE, Ill. – Freshman guard Martell Medley (Cleveland, Ohio / Euclid) poured in a career-high 25 points and classmate Chaz Rollins (Warrensville Heights, Ohio / John Hay) recorded a double-double to power the Lakeland men’s basketball team past Bismarck State in the opening round of the 2012 NJCAA Division II National Tournament.
After two days of play the Lakers (26-7) are just one of eight teams in the nation still vying for a national title. Lakeland will take on No. 4 South Mountain (26-7) on Thursday night at 8:30 p.m with a berth in the Final Four on the line.
Medley went 9-for-18 from the floor including 3-for-7 from long range, helping the Lakeland bench to a 35-8 advantage over Bismarck State. Rollins added 17 points and a team-high 14 rebounds while sophomore Brendan Cooper (Parma, Ohio / Parma) filled the stat sheet with 15 points, six rebounds, and six assists.
Freshmen Duran Banton (Jamaica, N.Y.) aided the cause with 13 points while classmate Richard Smith (Cleveland, Ohio / Lutheran East) denied five shots in the win.
The Lakers jumped out to an 8-2 through the opening minutes of the game and led by as many as 10 in the first half before settling for a 36-30 lead at the break. Medley led the way with 12 points through the opening period while Rollins tallied six points and ten rebounds.
Lakeland never surrendered the lead despite allowing Bismarck State to close the gap to just one with five minutes remaining. The Lakers responded by scoring seven straight points to build an eight point lead and pushed the advantage to 11 behind solid free throw shooting down the stretch.
LCC held a commanding 54-28 advantage in points in the paint to get within a win of a spot in the Final Four. One year removed from its first NJCAA National Tournament appearance, the Lakers are just three wins away from the program’s first National Championship.
March 10, 2012 | Lakers repeat as Region 12, District 10 champions 
PERRYSBURG, Ohio - The Lakeland men’s basketball team erased a one point halftime deficit by outscoring host Owens by 23 over the final 20 minutes en route to an 80-58 victory in the Region 12, District 10 Championship game on Saturday afternoon. On Monday the Lakers will learn who and when they are playing in the NJCAA Division II National Tournament held in Danville, Illinois.
The fourth-seeded Lakers were led by freshman Chaz Rollins (Warrensville Heights, Ohio / John Hay), who scored 24 points and pulled down 11 rebounds in 34 minutes of action. Classmate Deran Banton (Jamaica, N.Y.) scored 18 while Brendan Cooper (Parma, Ohio / Parma) and Martell Medley (Cleveland, Ohio / Euclid) added ten apiece.
Second-seeded Owens built a 35-34 lead entering the break before Lakeland took over. The Lakers (25-7) outscored the Express 42-28 in the paint and led by as many as 24 in the second half.
March 6, 2102 | Lakers roll into Regional semifinals with 95-78 win over Sinclair
KIRTLAND, Ohio – Chaz Rollins (Warrensville Heights, Ohio / John Hay) and Brendan Cooper (Parma, Ohio / Parma) combined for 36 points and 22 rebounds to propel the fourth-seeded Lakeland men’s basketball team past Sinclair on Tuesday night inside the AFC.
Rollins finished with a team-high 22 points on 8 of 11 shooting while Cooper added 14. Each finished with 11 rebounds on the night.
Freshmen Deran Banton (Jamaica, N.Y.) and Martell Medley (Cleveland, Ohio / Euclid) added 14 and 11, respectively, to set up a matchup with top-seeded Columbus State on Friday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. on the campus of Owens Community College.
Medley added a game-high seven assists in the win while classmate Daishon Robinson (Woodbridge, N.J.) had four.
Lakeland (23-7) and Columbus State (25-4) will meet for the third time this season but for the first time on a neutral court. In the first matchup No. 9 Columbus State held on for a 76-75 win at the AFC. Three weeks later Lakeland’s late rally came up short in a 95-93 loss to the nation’s third ranked team.
The Lakers have won three straight by an average margin of 16.7 points per game and will look to carry the momentum in Friday’s semifinal. The winner advances to the Regional Championship game on Saturday (March 10) at 1:00 p.m.
February 25, 2012 | Medley’s career day powers Lakeland men to 20th win
KIRTLAND, Ohio – Martell Medley (Cleveland, Ohio / Euclid) set career-highs with 23 points and six assists to help the Lakeland men’s basketball team top visiting Edison, 103-90, on Saturday afternoon inside the Athletic & Fitness Center. 
The win comes in the Lakers’ first home game since an 82-72 win over Owens on January 25. Lakeland (20-8, 5-6 OCCAC) will host Sinclair this Saturday (March 3) in the regular season finale before setting its sights on defending last year’s Region XII, District 10 tournament title.
Medley finished 9 of 12 from the floor, including 3 of 5 from beyond the arc, to pace the Lakeland offense. Three other players scored in double figures for LCC. Sophomore Brendan Cooper (Parma, Ohio / Parma) finished with 19 to go along with seven rebounds, four assists, three blocks, and three steals.
Freshmen Chaz Rollins (Warrensville Heights, Ohio / John Hay) and Daishon Robinson (Woodbridge, N.J.) added 16 and 14, respectively.
The hosts closed the first half with a 12-2 run to take a 49-39 lead into the break. Lakeland then extended the lead to 25 midway through the second half before settling for the 13-point win.
The last time the Lakers eclipsed 100 points in an OCCAC game was February 15, 2006 in an overtime win over Columbus State. The win secures the third overall – and second straight - 20-win season under ninth-year head coach Terry Bowe.
February 18, 2012 | Lakeland men dispatch Alfred State, halt three game slide
ALFRED, N.Y. – Five players scored in double figures as the Lakeland men’s basketball team put a stop to a three game losing streak with a 94-71 victory over host Alfred State on Saturday afternoon.
Freshman forward Chaz Rollins (Warrensville Heights, Ohio / John Hay) scored 23 points and pulled down 12 rebounds to lead the Lakers (19-7) in their final non-conference game of the regular season. Freshman guard Martell Medley (Cleveland, Ohio / Euclid) scored 19 points in 32 minutes after earning his first start of the season.
Classmates Deran Banton (Jamaica, N.Y.) and Daishon Robinson (Woodbridge, N.J.) added 14 points apiece while Richard Smith (Cleveland, Ohio / Lutheran East) registered a double-double with 11 points and 12 boards.
Lakeland recorded 25 assists on 36 field goals and turned a three-point halftime lead into a 23-point victory on the strength of 62 second half points.
Leading by just four (46-42) with 13 minutes remaining in the game, Medley connected on his only three-pointer of the game to ignite an 18-4 run over the ensuing five minutes to put the game away.
The Lakers now turn their attention back to the conference slate when they travel to local rival Cuyahoga on Wednesday (Feb. 22) at 7:30 p.m.
February 16, 2012 | Men start slow, drop third straight game
TOLEDO, Ohio – Despite four players in double figures and a near triple-double performance from sophomore Brendan Cooper (Parma, Ohio / Parma), the nationally-ranked Lakeland men’s basketball team fell to host Owens, 92-84, on Wednesday night. It was the third loss in as many games for the No. 21 Lakers, who dropped to 18-7 overall and 4-5 in the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference with only a handful of games remaining.
The visitors put themselves into a big hole early as the Express jumped out to a 16-0 lead through the first five minutes of the half before Chaz Rollins (Warrensville Heights, Ohio / John Hay) finally put Lakeland on the board at the 14:13 mark. Trailing 20-8 with just over 12 minutes to play in the opening period, Rollins’ old fashioned three-point play ignited a 13-4 run to pull LCC within three.
The Express would respond with a run of their own and take a 47-37 lead into the locker rooms.
Lakeland managed to take the lead (70-69) on a Cooper layup with just over six minutes to play in regulation, but Owens answered by scoring the next five points to take the lead for good.
Rollins scored a team-high 18 points while Cooper finished with 17 to go along with 12 rebounds and eight assists in the setback. Freshmen Richard Smith (Cleveland, Ohio / Lutheran East) and Martell Medley (Cleveland, Ohio / Euclid) each added ten for the Lakers, who return to action on Saturday (Feb. 18) when they travel to Alfred State for the final non-conference game of the regular season.
February 4, 2012 | Lakers respond with 91-78 win at Edison
PIQUA, Ohio – Chaz Rollins (Warrensville Heights, Ohio / John Hay) recorded a double-double to guide the nationally-ranked Lakeland men’s basketball team to a 91-78 win at Edison on Saturday afternoon. Rollins led the way with 20 points and 13 rebounds, helping the Lakers (18-4, 4-2 OCCAC) bounce back from a tough loss on Wednesday.
The win sets the stage for Wednesday’s matchup at conference-leading Columbus State (21-2, 6-1 OCCAC) at 7:30 p.m. A win would put the Lakers right back in the title race with five games remaining.
Four other players scored in double figures for Lakeland including sophomore Brendan Cooper (Parma, Ohio / Parma), who finished with 16 points, eight rebounds, and four steals in the win.
Freshman Deran Banton (Jamaica, N.Y.) chipped in with 18 points on 9-of-14 shooting from the floor. Classmates Daishon Robinson (Woodbridge, N.J.) and Richard Smith (Cleveland, Ohio / Lutheran East) added 11 and 10, respectively.
February 1, 2012 | Lakers’ rally comes up short against Tri-C
PAINESVILLE, Ohio – Despite double-doubles from Chaz Rollins (Warrensville Heights, Ohio / John Hay) and Brendan Cooper (Parma, Ohio / Parma), the No. 10 Lakeland men’s basketball team suffered a tough 75-68 loss to local rival Cuyahoga on Wednesday night. The game was played at Lake Erie College’s Osborne Center due to water damage inside the main gymnasium in the Athletic & Fitness Center.
The Lakers (17-4, 3-2 OCCAC) built a five point halftime lead (45-40) behind 11 points from Cooper. The sophomore forward shot 4 of 6 from the floor in the opening 20 minutes. He finished with 16 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists in the setback.
The second half proved to be a different story as the Challengers outscored the LCC 35-23. Lakeland found itself down just two with under a minute to play after a Rollins’ layup made it 67-65. Cuyahoga answered by scoring five of the next six points to put the game out of reach.
The freshman Rollins finished with 20 points and 11 rebounds for his 14th double-double of the year. Classmate Richard Smith (Cleveland, Ohio / Lutheran East) added ten points and four rebounds in the loss.
Lakeland will look to bounce back on Saturday (Feb. 4) when it travels to Piqua, Ohio to take on Edison (7-12, 0-5 OCCAC) at 3:00 p.m.
January 25, 2012 | No. 12 Lakeland powers past Owens in OCCAC action
KIRTLAND, Ohio – Brendan Cooper led four players in double figures as the nationally-ranked Lakeland men’s basketball team picked up a key conference victory over visiting Owens on Wednesday night inside the Athletic & Fitness Center. Cooper paced the hosts with 19 points on 7 of 12 shooting from the floor to go along with nine rebounds and three blocks.
Freshman Chaz Rollins (Warrensville Heights, Ohio / John Hay) added 18 and six rebounds in the victory, helping the Lakers improve to 16-3 overall and 2-1 in OCCAC play.
Freshman Deran Banton (Jamaica, N.Y.) chipped in 16 points while classmate Martell Medley (Cleveland, Ohio / Euclid) had 14 on 4 of 4 shooting from the floor.
Lakeland opened a 41-36 halftime lead and outscored Owens by the identical score over the final 20 minutes of play.
The Lakers now turn their attention to Sinclair Community College as they travel to Dayton, Ohio on Saturday for a 4:00 conference matchup. Owens (15-8, 2-3 OCCAC) looks to bounce back the same day when it plays host to Edison.
January 18, 2012 | No. 9 Columbus State edges No. 7 Lakeland in top-10 matchup
KIRTLAND, Ohio – In a back and forth game that lived up to its billing as the NJCAA “Game of the Week,” No. 9 Columbus State narrowly escaped the Athletic & Fitness Center with a 76-75 win over No. 7 Lakeland. Trailing by one with less than eight seconds to go, Lakeland inbounded the ball to freshman forward Richard Smith (Cleveland, Ohio / Lutheran East), who’s jumper touched every inch of the rim before falling off in the final seconds. With the setback, the Lakers stall at 14-3 overall and suffer their first conference loss of the season (1-1).
Wednesday night’s matchup featured five lead changes, with neither side gaining more than an eight point advantage. The hosts clung to a one point lead at the break (37-36) before being narrowly outscored by the visitors 40-38 over the final 20 minutes of play.
Trailing by four with less than a minute to play, Brendan Cooper (Parma, Ohio / Parma) tipped in his own shot to cut the lead in half. On the ensuing inbounds play Cooper stole the ball at midcourt and was fouled driving to the hoop, giving the sophomore forward a chance to tie the game at the charity stripe. Cooper made the first but missed the second, only to see the ball deflect off a Columbus State player out of bounds.
With 10 seconds remaining Cooper’s jumper hit front iron and landed in a scrum for the jump ball which allowed Lakeland to keep possession. Seconds later, Smith’s potential game winner came up just short.
Cooper finished with a game-high 28 points to go along with seven rebounds and six steals. Freshman Deran Banton (Jamaica Queens, N.Y.) chipped in with 13 points while freshman Chaz Rollins (Warrensville Heights, Ohio / John Hay) had 14.
The Lakers return to action on Sunday (Jan. 22) when they host Lourdes College at 1:00 pm in non-conference matchup.
January 23, 2012 | Cooper named OCCAC Player of the Week
KIRTLAND, Ohio – Sophomore Brendan Cooper (Parma, Ohio / Parma) has been the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) Player of the Week after guiding the Lakers to a road win at Cincinnati State on Saturday, January 14.
Cooper helped Lakeland improve to 13-2 overall and 1-0 in league play with the 81-73 victory in Cincinnati. The forward scored 15 points and pulled down 15 rebounds for his 13th double-double of the season. For the season Cooper ranks 21st nationally in scoring (19.9 ppg) and is hauling in just under 10 rebounds per game.
The Lakers (15-3, 1-1 OCCAC) host Owens Community College in a pivotal conference matchup on Wednesday (Jan. 25) at 7:30 p.m. before traveling to Dayton on Saturday to face off with Sinclair.
January 10, 2012 | No. 12 Lakeland men stay perfect at home, improve to 13-2
KIRTLAND, Ohio – The nationally-ranked Lakeland men’s basketball team shot 62% from the floor in the opening half and cruised to a 91-57 victory over visiting Niagara County in its first game of 2012. Freshman Chaz Rollins (Warrensville Heights, Ohio / John Hay) paced the Lakers with 23 points and eight rebounds.
Sophomore Brendan Cooper (Parma, Ohio / Parma) flirted with a triple-double and finished with 15 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists in the win.
In total, Lakeland put five players in double figures. Freshman Deran Banton (Jamaica, N.Y.) scored 12 while classmates Daishon Robinson (Woodbridge, N.J.) and Martell Medley (Cleveland, Ohio / Euclid) added 13 and 10, respectively, off the bench.
Freshman Richard Smith (Cleveland, Ohio / Lutheran East) paced the defensive effort with a career-high six blocks in 21 minutes.
LCC hit 18 of 29 attempts from the floor in the opening 20 minutes to take a commanding 39-19 lead into the break.
Lakeland improved to 8-0 at home and enters conference play at 13-2 overall. The Lakers travel to Cincinnati State on Saturday for a 3:00 p.m. game before returning to AFC on Wednesday (Jan. 18) for a top-15 showdown with No. 7 Columbus State.
January 5, 2012 | Barnes named WVIAC Player of the Week
PRINCETON, W. Va. – Former Lakeland standout Nate Barnes has been named West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC) Player of the Week after guiding Alderson-Broaddus University to an 80-66 win over Shepherd University on Thursday night.
Barnes scored 19 points on six of eight shooting while dishing out a game-high nine assists, helping the Battlers improve to 7-2 on the season and 5-1 in conference play.
Barnes has started all nine games this season while averaging 17.1 points and 6.1 assists. The senior guard leads the league in free throw percentage (.936) and is fourth in assists per game.
Click here to read the full release. Follow Nate all season long at GoBattlers.com – the official site of Alderson-Broaddus University athletics.
December 10-11, 2011 | Lakers fall in Pete Pavia Tournament title game
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The nationally-ranked Lakeland Community College men’s basketball team fell to host Monroe Community College, 97-80, in Saturday’s Pete Pavia Tournament championship game, dropping the Lakers to 11-1 on the year with two games remaining before the holiday break.
Opening Round: No. 3 Lakeland CC 85, Oakland CC 72
Chaz Rollins (Warrensville Heights, Ohio/John Hay) and Brendan Cooper (Parma, Ohio/Parma) combined for 45 points as No. 3 Lakeland downed Oakland in the opening round of the Pete Pavia Tournament hosted by Monroe Community College. Rollins finished with a game and career-high 19 rebounds to go along with 24 points while the sophomore Cooper scored 21.
Freshmen guards Martell Medley (Cleveland, Ohio/Euclid) and Deran Banton (Jamaica, N.Y.) added 12 and 10 points, respectively, to help Lakeland remain perfect and reach the tournament championship.
Tournament Championship: No. 3 Lakeland CC 80, Monroe CC 97
Despite three players in double figures, No. 3 Lakeland suffered its first loss of the season at the hands of host Monroe CC on Saturday night. The Lakers stall at 11-1 overall and will look to bounce back when they travel to Batavia, N.Y. on Saturday (Dec. 17) at 3:00 p.m.
Sophomore Brendan Cooper led the way with 16 points and 10 rebounds while Deran Banton scored a career-high 15 in the setback. Chaz Rollins chipped in 13 points, six boards, and three steals.
Lakeland held a four point lead (46-42) and trailed by just one with under seven minutes to play in the second half before Monroe responded with a 12-3 run to put the game away.
November 23, 2011 | Cooper named NJCAA player of the week
 Sophomore forward Brendan Cooper (Parma, Ohio / Parma) has been named the NJCAA Division II player of the week after guiding the Lakers to the 4th Annual TJ Memorial Classic Tournament title over the weekend.
Cooper opened the week with 24 points, nine rebounds, and five assists against Notre Dame JV before recording a pair of double-doubles in the Classic en route to tournament MVP honors.
On the season, Cooper is ranked 24th in the nation in scoring average (20.7 ppg) and 17th in rebounds per game (11.1). Lakeland moved up two spots this week to No. 3 in the nation.
November 23, 2011 | Men’s basketball ranked No. 3 in the nation
Despite finishing eighth in the 2011 National Tournament, the Lakeland men’s basketball team entered the 2011-12 season unranked due in large part to a roster laden with freshmen. The Lakers quickly moved from unranked to No. 5 after knocking off No. 3 Erie CC on the road and claiming the Cole’s/Brennan’s Tip-Off Tournament in early November.
Two weeks later, LCC won the 4th Annual TJ Memorial Classic Tournament championship inside the Athletic & Fitness Center to move to 7-0 on the season. In the latest NJCAA poll, the Lakers moved up two spots and are now ranked No. 3 nationally entering the holiday break.
Freshman forward Chaz Rollins (Warrensville Heights, Ohio / John Hay) and sophomore forward Brendan Cooper (Parma, Ohio / Parma) are both ranked in the top-25 nationally in scoring and rebounding.
The Lakers’ high-powered offense is averaging just over 95 points per game while the defense is holding opponents to less than 76 points per game.
Next up on the non-conference slate is a Tuesday (Nov. 29) meeting with Niagara County CC in Sanborn, N.Y. before Lakeland returns home to host Schoolcraft (Mich.) College on Saturday, December 3 at 1:00 p.m.
November 23,2011 | Lampley named MAC player of the week
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| At Lakeland, Lampley averaged 17 points and 6 assists per game. | Former Lakeland standout Darrell Lampley (Linden, N.J.) has been named the Mid-American Conference (MAC) West Division Player of the Week. Now starting for Eastern Michigan University, Lampley helped the Eagles to a 2-1 week which featured wins over Arkansas-Little Rock and IUPUI in the Auto-Owners Spartan Invitational hosted by Michigan State University. Against UALR, Lampley erupted for a career-high 21 points in a 62-51 victory over the Trojans. Two days later he scored 16 points and handed out six assists in a 66-64 win over the Jaguars.
For the season, Lampley is leading EMU (3-1) in scoring average (16.0 ppg), assists (16), and steals (7).
The Eagles welcome Rochester College to the Convocation Center on Wednesday (Nov. 23) before hosting Michigan State on Sunday.
Click here to read the complete release.
November 21, 2011 | No. 5 Lakeland stays perfect, captures TJ Memorial Classic title
 KIRTLAND, Ohio – The nationally-ranked Lakeland men’s basketball team stayed perfect with a pair of wins over the weekend to capture the 4th Annual TJ Memorial Classic Tournament title. The Lakers outlasted Mercyhurst North East 89-86 in Friday’s opener before dispatching Glen Oaks CC 86-73 in the championship game a day later. LCC improves to 7-0 on the year, which ties them for the best start in team history under ninth year head coach Terry Bowe.
Sophomore Brendan Cooper (Parma, Ohio / Parma) averaged 18.5 points and 11 rebounds during the tournament en route to MVP honors. Freshman Chaz Rollins (Cleveland / John Hay) chipped in with a pair of double-doubles while classmate Richard Smith (Cleveland / Lutheran East) provided a defensive presence throughout the weekend. Both were named to the all-tournament team.
The Lakers opened with a hard fought win over Mercyhurst NE in a game that featured 89 free throws and 55 fouls. The hosts capitalized by shooting 82% from the line in the second half (23-28) to keep the Saints at bay.
Rollins led all scorers with 28 points on eight of 12 shooting. He added 12 rebounds – six on each end of the floor – for his sixth straight double-double of the year. Cooper added 18 points and 10 boards while freshman guard Daishon Robinson (Woodbridge, N.J.) scored ten.
In Saturday’s title game, Lakeland extended a one-point halftime lead by outscoring Glen Oaks 48-33 over the final 20 minutes of play.
Once again, Cooper and Rollins delivered double-doubles while Smith blocked a season-high five shots to go along with 12 points and three steals.
Freshman guard Deran Banton (Jamaica, N.Y.) added ten points, helping the Lakers bench outscore the Vikings 27-9 on the afternoon.
During the Terry Bowe era, only two other teams have opened the season with seven straight wins. Both teams – 2005-06 and 2006-07 – failed to make it eight in-a-row by virtue of a road loss. On Tuesday (Nov. 29), the Lakers put their unblemished record on the line in Sanborn, N.Y. when they take on Niagara County CC at 7:30 p.m.
Upcoming Schedule: @ Niagara County CC (11/29), vs. Schoolcraft (12/3), vs. Lorain County CC (12/6), @ Monroe CC Tournament (12/9-12/10)
November 14, 2011 | Balance guides men past Notre Dame JV 106-73
KIRTLAND, Ohio – The Lakeland men’s basketball team put five players in double figures and cruised to a 106-73 win over visiting Notre Dame College JV to move to 5-0 entering the TJ Memorial Classic Tournament this weekend. Brendan Cooper (Parma, Ohio / Parma) led the way with 24 points on eight of nine shooting from the floor. The sophomore forward added nine rebounds, five assists, two blocks, and two steals in 28 minutes of action.
Freshman forwards Chaz Rollins (Cleveland / John Hay) and Richard Smith (Cleveland / Lutheran East) each recorded double-doubles and helped Lakeland to a 60-27 advantage on the boards. Rollins finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds while Smith added 16 and 16.
Freshman guard Gurjeet Gill (Strongsville, Ohio / Strongsville) chipped in with 13 points and Deran Banton (Jamaica, N.Y.) added 13 off the bench to keep the Lakers perfect through the first three weeks of the season.
In his first start of the year, Daishon Robinson (Woodbridge, N.J.) scored nine points and handed out four assists in 18 minutes.
Lakeland took a 55-42 lead into the break and extended the advantage by outscoring Notre Dame 51-31 over the final 20 minutes of play. The Lakers forced the Falcons into 18 turnovers outscored the visitors 70-14 in the paint. The disparity in rebounding also helped the hosts to 28 second chance points.
The Lakers return to action on Friday afternoon for the opening round of the 4th annual TJ Memorial Classic Tournament inside the Athletic & Fitness Center. Lakeland welcomes Mercyhurst North East, Glens Oaks Community College, and No. 5 Monroe Community College to campus with games set to begin at 2:00 p.m.
November 12, 2011 | Lakeland men roll past Genesee 93-75
KIRTLAND, Ohio – The Lakeland Community College men’s basketball team improved to 4-0 with a 93-75 win over visiting Genesee Community College in the 2011 home opener on Saturday afternoon inside the Athletic & Fitness Center. Brendan Cooper (Parma, Ohio / Parma) and Chaz Rollins (Cleveland / John Hay) each recorded a double-double for the fourth straight game as the Lakers improved to 4-0 on the young season.
Cooper shot seven of eight from the floor in the first half en route to 16 points as the hosts took a 49-41 lead into the break. Solid bench production from Deran Banton (Jamaica, N.Y.) and Isiah Boddie (Dayton, Ohio / Wayne), who combined to score 20 points off the bench in the second half, helped Lakeland eclipse the 90-point mark for the third time this year.
Rollins led the way offensively with 21 points to go along with 14 rebounds while Cooper finished with a workmanlike 20 points, 12 boards, three blocks, and three steals. Freshman Richard Smith (Cleveland / Lutheran East) added 11 points, seven rebounds, and a game-high four blocks in the victory.
Freshman guard Martell Medley (Cleveland / Euclid) finished with eight points and was perfect from the floor, making all three of his attempts including a pair from beyond the arc. The Lakeland bench proved to be the story, outscoring Genesee 35-10 including 27-0 over the final 20 minutes of play.
The Lakers are averaging just over 96 points per game this season, which already features a tournament win and a 98-95 victory over the nation’s third-ranked team Erie (N.Y.) Community College.
LCC returns to action at home on Monday (Nov. 14) for a non-conference matchup with Notre Dame College JV at 7:30 p.m.
November 6, 2011 | Rollins, Cooper guide Lakeland to tournament championship
BUFFALO, N.Y. – Brendan Cooper (Parma, Ohio / Parma) and Chaz Rollins (Cleveland / John Hay) each recorded a double-double, Daishon Robinson (Woodbridge, N.J. / John F. Kennedy Memorial) scored 23 points, and the Lakeland Community College men’s basketball team defeated No. 3 Erie Community College 98-95 in the Cole’s/Brennan’s Tip-Off Tournament championship game on Sunday afternoon. The win over the nationally-ranked Kats keeps the Lakers perfect (3-0) through the first week of the 2011 season.
Cooper erupted for a career-high 29 points on 11-of-15 shooting from the floor including a pair from beyond the arc. Lakeland’s lone sophomore, who was selected to the all-tournament team, also pulled down 12 rebounds for his third straight double-double to open the season. Rollins added 18 points, 11 rebounds, and three blocks en route to tournament MVP honors.
The two sides played even through the first 20 minutes and entered the locker rooms deadlocked at 53. Cooper drilled a three-pointer to knot the game at 75 with 11:06 remaining in the second half. but Erie scored six of the next eight points to take a four point lead. Rollins responded with a conventional three-point play to put the visitors on top 82-81 with just over seven minutes to play.
Clinging to a one point lead with three seconds to play in regulation, freshman Gurjeet Gill (Strongsville, Ohio / Strongsville) hit a pair of crucial free throws to give the Lakers the final three point cushion. Lakeland shot 89% from the charity stripe (25 for 28) on the day and was led by Robinson, who tied a school record by going 12 for 12 from the line.
Freshman forward Richard Smith (Cleveland / Lutheran East) chipped in with six blocks and three steals while Gary Little (Cleveland / Collinwood) added eight points off the bench.
One day earlier, Rollins scored 30 points, pulled down 15 rebounds, and blocked four shots in an 84-78 win over Delta (Mich.) College in the tournament semifinals. He went to the free throw line 21 times and converted 18 tries. Through the first three games, he is averaging 22.7 points and 12.3 rebounds per game.
Cooper added 17 points, 13 boards, and six assists in the victory. Lakeland will host Genesee CC on Saturday afternoon at 3:00 in the 2011 home opener.
November 1, 2011 | Men cruise past Lorain in season opener
ELYRIA, Ohio – Freshman guard Gurjeet Gill (Strongsville, Ohio / Strongsville) scored 24 points to lead five players in double figures as the Lakeland Community College men’s basketball team cruised to a 110-67 victory over host Lorain County Community College in the season opener for both teams Tuesday night.
Brendan Cooper (Parma, Ohio / Parma) and Chaz Rollins (Warrensville Heights, Ohio / John Hay) each contributed a double-double in the win, helping Lakeland open the season with a victory for the third straight year. Cooper scored 18 points on 8-of-12 shooting from the floor and pulled down ten rebounds while Rollins chipped in 20 points and a team-high 11 boards. The defending Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) tournament champions also benefited from solid bench production.
Freshman captain Gary Little (Cleveland, Ohio / Collinwood) was a perfect 3-for-3 from distance en route to 12 points while classmate Isiah Boddie (Dayton, Ohio / Wayne) added 10.
Solid shooting from the perimeter and a huge second half run keyed the victory. Gill went 4-for-6 from beyond the arc, including three straight during a decisive 25-4 run to open the second half which put the game out of reach.
The visitors took a 46-32 lead into halftime before dialing up the pressure and scoring 25 of the first 29 points in the second frame.
Freshman point guard Danny Montgomery (North Ridgeville, Ohio / North Ridgeville) dished out a game-high four assists to along with seven points in his first collegiate game. The Lakers shot 53% from long range on the night, connecting on eight of 15 tries.
The Lakers head to Buffalo, N.Y. this weekend for the Erie Community College Tournament. Lakeland will open the tournament with Delta College on Saturday (Nov. 5) at 3:00 p.m. The winner advances to Sunday’s championship game, where it could meet nationally-ranked Erie CC.
Lakeland Community College Men’s Basketball Signs Three Top Recruits
After a history setting season resulting in the school’s first trip to the NJCAA Division II National Tournament and an Elite 8 finish the Lakeland Men’s Basketball team will try to continue its success. In doing so the school announced the signing of two local area standout players.
Chaz Rollins of John Hay High School. The 6’7 Wing/Post averaged 17ppg, 17 rebounds, and 4 assists. He was voted 2nd team all district and all state honorable mention. Chaz led the state of Ohio in rebounding and was second in the state in blocked shots.
Richard Smith of Lutheran East High School. The 6’8 Wing/Post averaged 10ppg, 16.6 rebounds, and 11.1 blocks. Richard was voted as the MVP of Lutheran East and he led the entire state of Ohio in block shots and was second in the state.
De’Vonte Jenkins of Youngstown Ursuline High School. The 6’5 Wing/Post averaged 22ppg along with 12 rebounds and 4 assists. He was the Youngstown Vindicator Player of the Year and was a 1st Team All Ohio selection
“Our focus in the off season was solidifying our front line and we have done so plus some!” stated Coach Terry Bowe. “We had two guys this past season that were the best in our conference, and not taking anything away from those guys but Chaz and Richard add an additional piece in their ability to step out and shoot the ball and run the lanes” De’Vonte brings an explosiveness in attacking the rim and also has the ability to shoot the long ball and defend at multiple positions. These three players are among the best in the state this year. We can get back to being a transition team. Most of all I am impressed with the character of these three young men; they will be three to watch for.
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| Sophomore forward Ray Chambers set the school record for blocks (94) en route to All-American status last season. | Ray Chambers Named First Team All-American
Lakeland’s post Ray Chambers has been selected as a First Team All American. Chambers played a key role in the Lakers 8th place finish at Nationals this year. Averaging 19.34 points per game and 11.86 rebounds, Chambers made his presence known on the court. Chambers is the first player for Coach Bowe’s to be named First Team All American. Coach Bowe says of Chambers, “He is a very talented young man on both ends of the court. He has the ability to go far if he continues to work hard on and off the court”. Congratulations to Coach Bowe and Ray on a great season!
Lakeland is Going to Nationals!
 The Lakeland Men’s Basketball Team won the Region 12 NJCAA Championship by beating Cincinnati State Community College 89-77. For the first time in Lakeland history the men’s basketball team is going to the National Tournament. The Lakers won a tough game last Tuesday against Sinclair Community College by a score of 85-63 that sent them to Piqua, Ohio where they would play rival school Cuyahoga Community College. After losing to Cuyahoga twice during the regular season the men pulled out the victory advancing them to the Regional Final game where they defeated Cincinnati State CC. The men will travel to Danville, Illinois on Sunday where they will compete in the National Tournament.
If you can't make it out to Danville, Illinois to watch the Lakers you can watch them live from your computer. The link below will have the games playing live throughout the entire tournament. The Lakers first game is Tuesday, March, 15th at 8:30 p.m.
www.ihigh.com/jcbca/
GO LAKERS!!
Men Advance to the Finals in the OCCAC Tournament
The Lakeland men’s basketball team defeated Cuyahoga Community College last night to advance to the final round of regionals. The Lakers beat Cuyahoga by a score of 61-53 after losing to them twice in the regular season. The Lakers will play Cincinnati State Community College today at 3:00 p.m. Lakeland split with Cincinnati during the regular season. The winner today will advance to nationals in Danville, Illinois.
Lakeland Passes First Round of Regionals
The Lakeland men’s basketball team has advanced to the second round of the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference Tournament. The Lakers played a hard fought game against Sinclair Community College Tuesday night. After losing two close games to Sinclair in the regular season the Lakers were determined to get a victory and advance on in the regional tournament. Lakeland beat Sinclair by a score of 85-63. The men will play rival school Cuyahoga Community College in the next round of the tournament on Friday, March 4 at 5 p.m. The game will be held at Edison Community College in Piqua, Ohio.
Ohio Community College Athletic Conference
Basketball Post Season Honors
March 2011 -- Ray Chambers was named to the OCCAC first team. Chambers averaged 19.6 points, 12.3 rebounds and 2.7 blocks a game during the season. He shot 56.6 percent from the floor and 72 percent from the free throw line. Chambers finished the season in the nationwide polls ranked 6th for rebounds, 7th for blocks, 24th for individual scoring, and 50th for field goal percentage.
William Powell and Alex Sullivan were named to the OCCAC second team. Powell averaged 19.5 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.3 steals a game during the season. Powell shot 45 percent from the floor and 66 percent from the line. Powell was ranked 25th in the nation for individual scoring and 39th for steals. Sullivan averaged 18.3 points; making 50 percent of his three’s ranking him 4th in the nation for 3 point percentage. At the end of the season he was averaging 3 steals per game which ranked him 12th in the nation. He shot 44.7 percent from the floor and 74 percent from the free throw line. Sullivan finished the season 40th in the nation for individual scoring.
Darryl Rushton was an honorable mention honoree averaging 12 points, 10 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks a game during the season. Rushton shot 54.8 percent from the floor and 65.8 percent from the line. He finished the season ranked 20th in the nation for rebounds. |
