BRAINERD – It was a successful weekend for Central Lake College as they won their second game in as many days with an 88-61 win over Sisseton-Wahpeton College in the final game of the CLC Winter Classic on Saturday, December 17.
Jaiquavious Ackey led the Raiders with 20 points on 10-of-14 shooting, plus five rebounds. Quamar Gresham added 13 points and Broden Fleischer finished with 12 points as CLC shot 52%.
The Mustangs lost to North Division rival Rainy River 128-68 in the opening round of the Classic on Friday, December 17.
CLC turned the ball over 16 times in the first half and led 34-31 late in the first half before a 9-2 run put the Raiders up 43-33 at halftime.
“I told the team you need to respect the people you play with,” CLC coach Jim Russell said. “They wear the same uniforms as you and they play the varsity game just like you. It all starts with the leaders and this weekend was good for us.”
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Fleischer and Ake scored 12 points each in the first half, but the rest of the team only had 19 points.
“We just talked to each other and stayed positive and kept fighting and kept our heads up,” the Raiders’ Ake said in the second half.
In the second half, CLC found their rhythm and Michael Scott scored two points to give the Raiders a 59-39 lead 15 minutes into the second half. The Raiders took a 10-point lead later in the first half, capped by a bucket from WalkerJohnson, that made it 76-41, the largest lead of the game for the Raiders en route to an 86-61 win that gave them a 7-6 record heading into the game. Christmas vacation.
The Raiders will host Ridgewater and Riverland in the CLC Invitational before opening the North Division season against Mesabi on Saturday, Jan. 6.
“We’re still growing,” Aki said. “We finished this part of this season on the right foot and now we look forward to continuing to play, encourage each other and move forward.”
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Thirteen different players scored for CLC in Saturday’s win.
“The biggest thing we talk about is expanding your game and that we want to expand as a team,” Russell said. “Your basic fundamentals have to be there. Your core, your ball handling, your shooting, what we’re supposed to be. And then as a team we can expand from that.”
The Raiders also received a visit from a former player. David Felix was a member of last year’s CLC that finished 16-10 and 12-2 in the North Division and joined the team off the bench for Saturday’s game.
“It’s amazing how the week started with me lecturing the team about identity and what the identity of Jim Russell’s Central Lakes team is,” he said. “And guess who walks into the classroom. David Felix. This is a guy who went from playing here and is now playing on scholarship (for Coastal Georgia). He probably averaged seven points per game for us. But his work ethic is amazing, his team play is amazing, and he has a great personality.” “And he does a great job in the classroom. It’s really simple, just do what he does.”
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Sisseton-Wahpeton College 33 28 – 61
Central Lakes 43 43 – 86
Sisseton-Wahpeton College
Zion Rice 9, Jamison Brate 23, Quentin Abbey 3, Marty Rose 9, Perry Lufkins 4, Drew Parker 6, Caleb Float 7. FG 21-69 (30%), FT 12-15 (80%). 3-Point 7-25 (25%).
Dewayne Givens 4, Jacoby Jones 5, Johnny Tong 5, Kumar Gresham 13, Broden Fleischer 12, Jayquavious Aki 20, McKeith Deng 3, Kian Raykhoff 5, Walker Johnson 4, Jaden Gaines 3, Jayden Broadnax 4, Logan Jackson 2, Michael Scott . 6. FG 36-69 (52%), FT 3-4 (75%). 3-Point 11-31 (36%). Overall: 7-6. NEXT: Hosts Ridgewater College, 8 p.m., Friday, Dec. 29.
The Raiders had a successful weekend in men’s college basketball, ending with an impressive win that left fans and players alike feeling satisfied. Their victory on the court has solidified their standing as a team to watch in the upcoming season. With strong teamwork and skilled players, the Raiders have proven themselves to be a force to be reckoned with in the competitive world of college basketball. Their recent triumph has undoubtedly left their supporters eagerly anticipating what the rest of the season has in store.