Lake Erie hoops sweep Alderson Broaddus

David S. Glasier was on the scene in Painesville as the Lake Erie College men’s and women’s basketball teams recorded a sweep of Alderson Broaddus, with the men eyeing a bounceback campaign.

The Lake Erie College men’s basketball program has come a long way in one year’s time.

With a 73-63 victory over Alderson Broaddus on Jan. 15 at Osborne Center, the Storm upped their records to 11-7 overall and 6-4 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference.

LEC is one victory shy of matching its high-water mark for wins since making the jump eight years ago to Division II from D-III.

“When we step on the court now, we feel we can win,” LEC sophomore guard Gabe Kynard said “We didn’t feel that way last season.”

Kynard finished with a team-high 22 points for the Storm, who in successive games have beaten two teams ahead of them in the G-MAC standings.

They set the stage for the win over the thirdplace Battlers (12-5, 6-4 G-MAC) with an 8379 victory on Jan. 13 at Walsh (9-7, 6-4 G-MAC).

“Now, winning is all we want to do,” Kynard said. “Our confidence in each other is really growing.”

Senior forward Michael Morris, another player who weathered some tough times in an LEC uniform, added 16 points as all 11 players used by secondyear coach Kyle Conley reached the score sheet.

“Last year, we weren’t tough enough,” Conley said. “The difference this season is the mentality. These guys are understanding the urgency you must have to compete at this level. They’re starting to believe they are as good as anybody in this league when we play the right way.”

In addition to balanced scoring, the Storm used tenacious defense to subdue the Battlers for the second time this season. A-B shot 38.3 percent from the floor and got to the free-throw line only 11 times.

“Our improvement this year starts at the defensive end,” Conley said. “We’re guarding people at a pretty high level.”

The Storm moved ahead, 12-9, on a 3-pointer by Morris at the 14:03 mark of the first half. They led at halftime, 40-27, and didn’t allows the Battlers to draw any closer than seven points throughout the second half.

“These wins are giving the guys confidence in themselves,” Conley said. “That’s important to growing the culture we want to grow here.”

Mike Davis, a Garfield Heights High School and Lakeland Community College product, finished with a game-high 24 points for the Battlers.

Women Lake Erie 75, Alderson Broaddus 59

Senior guard Kayla Gabor (Mentor) poured in a game-high 17 points as the Storm snapped a three-game losing streak

LEC sophomore guard Ashley West added a career-high 16 points as the Storm improved to 8-8 overall and 5-6 in the GMAC. Sophomore guard Josie Chaddock had 12 points and senior center Christine Dawson posted a double-double with 11 points and a game-high 11 rebounds.

Senior guard Jordan Parker had a team-high 14 points for the Battlers (4-10, 2-9 G-MAC).