THE INDEPENDENT

The Latest

Skyhawks Fly Over Cowboys in Thriller

Skyhawks Fly Over Cowboys in Thriller

By Matthew T. Roy, Photos by Kayla Cata

Author: Bodine, James/Saturday, February 3, 2018/Categories: Home, Events, Sports

Rate this article:
No rating

The Fort Lewis College Skyhawks men’s basketball team won a tight contest against the New Mexico Highlands University Cowboys Friday night in Whalen gymnasium, 80-72.

 

The win pushed FLC to 18-3 (14-2) and kept FLC in first place in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. This also keeps them in control of their own playoff destiny as they have a one game lead over second place Westminster.

 

While the win really helps FLC, the loss damages the playoff hopes of a very underrated Highlands team. They drop to 13-9 (8-8) on the season and are in a tie for seventh place with Black Hills State, but would still be in the playoffs if the season ended today because the top eight make the postseason.

 

“That is a really good team we played,” Skyhawk head coach Bob Pietrack said. “There is a reason why they have 13 wins. It’s hard to win a game in college basketball and they have already won 13.”

 

This game started out with a bang. FLC hit three three-pointers on their first five possessions and exploded to a 15-5 lead within the first four minutes of the game. It looked like it was going to be one of those nights in Whalen. But Highlands had something to say about that.

 

Fresno St. transfer-guard Jacob Holland began hitting his shots and bringing the Cowboys back. By the 10 minute mark in the first half, the lead for FLC was down to one point, 20-19.

 

At halftime, the lead for FLC was still one, 34-33. The first half was basically a heavyweight fight between two players, Holland and Skyhawk senior DJ Miles. The players were going shot for shot in the first half and ended it with 14 and 16 respectively.

 

I went to Juco with Jacob actually,” Miles said. “He was my teammate there for two years so I always love competing against him. Whenever I see him doin well that just makes me want to, you know, anything you can do I can do better.”

 

“DJ has been huge for us,” Pietrack said. “When you take a senior transfer, you hope it ends up working out like DJ has because he has been excellent and we are not 18-3 and 14-2 in the league without him.”

 

The first half also say a lot of foul trouble for the Fort. Senior Brandon Wilson, and sophomore Riley Ferris had two fouls at the half and junior Marquel Beasley had three.

 

However, strategic coaching and slightly less aggressive play in the second half made the foul trouble nearly irrelevant.

 

The Fort starting hitting open shots and quickly catapulted the lead to eight in the first five minutes of the second half. Miles’ scoring took a step back but senior superstar Rasmus Bach picked up the drop off, as did junior Alex Semadeni.

 

Semadeni had a huge game. He took three charges, had five total steals, scored 11 points, had five boards, and provided an energy off the bench that the team needed to win.

When the game was over and Pietrack put on his jacket, it was another home win for the Skyhawks who are now 12-0 art home this season and 42-1 at home since Pietrack took over as the head coach.

 

The Skyhawks will play their next game tonight at home against an always good CSU- Pueblo team at 7:30 p.m.

 

“Key to victory is that we just have to key into their shooters,” Miles said. “They got a lot of them and they let it fly. Their point guard, Newman I believe is his name, we just got to key in on him and make sure that he is not making the game easier for everyone around him.”

 

Editor’s Note: Semadeni could not comment on the game for the Independent due to his association with the organization. He is the Editor-in-Chief and this would be a conflict of interest.

 
 
Print

Number of views (2919)/Comments (0)

Please login or register to post comments.

All News

Fresh Ideas at the Fort

AJ Repinski and Steven Ben

A retrospective on the new food provider on campus

 

During busy days of classes and studying, college students need food to keep the fire burning. Fresh Ideas, the new campus food provider, has been filling this need at Fort Lewis College for the past semester. Fresh Ideas, who replaced Sodexo at FLC in July 2024, has implemented several changes to campus food options, such as new 24/7 vending machines and bringing companies like Starbucks...

Toward the Horizon

Kiiyahno Edgewater

The Search for a President at FLC

Amidst the national elections, Fort Lewis College is also going through a similar search for a new president to oversee the community. In the spring semester of 2024, previous FLC president Tom Stritikus left to fill the role of a similar title at Occidental College in Los Angeles, California. During that time Steve Schwartz took his position as interim president.  “When our...

Fast FAFSA Facts

Tiana Padilla

What students should know about the new financial aid form.

In 2023, the Department of Education released an updated version of the Free Application for Student Aid that would make the process easier for students to fill and receive aid. Students must fill the FAFSA to qualify for federal and state grant funds, federal loans, and work study, Jedidiah Gilden, director of Financial Aid, said in an email. One of the changes involved with the...

Social Gaming with Skyhawk Pride

Junior Parrish

Gamers join each other for a night of fun at the LAN Part

    A poster in the middle of the room welcoming everyone who came to the LAN Party.   Everyone played their games, and was open to all students. The Lan Party, hosted by Gaming Society and A+ Gaming, was held on Oct. 12 in the EBH at 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.      Snacks were provided to the gamers.     Levi Otten helped...

Costumes at the Fort

Tiana Padilla

Students show spirit for Halloween 

For Fort Lewis College, Halloween comes as an opportunity for students to show their creativity through their costumes, and this year is no different. One example of student creativity is Zoe Corbine, a theater major, who’s costume references the cover of children’s book Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon. It took Corbine up to 45 minutes to an hour to paint the stripes...

123578910Last