Page 1.indd - Wingspan

32WingspansportsApril 2, 2012wingspan.lccc.wy.eduMen’s basketball sophomoresRodrigo Silva:10.1 points a game9.5 rebounds a gamePhilip Freeman:15.9 points a game4.9 assists a gameBruno Machado:5.9 points a game38.5% 3–pt. shootingLaMel Hamberg:5.7 points a game34.2% 3–pt. shootingSophomore recognizedwith Region IX awardRegion IX’s all-region basketball team was announced,and Laramie County Community College’s sophomorepoint guard was chosen on the 18-slot roster. PhilipFreeman, of Indianapolis, was the only LCCC player toreceive honors from Region IX and earned a spot on thethird team. He averaged 16 points and five assists eachgame throughout the season.Eagles’ wings clipped in Region IX finalsThe season ended for the Laramie CountyCommunity College men’s basketball team after falling66–81 to Western Wyoming Community CollegeMarch 10 during the Region IX tournament inScottsbluff, Neb.The game started in a dogfight, as the scorereached 25–25 midway through the first half.However, the Golden Eagles fell behind 31–41 duringthe first half, and a second half surge was not enoughto get the Eagles over the hump.Charles Cooks led the team, scoring 14 points, andPhilip Freeman added 11 points.The Golden Eagles finished with an overall recordof 14–17 after a season full of ups and downs. Theteam will part with four sophomores this year, includingRodrigo Silva, Freeman, LaMel Hamberg andBruno Machado.The March 3 game, which was on sophomorenight, ended with the LCCC Golden Eagles losing60–78 to Central Wyoming College.Sophomore point guard Freeman led the Eaglesin scoring with 26 points, going 12 for 13 from thefree throw line. Sophomore shooting guard LaMelHamberg was another leader and scored 17 points.In the final away game of the regular season, theGolden Eagles found themselves on the short end ina 76–86 loss to Sheridan College March 1.The team started cold, scoring 28 points in the firsthalf before storming back with 48 points after halftime.Unfortunately, the comeback fell short.The Eagles were led by Charles Cooks, whofinished with 19 points. Alongside him, three otherplayers finished with double-digit points. They wereGermain Decoste with 14 points and eight rebounds,Machado with 10 points and Silva with 10 points.Photos by Shawn HavelRager cager:Philip Freeman goes around a Trinidad State Junior College player for a tough layup.Earlier on Feb. 28, the men defeated LamarCommunity College 75–65 in Lamar.Freeman had another outstanding offensive performance,scoring 20 points with eight assists. TheGolden Eagles led 35–28 going into halftime andmanaged to outscore Lamar 40–37 in the second halfof the game.Along with Freeman, three other Golden Eaglesscored in double-digits including Machado, who had17 points, Silva, who had 13 points and 16 rebounds,and Julian Chiera, who scored 10 points.Despite one of the better individual offensive performancesof the season, the LCCC men’s basketballteam could not sweep the series against TrinidadState Junior College, losing at home 80–73 on Feb. 25.Freeman shined offensively, scoring 22 points,having six assists and even coming up with a rareblock, but LCCC could not match Trinidad State inthe latter stages of the game.LCCC started the game strong enough, goingup on Trinidad State 8–0 in the first three minutes;however, Trinidad quickly closed the gap and with13:12 remaining in the first half equalized the scoreat 15. From that point on, Trinidad took control ofthe game, and though the Golden Eagles were nevercompletely out of it, they could not find an answerfor Trinidad’s offense.The Golden Eagles went into halftime trailing45–34 and continued to fight to stay in the gamethroughout the second half, but Trinidad had ananswer each time the Golden Eagles made a run.The game ended with four players from each teamscoring in double-digits including Freeman.Machado scored 15 points; Cooks scored 14, andUde Ifeanyichukwu scored 10.