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Chargers snap losing streak with win over
Grand Valley
By Tim Sayers
Collegian Freelancer
The Chargers rebounded from a three-game losing
streak on Saturday night, defeating Grand Valley State to earn
their biggest victory of the season, 88-79.
"It was a very big win for us, especially
before going on the road where it'll be tough to get a win,"
sophomore Rodney Whaley said.
The Chargers' record now stands at 10-7, 3-4
in the GLIAC. The victory may become a turning point in their
season.
"It's our biggest win of the season so
far," coach Ed Douma said.
"It was important for us not to go on
the road with a losing streak. The conference is so close that
every game is important. One game or one mistake may make the
difference between us making or not making the tournament."
After being out-rebounded 30-40 against Ferris
State Jan. 15, the Chargers came out and regained their aggressive
style of play.
They out-hustled Grand Valley State, causing
16 turnovers. The Chargers also out-rebounded the Lakers by
eight and made eight more free throws.
Senior Tom Farmer led the way for the Chargers
with 20 points and eight rebounds.
"He's getting better," Douma said.
"He's what I like to call a 'tough cover' because he can
go inside and outside."
Other key contributors were sophomore Cory
Coe with 17 points and seven rebounds and freshman John Farr
with 17 points.
Sophomore John Hamood scored 12 points, and
junior Marius Kliokys chipped in with 10 points.
For his strong play in last week's games, Coe was named GLIAC
South Player of the Week on Monday.
"He's the leading scorer on the team,
so he contributes with his points. He's a dangerous scorer,
but he's improved also defensively and as a rebounder,"
Douma said.
"He's a better all around player than
last year. Other teams know he's a threat from the perimeter,
and they always put their best guy on him to stop him."
In their games over Christmas break, the men
started off well but then slipped into a losing streak.
They won three straight, earning victories
over St. Francis, 72-64, on Dec. 20, UM-Dearborn, 96-57, on
Dec. 27 and Northwood, 82-70, on Dec. 29.
Unfortunately, their play quickly went south
when the team traveled north to the Upper Peninsula. The Chargers
lost two straight against Northern Michigan, 86-59, and Michigan
Tech, 88-69.
Then they returned home, only to lose a heartbreaker
to Ferris State, 73-69, on Jan. 15.
"We had some nice games and were able
to get our confidence back," Douma said.
"But then we had a tough trip up to the
U.P. We played good defense, but Northern [Michigan] and [Michigan]
Tech just shot the lights out on us."
"We started out playing well," Hamood
said. "But against Northern and Tech, they played well
and we didn't. We played well against Ferris State too, but
they outlasted us in the end and made certain plays that we
didn't."
Despite losing three in a row, the Chargers
said they didn't get down or lose confidence in themselves.
"No one was down," Douma said.
"Of course we were disappointed after
the loss, but we've got a good level-headed group of guys. We
just had to go out and play the next game."
"We knew we had to stick together, play
together and mentally prepare as a team in order to win the
next game," Whaley said.
The Chargers start a six-game road trip on
Saturday against Northwood.
"We can't look at our overall record.
We have to focus on each game as we go and play together,"
Douma said.
"Our half of the conference is the toughest
half, and we will play most of the top teams on this road trip."
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