New-look Stars prepare for action
Sophomore guard Skyelar Moore averaged 13.5 points per game in 2011-12 for the Stars. (File photo by Michael Caterina)
Dominick Mastrangelo
Sports Editor
It’s that time of year again.
The LCC men’s basketball team is poised and prepared for another exciting year of hoops in the Gannon Gymnasium.
The Stars have been practicing since early October and were scheduled to play in their first scrimmages the weekend of Oct. 13 and 14.
LCC Head Coach Mike Ingram is in his 25th year at the helm of men’s basketball at LCC. He said the 2012-13 Stars have potential to be extremely successful.
“We’re big, we’re strong and we’re athletic,” Ingram said. “It has to come together for us as a team. But the other question is: ‘Can they take Coach Ingram? Can you play for me when I’m hollering and screaming and pushing us to be better?’ If they buy into what I’m teaching them, we can be great.”
This year’s roster features three returning sophomores. All of them were part of the 2011-12 squad that started the year 4-10, then went 15-1 to finish at 19-11 and won the Western Division of the MCCAA.
Ingram said the Stars will be without point guard Cameron Sanchez for the first half of the year due to ineligibility. Sanchez averaged almost 13 points per game last season, sinking 28 3-pointers and scoring 387 points for the Stars.
Another Star who was a big part of the mid-season turnaround last year is sophomore shooting guard Skyelar Moore. In 30 games, Moore averaged 13.5 points per game, scoring 406 points total and struck fear into the hearts of defensive units around the conference.
“We’ve got to play good defense this year and we’ve got to play hard,” Moore said. “I just want to play well, hit a couple shots and play hard for my teammates, giving us a chance to win.”
Moore said the absence of Sanchez does not impede the ability of the Stars to succeed. Instead he touted the incoming freshman class and said they will look to install a new sense of basketball culture at LCC.
East Lansing product Devlin Bell is one of the freshmen Ingram is excited about.
“Devlin could end up being a starter for us,” Ingram said. “He’s such an athlete. He’s strong and fast. I would call him a prototype Mike Ingram type of player,” Ingram said with a smile.
The Stars will start transfer student George Goodman at point guard in the absence of Sanchez in 2012. Ingram said while he understands the talent his freshmen posses, he is a firm believer in seniority.
“I really believe in getting your sophomores an opportunity first,” Ingram said. “At this level, sophomores are like having fourth-year seniors. “
The Stars first home contest of the year will be against alumni of LCC basketball during homecoming on Nov. 13.
For continuing coverage of the Stars as they prepare for the 2012 season, check www.lcc.edu/lookout or follow Dominick Mastrangelo on twitter: @dmaster_92.
