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February 6, 2012 The Cyclones earned their seventh straight victory, 68-55, over College of Lake County on Feb. 4, thanks to tough defense in the second half. At the start of the game the Cyclone shots weren’t falling, and they fell behind 18-0. But by the start of the second half, Moraine Valley closed the gap 36-37, which is the most points the Cyclones have given up in the first half all season. They were a totally different squad in the second half, allowing the Lancers only 19 points and ultimately winning the game. Richaun Holmes (Lockport) led the field with 19 points, including five free throws. He also had five blocks and seven rebounds. Close on his heels was Avery Busch (John Hope), who added 15 points, which included three 3-pointers and two free throws, and contributed two assists, two blocks, and eight rebounds. Modestas Masiulionis (Lemont) had 13 points for the night, and Mike Jackson (Thornridge) scored 11 points and added two assists, one block and one rebound.
February 3, 2012 Unlike their previous matchup against McHenry County College, the Cyclones were anxious to prove their strength in a second meeting, Feb. 2, where the tide was turned. Moraine Valley crushed the Scots, 72-40. The Cyclones led the entire game with Richaun Holmes (Lockport) scoring a dominating 34 points, including several slam dunks and alley-oops. He was 13-for-22 from the floor with three 3-pointers, five free throws, four blocks, and nine rebounds. The next highest scorer was Steven White (Tinley Park) with 11 points; he also had one rebound. Lane Barlow (St. Rita) came up with eight points, three assists, two blocks, and a steal, and has been pivotal with his guard play. Mohamed Abuhamdeh (Sandburg) rounded out the scoring with seven points, including three free throws. The team had just five turnovers and 17 assists.
February 1, 2012 Running on a five-game win streak, the Cyclones tacked on their latest victory over Morton College. Moraine Valley led from the start of the game Jan. 31 and never looked back. At one point the Cyclones were up by 26 points, eventually winning 75-61 over their historically tough rival. Collectively, the team had 21 assists and five turnovers on the night. Mike Jackson (Thornridge) was the leading scorer with 19 points, including five 3-pointers. He tacked on two assists, rebounds and steals. Richaun Holmes (Lockport) had 14 points with seven rebounds and one block followed by Modestas Masiulionis (Lemont), who scored 12 with two 3-pointers, two assists and two rebounds. Avery Busch (John Hope) had an active night with 11 points, one 3-pointer, two free throws, four rebounds, two assists, and a steal. Justas Martinkus (Lemont) also scored 11 and had an assist while Lane Barlow (St. Rita) scored eight with eight assists.
January 29, 2012 As predicted by the Moraine Valley coaches, the Cyclones are continuing their win streak, this time a 56-39 win over College of Lake County on Jan. 28. It was a defensive match with the ’Clones holding the Lancers to 18 points at the half. Moraine Valley controlled the game from the start, allowing all players to have time on the court. Richaun Holmes (Lockport) scored 17 points, grabbed eight boards and blocked four. Mike Jackson (Thornridge) had nine points, six rebounds and a block. Modestas Masiulionis (Lemont) scored nine with two rebounds while Justas Martinkus (Lemont) banked eight points.
January 27, 2012 The Cyclones grabbed their third straight win Jan. 26, crushing Oakton Community College 78-55 at home. It was a collective effort offensively and defensively by Moraine Valley with nearly every player scoring. The high-energy Cyclones held Oakton to just 14 points in the first half thanks to unshakeable defense. The Cyclones are gelling, evidenced by movement and sharing of the ball. Richaun Holmes (Lockport) led the charge with 19 points, going 7-for-8 from the floor, grabbing seven boards and blocking three. Avery Busch (John Hope) followed with 11 points, including two 3-pointers, nine rebounds, four assists, and two blocks. Lane Barlow (St. Rita) had 10 points and Justas Martinkus (Lemont) followed with nine, all of which were 3-pointers. Mike O’Donnell (Leo) had nine points, three blocks and three rebounds, while Modestas Masiulionis (Lemont) scored eight, grabbing one rebound.
January 25, 2012 It’s been a month since the Cyclones put together a win streak, but they grabbed their second straight Jan. 24 with a sturdy 67-57 win over Prairie State College. The first half got off to a rough start with the Cyclones shooting 2-for-11 from the 3-point line and ultimately being down 34-29 at halftime. With a hefty pep talk at the half, the Cyclones came back with renewed intensity and outscored the Pioneers by 15 points on average. Players attacked the basket more, stopped settling for jump shots and passed more often to leading scorer, Richaun Holmes (Lockport), for layups. Holmes ended the night with 24 points, going 8-for-14 from the floor and making seven free throws. He added seven rebounds and a block to the night. Mike Jackson (Thornridge) was the next leading scorer with 20 points and eight free throws, plus six rebounds and two assists. Jackson has lately stepped up his game to become a big factor in the wins.
January 20, 2012 With two starters back in the lineup, the Cyclones returned to form Jan. 19 with a 73-62 win over Waubonsee Community College. The Cyclones led the entire matchup and looked like a totally different team from their last game. Starters Lane Barlow (St. Rita) and Mike O’Donnell (Leo) were back on the court and brought some much needed energy to the team. Richaun Holmes (Lockport) had 26 baskets on the night, making 12-of-15 free throws, grabbing eight rebounds, blocking four, and stealing one. Barlow scored 14 with five rebounds and one steal. Modestas Masiulionis (Lemont) finished with 12 points, including two 3-pointers, and three rebounds.
January 18, 2012 There was little spark in the Cyclones’ game Jan. 17, evident by the team’s 72-53 loss to Elgin Community College. Moraine Valley stayed competitive at the start where the score played back and forth. By the half the Cyclones were down 28-25. Modestas Masiulionis (Lemont) made a 3-pointer to start the second half, but a lack of rebounds and turnovers pushed the Spartans further ahead to the end of the game. Masiulionis and Avery Busch (John Hope) were the top scorers with 10 followed by Mike Jackson (Thornridge) with eight points. Masiulionis also had three rebounds, one block and was 4-for-7 from the floor. Busch had two rebounds, one steal and had two free throws while Jackson had four boards and was 3-for-3 from the floor.
January 11, 2012 In what looked to be a win in their second Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference game turned into a mental lapse Jan. 10 when the Cyclones fell 67-62 in overtime to McHenry County College. For most of the game the Cyclones were up by at least 10 points. In the last two minutes of the second half, Moraine Valley had too many turnovers, missed key free throws and poor shots leading to a tied game and overtime play. The Cyclones struggled to score in overtime, contributing to the loss. Only Richaun Holmes (Lockport) and Mike Jackson (Thornridge) were able to score in the double digits, 25 and 18, respectively. Holmes also had 10 rebounds and six blocks while Jackson got seven boards, two blocks and two steals. Avery Busch (John Hope) is seeing more court action and scored six while rebounding four and blocking one.
January 8, 2012
December 23, 2011
December 21, 2011
December 12, 2011 The Cyclones mixed things up a bit with an out-of-town tournament Dec. 9-10, breaking even for the weekend. In the first game, the Cyclones were pitted against NJCAA Division I number-three ranked Indian Hills Community College-Ottumwa. Coming out strong in the first half, the Cyclones stayed competitive and kept the game close until Indian Hills went on a run to lead by 18 points. With five minutes left before the half, the Cyclones had a run of their own to cut the lead. Johnny Baldwin (Corliss) had some key steals and layups to close the gap to eight points. In the second half the Cyclones cut the lead to four on three separate occasions, but couldn’t catch up to Indian Hills for the 89-67 loss. Early in the first half, Cyclone offensive threat and top rebounder Mike Jackson (Thornridge) was injured, which could have made a difference in the final outcome of the game, said head coach Dedrick Shannon. The Cyclones fared better in their game the following day against William Penn University JV, winning 101-72. Jumping out from the get-go, the Cyclones were up before William Penn tied it at 15 and continued with back-and-forth play. At halftime the ’Clones were up 49-35. An early run in the second half had the Cyclones up by as much as 40 points, allowing for some bench players to see action on the court.
December 9, 2011 The NJCAA Division II 18th ranked Cyclones had their work cut out for them Dec. 8 when they faced Division III-10th-ranked Joliet Junior College. Despite some shooting deficits, the Cyclones won the battle, 56-51. Within the first 10 minutes, Moraine Valley was up by 14 points thanks in part to the energy and intense defense on the court, which stalled the Wolves. Both teams struggled to score, but the Cyclones were still up 30-20 at halftime. The Cyclones had a scoring drought to start the second half and the defense slacked, but they still were ahead by one or two points throughout the game. With four minutes left, the score was tied at 45, but Moraine Valley prevailed. Richaun Holmes (Lockport) led the team with 20 points, nine rebounds and five blocks. He was 6-for-7 from the free-throw line. Mike Jackson (Thornridge) followed with 15 points, three of which were 3-pointers, eight rebounds and one steal. Modestas Masiulionis (Lemont) rounded out the top scorers with nine points and a rebound.
December 4, 2011 After annihilating Trinity Christian College in their first matchup Dec. 1 by more than 60 points, the Cyclones let their guard down in the team’s second meeting Dec. 3, but still came out with a 79-56 win. Moraine Valley was ahead from the start and never looked back. Lane Barlow (St. Rita) led the team with 17 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, six steals, and a perfect 3-for-3 from the free-throw line. Modestas Masiulionis (Lemont) followed with 15 points, shooting three 3-pointers and going 4-for-4 in free throws. Both Mike Jackson (Thornridge) and Richaun Holmes (Lockport) had nine points. Jackson had seven rebounds while Holmes had four in addition to two blocks and a steal.
December 2, 2011
November 30, 2011 The Cyclones’ four-game win streak came to an end Nov. 29 in part due to a rough second half that led to a 70-63 loss to Kankakee Community College. After being up by nearly 20 points at one time in the first half, the Cyclones fell apart and lost focus after halftime. There was a little back and forth play in the second half, but there were too many poor shots and at least eight turnovers to maintain a lead. Once the Cyclones lost the lead, the game was over. Richaun Holmes (Lockport) was once again the top scorer with 21 points. He tacked on another triple-double to his season with 12 blocks and 10 rebounds in addition to hitting 11 of his 15 free throws and one steal. Johnny Baldwin (Corliss) followed with 11 points, going 4-for-6 from the floor and 3-for-4 from the free-throw line and grabbing two steals. Modestas Masiulionis (Lemont) also had 11 points, banking one 3-pointer and getting two assists. Mike O’Donnell (Leo) had nine points with one 3-pointer, seven rebounds and two blocks. He went 4-for-4 in free throws.
November 23, 2011 The wins continue piling up for the Cyclones who clinched their fourth straight on Nov. 22. Although they struggled with foul trouble in the first half, it didn’t offset their 76-62 win over Parkland College. At the end of the first half, Moraine Valley was down by four. Once the team regrouped at halftime, they took a solid lead with 10 minutes left in the game. Mike O’Donnell (Leo) was on all night, leading the team with 21 points, shooting 4-for-4 from the 3-point line, hitting all three two-point shots and nailing all three free throws. He also had eight rebounds. Richaun Holmes (Lockport) had his second triple-double of the season with 19 points, 11 rebounds and 10 blocks. He was 7-for-7 at the free-throw line and had four assists. Modestas Masiulionis (Lemont) rounded out the leading Cyclone scorers with 11 points, going 3-for-9 from the arc with two rebounds and one steal.
November 21, 2011 The Cyclones are on a roll, grabbing their third consecutive win Nov. 19 with a dominating 71-42 victory over Kishwaukee College. Moraine Valley was the stronger team from the start, easily leading within the first five minutes. By halftime the Cyclones were up 42-18 before cruising to a nearly 30-point win. Modestas Masiulionis (Lemont) scored 23 going 9-for-17 from the floor with five 3-pointers. Mike O’Donnell (Leo) was the next leading scorer with 19 points, three blocks and six rebounds. Every player had some time on the court with all but two scoring.
November 18, 2011
November 16, 2011
November 14, 2011 There wasn’t total domination in the Cyclones’ 80-77 loss to Saint Xavier University, but there were enough turnovers and bad shots in the first half to keep them down. The Cyclones played Saint Xavier’s varsity team Nov. 12, but matched their skill level and should have won the game, said assistant coach Justin Domingo. For most of the night Moraine Valley was down, but with seven minutes left in the second half the team bounced back and was up by five. With 56 seconds left, Richaun Holmes (Lockport) scored off a rebound to get within two points of the Cougars, but couldn’t get another game-winning shot like during the Cyclones’ Nov. 10 win over Triton College. Holmes led the team with 28 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks. He was 6-for-8 from the free-throw line. Lane Barlow (St. Rita) followed with 13 points, eight rebounds and two steals. Mike O’Donnell (Leo) banked 12 points, going 7-for-8 from the free-throw line, with six rebounds. Modestas Masiulionis (Lemont) and AJ Bridges (Eisenhower) each had 10 points.
November 11, 2011
November 11, 2011 For their home opener, Moraine Valley came out swinging with high energy in the first 10 minutes, opening their lead by 14 points. The players were crashing boards until they lost focus and had the lead cut to two, 35-33, at the half. Between bad shots and not taking care of the ball, the Cyclones allowed Triton to go on a 12-2 run. The second half was more back and forth play with each team tying the score or taking the lead at one point. With 5.7 seconds left in regulation time and the score tied at 67, Richaun Holmes (Lockport) hit the game-winning jump shot. Holmes finished the game with just nine points, but seven rebounds and four blocks. Top scorers for the night were Mike O’Donnell (Leo) and Mike Jackson (Thornridge) each with 15 points. O’Donnell was 3-for-5 in 3-pointers and 4-for-8 from the floor with eight rebounds and a block. Jackson was 4-for-6 from the floor with five rebounds. Lane Barlow (St. Rita) was 3-for-6 from the field with one 3-pointer, eight rebounds, and two steals for the night.
November 7, 2011 The first game against Marshalltown Community College was a 69-58 victory on Nov. 4. Marshalltown was up most of the game, and the Cyclones battled and were down by 14 until Lane Barlow (St. Rita) hit a 3-pointer just before halftime to cut the lead. The Cyclones found their rhythm and flow and played harder in the second half to surge ahead. Richaun Holmes (Lockport) stepped up his aggression, making more jump shots than he did in the first half. He ended the game with 17 points, four blocks and eight rebounds. Modestas Masiulionis (Lemont) was the leading scorer with 18 points, along with four rebounds. He was 4-for-7 from the free-throw line. Mike Jackson (Thornridge) also contributed 15 points, five rebounds, and was 3-for-3 at the line. In their game against Southeastern Community College on Nov. 5, the Cyclones had to contend with tough calls, falling 71-68 in overtime. After leading nearly the entire game by at least six points, the Cyclones had a lane violation call that pushed the game into overtime. Holmes was on fire with a triple double, grabbing 15 points, 11 rebounds and 11 blocks. Masiulionis contributed 16 points, four rebounds and one steal, going 3-for-7 from the line. Both Barlow and Johnny Baldwin (Corliss) each had nine points.
November 3, 2011 The slate is clean for the 2011 men’s basketball team. After a rocky couple of years, head coach Dedrick Shannon recruited a new class of athletes he hopes will buy into the Cyclone tradition of excellence. Shannon, in his eighth season at the helm, didn’t return any players from the 2010-11 squad, but did see his NJCAA All-Region IV player Louis Green (St. Joseph) and All-Conference guard Morris Woods (Argo) graduate. Both are playing at Division I schools, Green is at Seattle University while Woods attends Eastern Illinois University. There were good athletes on the team last season, but they struggled to become a cohesive unit and consistently win games. “Last year the guys didn’t buy into it. They wanted to do it their way and not my way. And some guys didn’t do what they needed to in the classroom either. Last year’s returners were a distraction,” Shannon said. “It’s exciting because we’re starting over fresh. These guys have the potential to be really good.” The players this year are versatile, athletic and interchangeable in multiple positions. One of the top prospects is 6’8” freshman Richaun Holmes (Lockport). The forward/center has already committed to playing next season at Bowling Green University in Ohio. He along with forward Mike O’Donnell (Leo/6’5”) can both go out and nail 3-pointers. Shannon also expects big things from transfers Lane Barlow (St. Rita/5’10”), Mike Jackson (Thornridge/6’3”), Modestas Masiulionis (Lemont/6’3”), and freshman AJ Bridges (Eisenhower/5’9”). Barlow and Josh Freeman (Richards/5’10”) will be hounded as the guards to step up on the court. As a guard/forward, Jackson has solid shooting ability and the energy to help lead the team as well. “We have tons of talent, and I’m not sure if they know how hard they have to work at the college level. These guys have the potential to be really good,” Shannon said. “Our main goal is to get out of the cellar. I’m very disappointed with last season. It was the worst season of men’s basketball at Moraine Valley, and I want to eliminate that. Moraine Valley basketball is better than that. That’s another reason I cleaned house. They need to understand the tradition here.” The Cyclones have a tough road ahead, but with the talent level on this team, Shannon believes they can push ahead of the pack. He has just two goals this year—play hard and play tough. |
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