(Sugar Grove, IL) – Although it was just the third Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference (ISCC) game for both teams, it was vitally important for both Waubonsee Community College and McHenry County College. Both the Chiefs and Scots entered the evening with two league losses. A third defeat would already jeopardize either team's chances to remain in the ISCC title race. In the end the visiting Scots (7-8, 1-2) made the Chiefs (11-6, 0-3) play catch-up all game long and held on for an 83-72 victory.
After the Chiefs' J. Caleb Slawinski won the opening tip Joey Niesman scored a from close range seconds later to get the scoring started. Unfortunately, the Scots tallied the game's next eight points to take a quick 8-2 lead and prompt Waubonsee head coach Lance Robinson to call timeout. Not long after the halt in play Niesman buried a long three-pointer to cut the deficit to 10-7 four minutes into the game. A triple from the top of the key by Jaylyn Kelley got the Chiefs within a point at 12-11 a minute later. Niesman then scored on a short turn around jumper to give Waubonsee's its' first lead since the opening seconds of the game. However, McHenry responded with a 15-5 run to surge ahead 27-18 as they continued to score on drives to the basket.
A pair of triples by Kelley quickly cut the deficit to 27-24 moments later, but the Chiefs would not get any closer. McHenry held a 34-29 advantage midway through the first half as they kept the Chiefs at bay. A running one-hander by Niesman cut the Scots' lead to 37-33 with five minutes left in the half. A minute later Niesman connected on a triple from the left corner to cut the deficit again to four at 40-36. McHenry then responded with a 10-0 run to build its biggest lead at 50-36 with just over two minutes until halftime. Coach Robinson called another timeout to try and stem the tide before the Scots eventually secured a 52-39 lead heading into the intermission.
The second half began with Chiefs' center Brice Langford scoring inside and then blocking a shot on the other end to spark Waubonsee's offense. Slawinski scored seconds later and then Niesman made a steal and punctuated it with a left-handed, breakaway slam to quickly cut the Scots lead to 52-45. An offensive rebound and two-handed dunk by Langford cut the deficit to 56-49 six minutes into the second period. However, a steal and two-handed tomahawk slam by McHenry's Quinton McCullough pushed the Scots' lead back up to double digits at 62-51. The visitors led by as many as 15 points and still held a 66-54 lead midway through the second half.
The Chiefs then suddenly reeled off an 8-2 run capped by a long three-pointer from Dylan Fuzak to pull within 68-62 with seven minutes remaining in the game. Two minutes later Fuzak drilled a huge three-pointer from in front of the Chiefs' bench to make it a three-point game. Neither team could score over the next two minutes until McHenry's Anfernee James scored on a short left-handed teardrop shot just over the outstretched arms of the 6'9" Fuzak. The Scots' Andre White then made a pair of free throws to extend the lead back to seven at 74-67 with 2:15 remaining. After a Chiefs' timeout David Robinson scored inside and was fouled but failed to complete the three-point play. Waubonsee would not get closer than five points the rest of the way as McHenry made their final seven free throws to clinch the road win.
Kelley led Waubonsee in scoring with 21 points, connecting on six shots from beyond the arc to go along with four assists. Niesman chipped in with 17 points, four assists and two steals. Fuzak and Robinson each finished with nine points, while Langford tallied eight points and hauled down 10 rebounds. Slawinski added eight points and nine boards, and Julian Acosta dished out four assists. For the game the Chiefs shot just 36 percent (5 for 14) from the foul line. In sharp contrast McHenry shot 85 percent (11 of 13) from the foul line and finished the game shooting 52 percent overall from the floor. The Scots placed five players in double figures led by Jonah Ogunsanya's 17 points. McHenry's Matthew Lesch booked 15 points, nine assists and eight rebounds, and McCullough finished with a double-double with 11 points and 10 boards.
The Chiefs are in action again this coming Thursday, January 19 when they head to south suburban Chicago Heights to battle Prairie State College starting at 7:15 p.m. Waubonsee returns to Erickson Hall next Tuesday, January 24, to host Morton College. The women are set to tipoff at 5:15 p.m. against the second-ranked Panthers, who are currently 16-0. The men's contest is scheduled to start at 7:15 p.m.