Depleted Spartans cancel remainder of season

“Due to injuries and other unforeseen circumstances, Southwestern Community College made the decision to suspend all remaining games for the 2022-23 women’s basketball season,” the college announced in a post Monday.

Taking over the team two weeks before classes began this fall, with no new recruits in place, created an enormous challenge for the new women’s head coach Darien Wingate.

Returning sophomore guards Cassidy Nelson of Lenox and Lexi Robinson of Kansas City were the only players on the roster when Wingate arrived in August.

The team, with an overall record of 1-4, started with six players, none taller than 5-8, trying to compete in the ICCAC.

After the team lost Harmony Shaw prior to their game last week, they were down to a team of five with no reserves.

“The good thing about us is that I’m a get up and down the court guy, so we are conditioned,” Wingate said before the season. “I’m more worried about injuries, or foul trouble.”

His worry came to fruition Wednesday at home as Robinson went down with a leg injury in the fourth quarter, forcing the team to play with four for two minutes until she was able to return.

“It’s not easy, but again, it’s a tribute to them, Wingate said after their game. “They look at it, and they don’t waiver. I tell them all the time, there’s no special plays drawn up for four people. I’d be lying if I said there was a preparation for it.”

Their remaining games will be listed as “no contest.”

According to SWCC Athletic Director Kim Bishop, Wingate will focus his efforts for the remainder of the 2022-23 academic year on recruitment for the team’s 2023-24 season.

The women were scheduled to host Iowa Western Community College at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday as a part of a double-header with the men’s team. The men will still play at 7:30.