Spartan men open with win

The Darryl Fletcher era of Southwestern Community College men’s basketball got off to a rousing start with an overtime win on the road last weekend.

The Spartans outscored Southeast (Nebraska) Community College 16-9 in overtime for an 85-78 victory.

James Braddy, one of two returning sophomores from last year’s team coached by Shane Sweany, finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Spartans. Jakub Jozef Istok, 6-6 freshman from Slovakia, scored a team-high 18 points and 6-3 freshman Rickey Loftin II from Omaha contributed 15 points and six rebounds.

“We have more to work on, but I’m very happy with where we are headed,” Fletcher said as his team prepares for this weekend’s trip to the Johnson County (Kansas) Classic to take on Highland Community College and 15th-ranked Johnson County.

Fletcher spent last season as the lead assistant for the North Dakota School of Science Wildcats during their 31-2 season, considered one of the top defensive teams in the nation. Prior to that, he had assistant coaching positions at Moberly (Missouri) and Iowa Lakes Community College.

When Fletcher was hired in June, the roster had two players returning for this season — Braddy, a point guard from Kansas City, and 6-3 guard Donnary Fontenot from Atlanta. In addition, Sweany had signed 6-0 freshmen guard Keysean Moore of Waukee, Loftin and Jvean Williams of Kansas City, who is redshirting this season.

It was a quick roster build, but Fletcher has been pleased with the progress, despite two key temporary losses at the post position.

“I was already in the midst of recruiting from my last job, so I reached out to some contacts and we were able to get some in,” Fletcher said. “It was so late we took a few more international kids than normal. Then Kael Jones (6-7 freshman from Ankeny) became available and that helped because we needed some size.”

Jones is expected to be sidelined until mid-December from ligament surgery for a lower leg injury. Also, 6-9 center Thomas Morgan, a sophomore transfer from Austrailia, isn’t eligible until Dec. 14 because of a semester rule at his prior school.

In the meantime, the Spartans are a little undersized, but Fletcher says that meshes well with the team’s “five-out” offensive system brought in from assistant Matt Colston, formerly at Graceland University with former Spartan national champion coach Todd Lorensen.

“We will have situations where we’re being guarded by a bigger, slower kid who can’t match up with us unless they go small,” Fletcher said. “That happened with Jakub in a matchup advantage in our first game. But we’re focusing on rebounding, because (Southeast) had 20 offensive rebounds in that game.”

Fontenot and Loftin are “three level scorers” according to Fletcher, with ability to drive to the basket and shoot from both mid-range and behind the arc. Istok was the team’s top long-range threat in the opener, sinking three 3-pointers.

The other opening game starter was Theo Alexandersson Ohnell, 6-0 guard from Sweden. He contributed nine points, seven rebounds and four assists in his Spartan debut.

“Theo can knock down shots and be the backup point guard for James,” Fletcher said.

Others who saw duty in the opener were 6-3 freshman guard Camory Hall of Kansas City, guard Erland Pagliero of France, 6-4 win Jay Budde of Australia and Moore, the Waukee guard. Fletcher labels Hall “a high level shooter” who should contribute in the regular rotation.

With four players scoring in double figures in the season opener, Fletcher said the team is on track for the type of balance needed in the ICCAC.

“Every team that I’ve been a part of that’s been successful has had three or four guys who have averaged 10 to 15 points,” Fletcher said. “You can’t hone in on one guy. They like sharing the ball, so we’re heading in the right direction. We’re working on being a really good defensive team and we’re do some pressing. It allows us to slow teams down that want to get out in transition, and maybe turn over some bigger teams that don’t want to handle the ball. We were able to make (Southeast) more of a half-court team with our pressure.”

Avery Phillippi of Nodaway Valley is a 6-1 freshman guard who will be able to play in the second semester, Fletcher said.

League outlook

The Spartans were 16-15 last year, earning a No. 6 seed in the regional at Southwestern in a loss to third-seeded Kirkwood, 57-49. This year’s preseason poll pegged Southwestern in a tie for seventh with Northeast in the 10-team league.

“The preseason rankings have us tied for seventh, but I would like to think we could finish in the top four or five,” Fletcher said.

The ICCAC Division II league is loaded with nationally-ranked teams led by No. 3 DMACC. Others are No. 6 Kirkwood, No. 7 Ellsworth and No. 13 Iowa Lakes in the national top 25, with league members Iowa Western and Iowa Central receiving votes.

Southwestern’s home opener is Saturday, Nov. 23 against 24th-ranked Kansas City (Kansas) at 3 p.m.

SWCC roster

Sophomores — Donnary Fontenot, 6-3, Atlanta, Ga.; Thomas Morgan, 6-9, Mt. Eliza, Victoria, Australia; James Braddy, 5-9, Kansas City, Mo.

Freshmen — Theo Alexandersson Ohnell, 6-0, Sodertalje, Sweden; Rickey Loftin II, 6-3, Omaha; Camory Hall, 6-3, Kansas City, Mo.; Keysean Moore, 6-0, Waukee; Jveaun Williams, 6-4, Kansas City, Mo. (Redshirt); Jakub Jozef Istok, 6-6, Velke Krskany, Slovakia; Avery Phillippi, 6-1, Fontanelle; Erland Pagliero, 6-3, Marseille, France; Kael Jones, 6-7, Ankeny; Jay Budde, 6-4, Melbourne Victoria, Australia.