Southwestern Spartan men started the new year Saturday with a 67-63 win over visiting Iowa Lakes Community College.
The Spartans built a nine-point first half lead before Iowa Lakes outscored Southwestern in the second half 30-25.
Donnary Fontenot led the Spartans with 20 points from 7-18 shooting and 4-8 from the 3-point line. He made both his free throws. Rickey Loftin II came off the bench to score 16. He was 7-16 from the field and 2-3 from the 3-point line. James Braddy finished with 11 points.
As a team, Southwestern shot 25-63 from the field and 7-18 from the 3-point line. Southwestern only missed two of 12 free throws. Braddy led with seven rebounds. Fontenot also had a team high six steals.
Iowa Lakes also had three players score in double digits. Jhordan Ryan was high score with 14.
The Spartans ended 2024 with a 81-78 win Dec. 31 over Minnesota North College-Hibbing in Minnesota. The Spartans dominated the first half with a 53-34 halftime lead before Hibbing nearly erased the deficit in the second half. Hibbing scored 44 second half points.
Four players were in double digits for Southwestern. Fontenot was top scorer with 23. He was 8-18 from the field and 2-6 from the 3-point line. He made all five of his free throws. Braddy finished with 19 from 7-12 shooting and 3-4 from the 3-point line. He made both of his free throws. Theo Alexandersson Ohnell scored 15. He was 6-12 from the field and 3-4 from the 3-point line. Kael Jones made all four his shots and was 4-5 from the free throw line to finish with 12.
Jones led with 11 rebounds.
As a team, Southwestern was 29-55 from the field and 8-15 from the 3-point line. The Spartans made 15-18 free throws.
Hibbing had four players in double-digit scoring, too.
Minnesota West Community College defeated Southwestern 82-63 Dec. 30 in Worthington, Minnesota. Minnesota West led at halftime 38-25.
Jakub Jozef Istok had high score for Southwestern with 15. He was 7-9 shooting and 1-3 from the free-throw line. Thomas Morgan came off the bench to finish with 14. He was 6-12 shooting and 2-3 at the free-throw line.
Fontenot had 12 points. Braddy scored 11.
Morgan had a team high nine rebounds. As a team, Southwestern finished 26-62 shooting and 3-17 from the 3-point line. The Spartans made eight of 13 free throws.
Southwestern men (7-10) play Wednesday at Northeast Community College in Norfolk, Nebraska.
Women
Spartan women lost 65-52 Saturday to Iowa Lakes in Creston. Iowa Lakes built a 36-23 halftime lead.
Brooklyn Hadl led Southwestern with 22 points from 10-18 shooting and two free throws. Bhella Lavulavu finished with 13 points from 5-19 shooting and 3-4 free throws. Gabby Dwanyen scored 10 points.
Lavulavu had a team-high seven rebounds.
As a team, Southwestern finished 22-69 shooting and missed all eight 3-point shots. Southwestern was 8-13 from the free-throw line.
High score for Iowa Lakes was Gracelyn Deputy with 18.
Spartan women finished 2024 with a 77-54 loss Dec. 31 to Rochester Community played at Minnesota West. Rochester had a 35-30 halftime lead.
Hadl led Southwestern with 22 points from 7-19 shooting and 3-10 from the 3-point line. She made five of six free throws. She also had a team high 10 rebounds.
Dwanyen and Lavulavu each finished with 12 points. Lavulavu was 6-14 shooting. Dwanyen was 4-12 shooting and 2-6 from the 3-point line. She made two of four free throws.
As a team, the Spartans were 20-55 shooting and 6-20 from the 3-point line. Southwestern made 8-14 free throws.
Rochestern was led by Nyomi Crushshon with 20 points. Allana Bates had 15 rebounds.
Minnesota West defeated the Spartans 80-53 Dec. 30. A strong second half separated Minnesota West as it had a 36-34 lead at halftime.
Hadl led with 17 points. She was 6-11 shooting and 3-3 from the 3-point line. She made two of six free throws. Dwanyen finished with 14 points. She was 7-19 shooting and missed a 3-point and two free throws. She had a team high 11 rebounds. Lavulavu finished with 11 points.
Dalanie Auffert had 10 rebounds.
As a team, Southwestern finished 22-67 shooting, 4-7 from the 3-point line and was 5-15 from the free-throw line.
Minnesota West had four in double digits led by Sadie Krahling with 26.
Southwestern women (1-14) play Wednesday at Northeast Community College in Norfolk, Nebraska.